Course Descriptions - English

The word – spoken, written, thought – is full of powerful potential. The study of language and literature, then, becomes a study of works that have shaped our culture and our thinking. Additionally, working hard at the way we use language becomes a key to effective communication, powerful expression, and clear thinking. To this end, all English courses will stress clear and logical thinking, strong study in the conventions of language (grammar, syntax, mechanics, the figurative, vocabulary), reading, critical thinking, speaking, and listening. Students will learn to deal with the various writing situations with which they will be faced, and to do so with calm confidence. In the same way students will learn to read well for various purposes. The great works cannot be fully appreciated in isolation. The literature in English at CCHS will often parallel the same year’s course in history and Bible to reinforce understanding of the truths of Scripture and of the world as a whole. In the same way that language, writing, and literature study are often naturally integrated, English, history and Bible relate closely and naturally.

FRESHMEN ENGLISH 

College Prep Grade 9 Full Year

This course exposes students to a variety of genres: short story, non-fiction, poetry, drama, and the novel while exploring themes and identifying literary devices. Through extensive work in grammar, mechanics, syntax, vocabulary, and usage, students gain skills necessary for competent writing.  Emphasis is placed on composition, structure, and substance.  Students will complete a variety of writing, including narrative, descriptive, expository, persuasive, and literary analysis. Thesis formulation and support is emphasized through frequent practice and revision.

WORLD LITERATURE

College Prep Grade 10 Full Year

Students continue grammar work and extensive vocabulary study. Composition skills will be shaped by topics that demonstrate range and diversity. Literature from Classical Greece to the present parallels the 10th grade World History course. Great emphasis is placed on the expansion and practical integration of students’ higher vocabulary. Poetry, literary analysis, and composition skills will continue to be developed.

WORLD LITERATURE HONORS 

Honors College Prep Grade 10 Full Year

Prerequisite:   Freshman English with A’s both semesters or Administrator approval.  Students are required to pass the summer assignment.

This course extends the reading and language study of English, with more complex issues of rhetoric and style being introduced. Students begin a critical analysis of literature in order to formulate an argumentative thesis and to generate textual evidence. Greater emphasis is placed on the writing of clear, insightful and well-written formal essays. This course also includes a more comprehensive study of poetry and literary critiques.  Students will be tested in the first day of class on the required summer assignment.

AMERICAN LITERATURE

College Prep Grade 11 Full Year

Students will become familiar with and well versed in a variety of American literary genres, including the novel, short story, poetry, biography, and essay. Through writing assignments of various styles and lengths, students will mature and refine their writing skills. With weekly lessons, vocabulary will be built and increased.

AP ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION

Advanced Placement College Prep Grade 11 Full Year

Prerequisite: World Literature Honors with B’s both semesters or World Literature with A’s both semesters or Administrator approval. Students are required to pass the summer assignment.

This course is intended for qualified students and is equivalent to an entry-level college course. The goal of the class is to familiarize students with various writing styles and the language appropriate to each, as well as sharpening their writing skills as they relate to the different genres of non-fiction. We will focus on developing students’ mastery of sentence variation, vocabulary, organization and tone, effective use of fact, opinion and rhetoric.  This course will prepare students to take the Advanced Placement Exam in Language and Composition. Students are required to take the AP Exam in May.  Those who receive a score of 3, 4, or 5 may be eligible to receive college credit. 

BRITISH LITERATURE 

College Prep Grade 12 Full Year

In this course the students will study the development of British literature. They will learn to recognize the characteristics of major chronological eras and relate the literary works and authors studied to the major themes and issues of those eras. The students will read and analyze a variety of selections, including independent reading books, with emphasis on recognizing and describing plot, characterization, theme, and logical argument. Writing will include reflective essays and essays analyzing the assigned literature, presenting that analysis logically, effectively, and correctly. A review of the principles of English usage and mechanics will be provided as preparation for college level composition classes. Students will use organizational skills, audience awareness, appropriate vocabulary and grammar, and both verbal and nonverbal presentation skills to plan and deliver oral presentations. Students will also produce book reports and a well researched and documented term paper.

AP LITERATURE

Advanced Placement College Prep Grade 12 Full Year

Prerequisites: AP English Language with B’s both semesters or American Literature with A’s both semesters or Administrative approval.  Students are required to pass the summer assignment.

This course is intended for qualified students and is equivalent to an entry-level college course. Students will practice close reading and analysis of a challenging variety of literature, in preparation for the AP Literature exam in May.  Students will learn to read, research and write at the college level.  For this seminar class, regular attendance is mandatory. Students are required to take the AP Exam in May.  Those who receive a score of 3, 4, or 5 may be eligible to receive college credit. Additional materials fee required.  

ENGLISH 2, 3, 4

Meets Graduation Requirement Only Grade 10-12 Full Year

Prerequisite:  Administrator approval

This course is designed to evaluate and address students’ strengths and weaknesses in both reading and writing. Students will develop an appreciation for literature through a study of literary elements contained in both classic and contemporary selections. This course will include the examination of short stories, essays, speeches, poetry, plays, and novels. The students will write a variety of forms including narrative, expository, and persuasive writings. Research projects will be written using both fiction and nonfiction works. The students will also study the essential elements of grammar and style in the context of their own writing.
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