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English
(from the Chesapeake
Public Schools Secondary Student Guide)
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In Grades 9-12
students write increasingly longer narrative forms, more
abstract expository essays, and more fully documented
research papers. Thematic units integrate literature study
with the skills of reading, writing, speaking, and
listening. Reading comprehension, vocabulary development,
grammar, mechanics, thinking skills, and oral communication
skills are emphasized at each grade level. The basic English
courses strengthen skills in writing, comprehension of
literature, and the accurate and effective use of language.
Writing often for practical purposes improves the students’
abilities to persuade, inform, and reason in logical and
standard English. At all grade levels, thematic units
integrate skills in reading, writing, speaking, and
listening with special attention given to developing reading
comprehension, enlarging vocabulary, improving spelling, and
developing accuracy in usage and mechanics.
The honors
program is organized into thematic and historical units
through which students strengthen their critical thinking
skills through extensive discussion and writing activities.
The literature studied is taken from core texts and selected
paperbacks and is comprised of world classics. Students
write for diverse audiences with specific purposes in mind.
Emphasis is placed on the writing of literary analysis,
fully documented research reports, and commentaries on
novels, plays, and poems.
Students must take one required English course per academic
school year, and they are encouraged to take English
electives as well. Required courses (honors or regular) are
those courses designed to teach the English Standards of
Learning 9, 10, 11, and 12.
Students may not
skip or substitute the required courses. |
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COURSE
DESCRIPTIONS |
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English 9 (092)
Grade
Level:
9 Credit:
1 Unit
Course Description :
Using the writing process model, students compose various
types of essays and cite sources. Electronic databases
enable students to thoroughly
research a wide range of subjects, and computer word
processing aids students
in all aspects of composition development. In addition,
students read a variety
of print materials, short stories, plays, novels, and poems
to examine themes
and literary devices. Students also review study skills,
language usage, and communication
techniques with an emphasis on planned oral presentations
and dramatic
readings. |
Honors English 9 (777)
Grade
Level:
9 Credit:
1 unit
Course Description :
Students present and critique dramatic readings and make
planned oral presentations. Students read and critique
literary works from a variety
of cultures and interpret printed consumer materials.
Students develop a variety
of writings, make oral presentations, and use technology to
access and organize
information. Literature and reading study includes
additional requirements
for both classroom and summer reading.
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English 10 (093)
Grade
Level 10
Credit:
1
Unit
Course Description :
Students read and critique a variety of world literature
from
different eras. Literature study includes poetry, short
stories, novels, plays, business
documents, and consumer information. Students also use the
writing process
to develop a variety of expository writings. Additionally,
students collect and
organize information from a variety of sources and
participate in small group learning
activities.
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Honors English 10 (778)
Grade
Level 10
Credit:
1 Unit
Course Description :
Students study American literature and analyze the relationship
of American history, literature, and culture. Students use
the writing process
to develop expository and persuasive essays by locating,
evaluating, synthesizing,
and citing applicable information with careful attention to
organization
and accuracy. Students will participate in small-group
learning activities
and analyze informational materials. In addition, students
review standard
grammar and usage. Utilizing a variety of sources and a
prescribed format,
students compose a documented paper and deliver a persuasive
presentation.
Students also are required to complete summer reading. |
English 11 (094)
Grade
Level 11
Credit:
1 Unit
Standard of Learning End-of-Course Test: Yes
Course Description: Students
create, analyze, and evaluate persuasive presentations;
read and analyze a variety of American literature including
poetry and
drama; interpret print materials; create personal and
business correspondence; and
compose persuasive essays. They also analyze, evaluate,
synthesize, and organize
information from a variety of sources into a documented
paper. |
Honors English 11 (779)
Grade
Level: 11
Credit:
1 Unit
Standard of Learning End-of-Course Test: Yes
Course Description: Students
engage in intensive reading and analysis of British
literature, evaluate print materials, write a documented
research paper based
on literary criticism, compose expository essays evolving
from their reading and
research, and generate technical writings. In addition,
students deliver and evaluate
persuasive presentations, as well as engage in additional
parallel and summer
reading. |
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English 12 (095)
Grade
Level: 12
Credit:
1 Unit
Course Description: Students
read, interpret, and study chronological works of
British literature as well as literature of other cultures.
