English Program

 

This college preparatory course provides students with the foundational reading, writing, listening and speaking skills necessary for academic success in high school. Our learning will be guided by the Common Core Standards for 9th grade Language Arts and the  CSU’s Expository Reading and Writing Course (ERWC). The core reading list includes various short stories, non-fiction readings, A Raisin in the Sun, Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, and The Hate U Give.

Through this course, students will learn how to express their ideas and opinions through composing academic essays and presentations. Our learning will be guided by the Common Core Standards for 9th grade Language Arts and the  CSU’s Expository Reading and Writing Course (ERWC). The core reading list includes non-fiction readings, Animal Farm, Night, Things Fall Apart, The Mortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Fahrenheit 451, and Persepolis.

 

ENGLISH 2 HONORS*
10th Grade (Year Course)
English 2 Honors can benefit all students who are looking for a rigorous college preparatory course that builds
on the skills learned in English 1. There is an extra grade point for this class as it meets the Honors designation for
the UC System. Therefore, students can expect to work at an accelerated pace while studying language,
literature, and nonfiction works. Students should expect several essays a semester and many opportunities
to speak in front of both small groups and the whole class. This challenging workload will help students prepare
for any class they choose as upperclassmen, and will be especially beneficial for those moving into Advanced
Placement classes. Students will need to successfully complete the assigned summer work which is due the first
week of class.

Junior English focuses on the history of American Literature. We begin exploring the dynamics of power and privilege in early influential literature, political documents and speeches and follow the development and expression of ideas through the major literary movements. Our learning will be guided by the Common Core Standards for 9th grade Language Arts. The core reading list includes The Great Gatsby, The Catcher in the Rye, and Slaughterhouse-Five.
  

Requires signed Advanced Placement Course Enrollment Parent Notification/Agreement.
Advanced Placement English III focuses on the history of American Literature. We begin exploring the dynamics of power and privilege in early influential literature, political documents and speeches and follow the development and expression of ideas through the major literary movements. The curriculum will coincide with our six school-wide themes whenever possible; human thought, the individual and society, conflict, change, global society, and the healthy human family. Our learning will be guided by the CA Standards for the 11th grade Language Arts curriculum and the AP Literature and Language requirements. Each unit of study requires students to complete either a take-home essay exam or a 750-1000 word essay in which students demonstrate an in-depth analysis of one or more texts from the unit. In addition, students must exhibit an advanced understanding of how each text relates to the overall theme of the unit as well as its place in the broader development and timeline of American Literature. The core reading list includes various fiction and non-fiction short readings, The Great Gatsby, The Catcher in the Rye, Slaughterhouse-Five, Frankenstein, and Invisible Man.
   

The goals of Senior English are to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills, and to foster lifelong learning.  Students are introduced to a wide variety of texts — historical narratives, short stories, poetry, non-fiction, biographies, and multimedia formats.  Regardless of the text, students discuss and analyze the content of the literature in individual and group settings.  The coursework is designed to prepare students to successfully complete English 100 or its equivalent when they attend college.  Students write historical investigations, fictional and autobiographical narratives, reflective compositions, responses to literature and other texts, and produce multimedia presentations.  Students also participate in either a speech tournament or a formal debate, both of which develop listening, speaking, and impromptu orating skills.  Students in Senior English are given a choice of elective units to complete, all of which correspond to our school wide themes:  human thought, the individual and society, conflict, change, global society, and the healthy human family. The core reading list includes Hamlet, Hiroshima, The Allegory of a Cave, and Brave New World.

Requires signed Advanced Placement Course Enrollment Parent Notification/Agreement.
Advanced Placement English 4 is designed to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills, to foster lifelong learning, and to pass the Advanced Placement Exam in order to earn college credit.  Students will read and respond to a variety of texts—historical narratives, short stories, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, biographies, and multimedia formats.  Regardless of the text, students will discuss and analyze the content of the literature in individual and group settings.  Students will write historical investigations, fictional and autobiographical narratives, expository compositions, and responses to literature.  Students will also complete in-class activities and lessons designed to prepare them for the Advanced Placement exam. The core reading list includes Hamlet, Hiroshima, The Allegory of a Cave, Brave New World, choice of a Shakespeare play, They Say/I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing, and the AP Workbook.