#004 PSSA Language Arts Preparation ½ credit

This course is designed to assist students in gaining proficiency of the 11th grade PSSA reading examination. Students will be enrolled in this course based on previous performance of PSSA reading tests and both formal and informal district assessments.

#007 English I 1 credit

Emphasis is placed on introducing and developing the ability to analyze a variety of literary genres including the novel, grammar, poetry, the epic, and the short story. Students will develop this ability through organized discussion groups and extensive projects. Writing for the course builds on focus, content, organization, style and conventions in preparation for the PSSA. Vocabulary and grammar will also be taught in connection with literature, and research skills will also be addressed and developed.

#008 Advanced English I 1 credit

Designed primarily for students who aspire to attend college and enjoy the various aspects of language arts, i.e. literature, writing, speaking and drama, this course focuses on a more in-depth approach and includes topics not covered in traditional English I. Summer reading is required. The pace is more rapid, and students seeking a more rigorous approach to the study of language arts should elect to take this course.

#017 English II 1 credit

English II stresses the practical application of all skills acquired in grammar and sentence structure in grades one through nine. Organization of a multi-paragraph composition is emphasized. Historical and personal values of novels, plays, poetry, and short stories are stressed in the reading component of the course. Outside reading is assigned to acquaint the student with the value of and pleasure in books. Vocabulary growth is fostered.

#018 Advanced English II 1 credit

Continuing the sequence for the advanced study of language arts, the course addresses the same topics as English II, but focuses on a more in-depth approach. Heavy emphasis will be placed on reading in all genres, advanced writing and research. Summer reading is required. Students who aspire to pursue post-secondary schooling should elect this course.

#026 English III 1 credit

English III focuses on American Literature from its historical and literary beginning in the Colonial Period to contemporary prose and poetry. Particular emphasis is placed on the author’s influences from his/her time period. Extensive writing is infused with lessons in grammar and vocabulary. Class discussion aids in strengthening verbal skills and literature is used as a vehicle for discussion and analysis. American novels and drama are included.

#027 English III CP 1 credit

This course is recommended for those students who intend to pursue a four-year college degree. Junior College Prep is a chronological study of American literature. The course is designed to emphasize the development and refinement of skills necessary to do college level work, including advanced vocabulary, oral and written communication, analytical reading and critical thinking. Research papers and summer reading are requirements for the course.

#029 Advanced Placement English Language & Composition 1 credit

An AP course in English Language and Composition engages students in becoming skilled readers of prose written in a variety of periods, disciplines and rhetorical concepts, and in becoming skilled writers who compose for a variety of purposes. Both their writing and their reading should make students aware of the interactions among a writer’s purposes, audience expectations and subjects, as well as the way generic conventions and the resources of language contribute to the effectiveness in writing.

#033 English IV 1 credit

English IV further develops students’ ability to listen intelligently, think rationally, speak and write clearly in standard English. Although the basic area of study is English literature, world authors are sometimes included. Vocabulary study, library skills, oral reports, group activities and composition are stressed throughout the year in the study of various genres including poetry, drama, short stories, novels and film.

#035 English IV CP 1 credit

This course is recommended for those students who intend to pursue a four-year college degree. Senior College Prep is a chronological study of English and World Literature. The course is designed to emphasize the development of skills necessary to do college level work, including advanced vocabulary, oral and written expository communication, analytical reading and critical thinking research. Research papers and summer reading are required. Likewise, extensive reading and writing are required throughout the year.

#034 Advanced Placement English Literature & Composition 1 credit

This class is intended to be typical of an introductory college course and prepare students for the Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition test allowing students to proceed to advanced courses, with appropriate credit, at any particular college. The focus of the course is careful reading and critical analysis of imaginative literature, including analysis of the text’s structure, style, theme, social and historical values, and the smaller-scale elements. Texts will be drawn from multiple genres, periods and cultures. Writing assignments will be timed and focus on the critical analysis of literature, including expository, analytical, and argumentative essays. Other assessments will include timed multiple-choice exams. This course will prepare students to read and to discuss analytically and to write critically on the collegiate level. Summer reading is required. Extensive reading and writing is required throughout the course. Prerequisites are Speech, Research Paper, Junior College Prep or AP English Language and Composition, and recommendation of the junior English teacher.