Students compose expository
and technical writings. In addition, students write
documented research papers
and make a five-to-ten minute formal oral presentation. |
World Literature (112)
Grade
Level: 12
Credit:
1 Unit
Course Description: Students
analyze literature of a variety of cultures. They examine
specific universal themes, analyze the use of literary
devices, and critique a
variety of selections including poetry, prose, and drama.
Students produce literary
essays which are organized logically, contain clear and
accurate ideas, and include
parenthetical documentation. Students conduct research, make
an oral presentation,
and use technology. |
Honors English 12 (780)
Grade
Level: 12
Credit:
1 Unit
Course
Description: Students
interpret the meaning of selected masterpieces of
world literature through critical analysis. During the study
of the composing process,
students focus on rhetoric and logic for the purpose of
developing individual
style. Students engage in additional parallel and summer
reading. (Students
must have successfully completed the required English
courses which include
the English Standards of Learning for Grades 9, 10, 11, and
12 as well as a full
British and American literature component before enrolling
in this course). |
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Advanced Placement English Literature and
Composition (765)
Level of Difficulty :
Advanced Placement
Credit :
2 Units
Course Description :
This is a college-level course designed in accordance
with the
requirements of the College Board. Advanced Placement
English Literature and
Composition prepares students by developing their
interpretive reading skills and
their critical/analytical writing skills on a college level.
While emphasizing writing
techniques and literary analysis, this course exposes
students to a wealth of classical
and modern literature. Through intensive study of literature
and frequent written
exercises, students learn strategies to express ideas in an
organized, coherent,
and persuasive manner. The course culminates in the Advanced
Placement examination
given in May of each year.
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Advanced Placement English Language and
Composition (766)
Level of Difficulty :
Advanced Placement
Credit: 2
Units
Course Description :
This is a college-level course designed in accordance
with the
requirements of the College Board. The Advanced Placement
English Language
and Composition course provides students who are interested
in studying and
writing various kinds of analytic and persuasive essays on
nonliterary topics with
a college-level English emphasis in language, rhetoric, and
expository writing. Students
in AP English Language and Composition spend their time
reading and writing,
as well as engaging in discourse about their reading and
writing with attention
to rhetorical and compositional elements. Through exposure
to various genres,
voices, and ideas, students’ reading experiences are
broadened. Their levels of
appreciation and enjoyment as well as their critical
thinking skills are enhanced. In
addition, the students analyze classic works, conduct
research, and make an oral presentation.
The course culminates in the Advanced Placement examination
given in
May of each year. Students who enroll in this course should
have a comprehensive
knowledge of standard English grammar. |
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ANNUAL
ENGLISH ELECTIVE COURSES
The
annual elective courses described below are not offered for
English credit. They are
available to students in Grades 10 – 12 as elective
credits.
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Public Speaking (153)
Credit:
1
Unit
Course Description :
Students present original speeches, study the communication
process, critique speeches delivered by others, participate
in group discussions,
and learn to conduct and participate in meetings according
to parliamentary
rules. Students learn to gather, evaluate, organize, and
articulate information
in an interesting and meaningful manner. At the completion
of the course,
students will be able to speak effectively and confidently
in formal, informal,
and business communication situations.
Debate (155)
Credit:
1
Unit
Course
Description:
Affirmative and negative teams present arguments in a
rational and logical manner to a neutral third party who
determines wins and losses
on the basis of persuasiveness and logic of evidence
presented by the two teams.
Advanced
Argument (060) Credit:
1
Unit
Course Description :
Affirmative and negative teams present arguments in a
rational
and logical manner to a neutral third party who determines
wins and losses
on the basis of persuasiveness and logic of evidence
presented by the two teams.
Students will develop skills in public speaking, research,
critical thinking, and
organization of ideas by participating in debate and by
producing written arguments.
Introductory High School Humanities (391)
Grade
Level: 11-12
Level of
Difficulty: Average/Accelerated
Credit: 1
Unit
Prerequisite: None
Standard of Learning End-of-Course Test: No
Course Description: This
course is an elective course that is a study of man’s ideas
and feelings about life, approached through the avenues of art,
drama, literature,
and music. It is offered for the purpose of broadening and
deepening students’
thinking. The use of many films, slides, recordings, and books
makes possible
a study of the creative thinking of some of the great minds of
all times.
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Acting Techniques (157)
Credit:
1
Unit
Course Description :
Students create and perform a variety of roles in student-directed
scenes, after careful study of basic acting skills.
