English 1
1 English Credit
Academic Skills and Assessments:
·
Include
discussion of the five basic elements of story: setting, plot, character,
conflict, theme.
·
Be
factually accurate.
·
Express
complete and coherent thoughts.
·
Correct
identification of elements in discussions and on tests.
·
Correct
usage of elements in written work about texts.
·
Correct
utilization of elements in creative work.
·
Pre-writing
·
Development
of multiple drafts
·
Proofreading
for content
·
Editing
for mechanical errors
·
Revision
of proofread and edited material
1 English credit
Academic Skills and Assessments:
2. Literary
terminology. In tests, essays,
discussions, and creative writing, students will strengthen their understanding
of basic elements of story, including setting, plot, character, conflict, and
theme, as well as basic figures of speech, including similes, metaphors, and
symbols.
·
Correct
identification of elements in discussions and on tests.
·
Correct
usage of elements in written work about texts.
·
Correct
utilization of elements in creative work.
·
Thoughtful
discussion of the significance of individual elements to texts.
3. Vocabulary
Development. Students will continue to
be introduced to, work with, utilize, study, and be tested on vocabulary derived
from the texts encountered.
4. Research. Students will further develop their knowledge
of basic research skills (in collaboration with the library media specialist)
by researching and writing a 3 to 5 page research paper, with works cited/works
consulted list that include primary and secondary sources, and in-text
citations. The research project will
include a multimedia presentation (including but not limited to PowerPoint, HyperStudio, panel discussions, and/or speeches).
5. Writing
Process: Students will demonstrate their
knowledge of writing process by utilizing the following steps in research,
creative, and essay writing:
·
Pre-writing
·
Development
of multiple drafts
·
Proofreading
for content
·
Editing
for mechanical errors
·
Revision
of proofread and edited material
English 3
Math/English Lab
Against All
Odds
.5 English credit
Course Description: In this course students will read
non-fiction stories about individuals who have overcome some major obstacle in
their lives. We will evaluate the decisions and risks that were taken by these
individuals. We will focus on the sacrifices
that the main characters took in order to make their dreams a reality.
Description of Activities and
Student Projects:
We will read, A Hope in the Unseen,
Maiden Voyage, Alive, and Perfect
Storm. We will also read some short
stories that chronicle the lives of certain amazing individuals, such as
Captain Eddie Rickenbacker. Students will complete a research paper about
a person who overcame incredible odds in order to achieve their dreams. Students will also explore their future
desires and map a plan to realize their dreams.
Homework Requirements:
Shakespeare
.5 English & .5 Elective; Full credit of
English available
Description of Course Content and Major Goals: This class will be a collaboration between HSC and James Andreassi's
Elm City Shakespeare Company. Students
will perform a play which from Shakespeare. Students will perform their play
for fifth grade audiences and for their peers at HSC.
Textbooks and Major Materials Used: Selected
passages and monologues from Shakespeare's works and perhaps one of
Shakespeare's plays.
Description of Major Activities and Student Projects: Students will learn to do theater exercises and voice
exercises. They will memorize and
analyze passages from Shakespeare. they will form a
traveling repertory troupe which will perform the play for various fifth grade
classes in
Note: Students who wish to earn a
full English credit will write a research paper on the Shakespeare works that
they are studying.
Homework Requirements: Students will be expected to read independently, do art
drawings, memorize and practice their lines for the plays. They will also be expected to perform their
scenes before audiences.
Grading:
Grades will be based on
students' journals, essays, memorization and performances and, for some
students, their research paper. Class
participation, initiative, and the ability to collaborate will also be
considered.
Early
1 English credit
Description: This is a team taught
class, half English, half U.S. History which interweaves an examination of
Requirements: Students will be
expected to compose position papers from selected readings, interpret data from
charts and graphs, utilize maps, take part in group activities, be timely with
homework assignments and participate in class discussions. Use of computer sources
(software) and relevant films will be utilized throughout the marking period to
enhance interest in the many topics covered and provide additional material for
a richer understanding of historical occurrences, ideas, people and concepts.
Honors Component
(Optional): A 10-15 page term paper on a unique foreign policy issue
developed by the student, with teacher input, will be submitted in early June.
The student will schedule an appointment with the teacher to defend his or her
work.
1 English credit
In this
course, students will
·
develop their ability to read closely.
·
develop and polish their ability to write creatively and
analytically.
·
expand their knowledge of
the terminology used to analyze and evaluate writing.
·
explore the social realities depicted in a range of widely recognized
classic texts.
·
practice test-taking skills useful for the AP English Language exam.
