LANGUAGE ARTS DEPARTMENT
Accelerated English I
Prerequisite: See Honors/AP Policy
1 Credit Open to Grades: 9
Students enrolling in this course should have superior ability and achievement in language arts as
indicated by grades, standardized test scores and teacher recommended. Students should be selfmotivated. This course is designed to provide an enriched, accelerated language arts experience.
Students should have mastered identification, mechanics, and usage of eight parts of speech and
be competent in writing short compositions. Students are required to read novels during the
summer preceding the course.
English I
Prerequisites: None
1 Credit Open to Grades: 9
The goals of the course are to improve oral and written expression, to improve spelling and
increase vocabulary, to familiarize students with a wide selection of writers and their works, and to
improve grammar use and mechanics, sentence structure, paragraphs, and composition. The
student will be exposed to various types of literature. Identification, mechanics, and usage of the
eight parts of speech are emphasized, including the five sentence patterns. Students are expected
to develop writing compositions for personal and oral use.
Accelerated English II
Prerequisite: Accelerated English I
1 Credit Open to Grades: 10
This is a rigorous course for students who intend to take the Advanced Placement exam their
senior year. Students will read continuously and are expected to develop advanced skills in
analyzing and interpreting literature. Student will be required to do outside reading from a specified
list and must purchase additional books. Students will also be assigned summer reading in
preparation for the class. Students will write in many forms appropriate for the portfolio and will
produce a research project. Students will expand their vocabulary in preparation for college, and
refine their speaking skills. Honors English students must be willing to study nightly. Students must
maintain a “C” average to remain in the course.
English II
Prerequisites: English I
1 Credit Open to Grades: 10
Students with a high interest in English who intend to enroll in a four-year college or technical
school should consider this course. This course offers comprehensive review of grammar as
needed. It attempts to improve students’ skills in listening, spelling, library use, and written and oral
expression and should increase vocabulary.
Advanced English II encourages greater interest in reading and comprehension by requiring
additional readings outside the text. Similarities and differences among the basic types of literature
are noted. The development of writing for everyday use and enjoyment, preparation of writing
formal papers and reports, and understanding a survey of authors’ viewpoints and themes,
especially in the context of historical influences, are emphasized.
Accelerated English III
Prerequisite: Honors English II
1 Credit Open to Grades: 11
This course offers a comprehensive review of grammar as needed with an emphasis on varied
sentence structure (especially subordination), agreement, and the mechanics in writing.
Improvement of written and oral expression and an increase of spelling skills and formal diction are
also stressed, along with continued development of listening skills. This course encourages interest
in reading and comprehension by requiring extensive additional readings outside of class. The
students will note the similarities and differences between the basic types of literature. The course
will further develop student skills in the use of the library.
This course emphasizes an in-depth study of literature, concentrating on the philosophies of the
time periods and their influence on writers, the understanding of the correlation between literature
and history. The student must also identify literary devices. In addition, the course provides a
survey of the major types of formal writing. Students are required to read selected novels and
literary pieces during the summer preceding the class.
English III
Prerequisite: English II
1 Credit Open to Grades: 11
This course is recommended for juniors who intend to continue their education after high school or
who have demonstrated a high proficiency in the tenth grade English course. This course is
designed to develop the student’s writing of clear and effective standard, formal English. Students
will also work on increasing vocabulary skills and will read outside the text. A research paper is
required for all Junior English courses.
Advanced Placement English IV
Prerequisite: Honors English III and teacher recommendation
2 Credits
Open to Grades: 12
Advanced Placement English IV is for students who are planning to take the advanced placement
test for college credit. It includes a comprehensive study of major world authors, with a strong
emphasis upon writing, especially of critical and analytical papers. Students will be required to do a
great deal of outside reading from a specified list. Students will be continuing vocabulary skills. All
students in this course are expected to take the Advanced Placement Examination. Students are
required to purchase additional books. In order to remain in this course, a student must maintain a
“B” average. Students are required to read selected novels during the summer preceding the class.
A research paper and portfolio are required for Senior English courses. Advanced Placement
English is a weighted course.
English 100 (200 offered 2nd semester)
Prerequisite: Admission to ACTC Dual Credit Program
1 Credit + 3 hours College Credit Open to Grades: 12
This course is designed for an accelerated student who must meet graduation requirements for the
advanced English IV high school course. ( See course description for Advanced English IV)
Additionally, the student must meet the requirements for English 101, which includes an emphasis
in argument; instruction and practice in reading critically; thinking logically responding to texts;
developing research skills; writing substantial essays through systematic revision; addressing
specific audiences; and expressing ideas in standard and correct English. English 101 includes
grammar and mechanics review. Payment of college tuition is required. A research paper and
portfolio are required for Senior English courses. This is a weighted course.
English IV
Prerequisite: English III
1 Credit Open to Grades: 12
This course is recommended for students who intend to continue their education after high school
or who have demonstrated a high proficiency in eleventh grade English. This course is designed to
refine the student’s writing skills, to review the structure and variety of paragraph format, and to
develop the ability to write full-length papers. Activities will focus on paper development and
approach. Activities correlating writing to literature- short stories, poems, novels, are also included
as are vocabulary skill activities and outside readings. The completion of a research paper and
writing portfolio is a course requirement for the Senior English sequence.
Journalism I
Prerequisite: English I, application and instructor approval
1 Credit Open to Grades: 10-11-12
This course provides an introduction to the basic aspects of newspaper, yearbook, and broadcast
production. Students will learn the history of journalism and its effect on freedom of the press and
censorship. Students complete an in-depth study of journalistic writing procedures and practice the
use of their newfound knowledge. With this knowledge, students participate in the writing and
production of the newspaper and the yearbook.
Newspaper production includes one-on-one interviewing skills, writing of articles, adhering to
deadlines, newspaper design, artwork, publishing and sales of each issue. Broadcast production
includes interviewing skills, writing of scripts, filming of scripts, and editing with video software.
Journalism II - IV
Prerequisite: Successful completion of the pre-requisite Journalism course and instructor approval
1 Credit Open to Grades: 10-11-12
(May be taken during regular class time or as an independent study.)
This course provides in-depth use of the journalistic skills learned in Journalism I. Students will
serve as editors and business managers for the newspaper, yearbook, and broadcast production.
Editors will edit and revise all copies written for submission. Editors will also design layouts for
newspaper and yearbook pages. Study and use of technology plays a key role in this level of
journalism.