Dramatics I (056)
Credit:
1
Unit
Course Description :
Students perform and critique scenes from various types
of plays,
design sets, study trends in drama, and utilize the
principles of makeup and
costuming.
Dramatics II (057) Credit:
1
Unit Prerequisite:
Dramatics
I
Course Description :
Students build on basic drama skills developed in Dramatics
I (056) by producing and evaluating dramatic productions.
The class also
develops skills in costuming, applying makeup, operating
stage equipment, and producing
scenery.
Dramatics
III (058) Credit:
1
Unit Prerequisite:
Dramatics
I and Dramatics II
Course Description :
Students build on basic drama skills developed in Dramatics
I (056) and Dramatics II (057). In addition, class members
learn to direct
and to write plays.
Dramatics IV: Stage Craft (158)
Credit:
1
Unit Prerequisite:
Dramatics
I, II, and III
Course Description :
The advanced students build on basic drama skills developed
in Dramatics I (056), Dramatics II (057), and Dramatics III
(058). This is
for students with serious interest in drama who may want to
pursue theatre as a college
major and career choice. Stagecraft (set design and the
building of sets) as well
as a variety of types of technical theatre (e.g., lighting
and sound techniques) will
be emphasized.
Dramatics
V (Stage Direction) (159) Credit:
1
Unit Prerequisites:
Dramatics
I, II, III, and IV
Course Description: The
advanced students build on basic drama skills developed
in Dramatics I, II, III, and IV. This is for students with
serious interest in drama
who may want to pursue theatre as a college major and career
choice. Directing
opportunities (e.g., such as assistant director, student
director, or production manager) will be given in this course.
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Journalism I (073)
Credit:
1
Unit
Course Description :
Students study the contents of the newspaper and learn basic
news writing skills. They write news stories, features
stories, and sports stories.
They also investigate some of the techniques involved with
layout and design.
Additionally, they are exposed to journalistic ethics and
other forms of mass
media. Students may participate in production of the school
newspaper.
Journalism II (074)
Credit:
1
Unit Prerequisite:
Journalism
I
Course Description :
Students build on the journalistic writing skills they
developed
in Journalism I by writing in-depth articles and opinion
pieces. In addition, students
study advanced design, advertising, photography and
scholastic press law. Each
member of the class plays a vital role in producing the
school newspaper.
Journalism
III (078) Credit:
1
Unit Prerequisites:
Journalism
I and Journalism II
Course Description :
These students are chiefly responsible for management
and
production of the school newspaper. In addition, they refine
writing, design, photography,
and business skills developed in Journalism II.
Journalism IV (079)
Credit:
1 Unit Prerequisite:
An
approved written application and English 10
Course Description :
Upon successful completion of this course, students will
understand,
and be able to use the following concepts in the creation of
a yearbook, theme
development, organization and content of covers and end
sheets, layout and design,
basic photography skills using 35 mm and digital cameras,
and general copyright
laws of publication. In addition, students will know,
understand, and utilize
methods of layout design, cropping, and creating copy for
sections of the yearbook.
Creative Writing (080)
Credit:
1 Unit Prerequisite:
An approved written application and English 10
Course Description :
In this course, students will experiment with the elements
and techniques of writing short stories, plays, and poems.
Students will learn
the value in the revision process through writers’ workshops.
Additionally, students
will learn the publication process for creating a school
literary-art magazine:
soliciting original works from the student body, editing
manuscripts, and contributing
in the layout and design process. |
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ENRICHMENT
COURSES
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SAT Verbal/Math (071)
Credit:
1
Unit
Prerequisite: An
understanding of the fundamental laws of algebra I, algebra
II, and
geometry is essential.
Course Description (Verbal): Students
learn the strategies for taking college
entrance exams including the SAT and/or the ACT. Beginning
in March 2005, the
new SAT will include a writing section and critical reading
section. The writing section
will be scored using a six-point rubric to measure the
students’ skill in developing
a point of view on an issue. The writing section will also
include a multiple-choice
component to measure the students’ understanding of how to
use language
in a consistent manner and how to improve writing through
editing and revision.
The critical reading section will address reading
comprehension and sentence
completion.
(Math): This
section is designed to help students with test-taking
techniques of multiple-choice
questions. Students also learn the process of marking
answers correctly
on the student-produced response section of the SAT. An
adequate understanding
of fundamental laws of algebra I, geometry, and algebra II
is essential.
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