#037 Speech ½ credit

Three major language areas are an important part of Speech: listening, reading, and speaking. Thus, the program is designed to aid students in becoming as proficient as possible in the following areas: (1) accurate and effective communication of ideas; (2) ease and poise in communication; (3) public speaking (gathering, organizing, outlining and preparing speech materials for effective final delivery); (4) group thinking and group discussion; (5) effective listening; (6) oral interpretation. Speech is a prerequisite for Junior and Senior College Prep.

#038 Research Paper ½ credit

This course is designed to teach students how to write a research paper. Students planning to take Junior or Senior College Prep or Advanced Placement English are required to take the course prior to Grade 11. Those students who intend to attend college but do not plan to take a college prep course are urged to enroll in this course. Students will be required to research, write, and submit a paper following the MLA format on an approved topic.

#040 Humanities 1 credit

An historical, aesthetic, and philosophical study of the humanities, this course explores the human creative impulse. Speech and Research paper are not required but highly recommended. A study of human values, beliefs, and their creative expression from ancient Greece to contemporary America is covered. Humanities is recommended for college bound students and is limited to Grades 11 and 12.

#041 Shakespeare ½ credit

This course is an in-depth study of Shakespeare, his theater, and his works and is recommended for the college bound student. Performance/recitation is also a component of the class.

#042 Creative Writing ½ credit

This course is designed to develop the “writer’s eye”, and to enhance the study of the English language. Students will be encouraged to write creatively through activities utilizing the writing process (pre-writing, drafting, and revising). Students will be taught techniques in the following genres: short story, drama, and creative composition; however, several diversified projects will also be included. Students will develop portfolios of their work for assessment purposes and for tracking personal progress.

#04 #044 Theatre Arts ½ credit

This course is a is a survey of the dramatic arts arts. Topics include the theatre’s history from the Greco-Roman persuasion to Shakespeare and onto present day. This is a performance class where emphasis is placed on the want and ability to perform. Aside from various mini-productions in several genres, field trips, written critiques, and specific writing assignments will augment course work.

#036 Composition ½ credit

Intended to develop and strengthen all written communication skills, composition focuses on expository writing and is meant to prepare students for a freshman college writing course. This course is recommended for the college-bound student.

#030 Yearbook Publication 1 credit

This course involves organization and production of the school yearbook. Editing, photographic scheduling and arrangements, photography, layout, copy writing, type specifications, sales and business organization and extensive computer work are areas in which students work to produce the school annual.

In addition to in-class work on the book, meetings are held several times during the school year to meet deadlines for publications.

This course is by application only, and may be taken more than once, but it is limited to Grades 11 and 12. Yearbook is not a substitute for English.

#039 Newspaper - Writing and Production 1 credit

This course in newspaper writing, editing and production is available to students in Grades 11 and 12interested in both creative and expository writing and art production. Strong organizational skills, the ability to meet deadlines, and an eye for detail are expectations of all students. Writing, photography, desktop publishing, copy editing, advertising, and distributing a school-wide publication are the major focal points of this course.

In addition, students will be required to devote time beyond normal school hours including, but not limited to, attending school board meetings and working at The Herald for the community edition.

This course is by application only, and may be taken more than once, but it is not a substitute for English and is limited to students in Grades 11 and 12.

#002 PSSA Reading and Writing ½ credit

Students who score basic or below basic on PSSA Reading and Writing exams are required to pass this course as an alternative assessment to fulfill state requirements for graduation. The daily assignments and assessments are based on the Pennsylvania State Standards for reading, writing, speaking and listening. The course is pass/fail.

#024 English as a Second Language (ESL) ½ credit

English as a Second Language (ESL) is for students whose primary language is not English. Emphasis is on acquiring English in reading, writing, speaking and listening. Daily instructional time is determined by each student’s English Language Proficiency (ELP) on a standardized test. ELP Standards are aligned with Pennsylvania Standards so students may transition to regular English class when they are proficient in English. Students may also attend ESL to receive support in content area subjects.