We will
undertake a broad examination of the ways in which writing (and writers) have
both expressed and challenged the social, political, and/or economic structures
of their worlds. In particular, we will
explore texts that have changed the way individuals and groups have understood
their places in society. Authors include
(among many others) Malory, Tennyson, White,
Shakespeare, Austen, Gilman, Chopin, Achebe, Hurston, Fitzgerald, Steinbeck, Marquez, and Tolkien.
Homework in this course will be almost
exclusively reading. Expect a half-hour
to an hour of reading per night, INCLUDING WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS. This is a challenging exam, and we have
little time to slack off.
Additionally,
you may expect
·
Daily
writing exercises, completed in class.
·
Two
longer (3 to 5 page) papers, with revisions, each quarter.
·
Completion
of at least one text per quarter from a supplementary list, along with a brief,
AP-style written analysis of the text.
·
Weekly
vocabulary and grammar exercises, with quizzes.
AP English (Seniors)
1 English credit
Course Description: This course is designed to introduce you to the richness of literary
art, which Trilling calls “an instrument of life.” We shall read novels, plays, poetry and short prose selections of several countries and
from different centuries so that we may begin to see the universality of themes
implicit in literature. The aim of the
course is to teach you to think well and to write well about something important
to you. I shall provide numerous
assignments, some of my own creation, others from past A.P. examinations. Frequently, I shall ask you to create your
own topics. My hope is that you will
develop critical and analytical skills of the mature reader and writer. You MUST
take the A.P. Examination upon completion of class work.
Description of Major Activities And Projects: Students will read and analyze the
works of major writers. Analytical
papers related to the reading will be assigned.
An oral presentation of the students' major paper is required.
Homework Requirements: Daily reading, writing, response sheets, and/or vocabulary
will be given.
.5 English credit
A
multi-sensory, multi-cultural exploration of the meaning food and eating
conveys in film and literature. We will read texts and watch movies in which
food plays a role, cook and eat food from a variety of cultures, and create our
own food-centered narratives.
Journalism
Students will examine our culture through the use of newspapers, magazine articles and class discussion. This class will also be used a feeder class for the school newspaper as every student is required to write at least one article for publication. Weekly writing assignments will be given on a wide variety of topics. Paricipation in class discussion is mandatory.
Literature of War
Through the use of various novels, including The Things They carried and All Quiet on the Western Front and various historical readings, students will study the causes and effects of WWI, WWII and Vietnam .
Sports Lit
Using books such as Friday Night Lights , articles from Sports Illustrated and the newspaper, students will enhance their reading, vocabulary and writing skills by engaging in a topic that is already interesting to them (sports!).
Freedom Writers
In this class we will be using the book Freedom Writers , the true story of a teacher from L.A. who changed the lives of her students through journal writing and letter writing. This class has a sponsor who donated the books and has planned speakers, field trips, and purchased journals.
Autobiography
Through the reading of various memoirs and the use of photography students will come to understand themselves and their place in the world. They will read 2-3 autobiographies as well as write their own. This is a good class for someone working on their college essay.
Documentary Film
Students will be exposed to a wide variety of issues through documentary films that range from Bowling for Columbine to Born Into Brothels . Weekly film reviews are required as students learn about such topics as gun control, poverty, and ballroom dancing. They will also be taught film techniques and are expected to do their own documentary using either still photos or, if possible, a video camera.
African American Literature
This class is an exploration of the African American experience from slavery to contemporary times. Novels and plays include Family, A Raisin in the Sun, Fences, Native Son, and Coffee Will Make You Black . There will be required papers 5-6 pages in length assigned.
Theatre
Theatre is a combination of acting, reading plays (one Shakespeare), writing original plays and monologues and working together as a team. A performance by the end of class will be required.
Poetry and Hip Hop
In this course we will take a close look at selected American poems, with an emphasis on contemporary poetry. By the end of the course, students will know how to analyze poems, identify poetic devices, and deduce thematic elements. The course will trace American poetry chronologically, beginning with the Revolutionary War. Some of the poets we will read include: Emily Dickinson, Langston Hughes, Robert Frost, William Wordsworth, Allen Ginsberg, Maya Angelou, Gill Scott-Heron, KRS-One, Public Enemy, Tupac Shakur, and Eminem. We will write analytical papers, compare-and-contrast essays, and original works of the poetry. The class will require active participation and several projects.
Mystery Madness
Students will read and explore both short mystery stories and mystery novels. Students will learn to identify the elements that go into creating an intriguing mystery. During this course every student will produce a short mystery story using the tools of the mystery writing trade.
Picture This!
Paulette and Sara will be team teaching a course called Picture This. In the course students will read a variety of different versions of the same fairy tale. Students will compare the time period, voice, and details of each collection of similar fairy tales. They will also compare styles of illustration and page layout. The course will include many different art projects based on the themes of the fairy tales. As a culminating project students will write and illustrate their own modern version of a fairy tale.