Literature - UC Approved

Grade level: 9th grade (Two Semesters)

Pre-requisite: English 8

Course description:
The focus this course is reading various types of literature, reviewing grammar rules, and writing.  In addition to the literature anthology, students read several novels, poetry, drama, and an epic. Students analyze reading selections for plot, theme, and literary devices. Discussions of literary pieces will develop critical thinking skills as well as enable the student to study the creativity God has given man by examining the literature in form and content.  In addition, students review the basics of good writing, and revise their own writing to produce coherent sentences, cohesive paragraphs, and to incorporate correct grammar usage. Vocabulary is taken from literature and studied in context.

Literature Honors* - UC Approved

Grade level: 9th grade (Two Semesters)

Pre-requisite: A- (89.75%) or higher in English 8 and English Department Head approval

Course description:
The focus this honors course is reading various types of literature, reviewing grammar rules, and writing.  In addition to the literature anthology, students read several novels, poetry, drama, and an epic. Students analyze reading selections for plot, theme, and literary devices. Discussions of literary pieces will develop critical thinking skills as well as enable the student to study the creativity God has given man by examining the literature in form and content.  In addition, students review the basics of good writing, and revise their own writing to produce coherent sentences, cohesive paragraphs, and to incorporate correct grammar usage. Vocabulary is taken from literature and studied in context.  

*As an honors class this course requires students to do more reading than a regular English class.  The English Department guidelines for honors classes emphasize the importance of higher order thinking skills and writing skills within a rigorous academic context.

World Literature - UC Approved

Grade level: 10th grade (Two Semesters)

Pre-requisite: Literature (English 9)

Course description:
This course provides an in-depth and analytical study of literature from various genres, including short stories, nonfiction, poetry, drama, King Arthur legends, and novels. World settings and cultures are the backdrop for the literary selections.  All literary analysis is geared toward preparation for Honors English courses so that students can have choices for eleventh grade English.  Students also study the writing process, which enables them to express thoughts for the purpose of informing, describing, narrating, and persuading. Particular emphasis is given to developing a thesis and supporting an argument with evidence from source material.  They study grammar and vocabulary to strengthen writing skills.

World Literature Honors* - UC Approved

Grade level: 10th grade (Two Semesters)

Pre-requisite: A- (89.75%) or higher in Literature (English 9) or B- (79.75%) in Literature H and English Department Head approval

Course description:
This course provides an in-depth and analytical study of literature from various genres, including short stories, nonfiction, poetry, drama, King Arthur legends, and novel. World settings and cultures are the backdrop for the literary selections.  All literary analysis is geared toward preparation for AP English courses so that students can have choices for eleventh grade English.  Students also study the writing process, which enables them to express thoughts for the purpose of informing, describing, narrating, and persuading. They study grammar and vocabulary to strengthen writing skills.

*As an honors class this course requires students to do more reading than a regular English class.  The English Department guidelines for honors classes emphasize the importance of higher order thinking skills and writing skills within a rigorous academic context.

American Literature - UC Approved

Grade level: 11th grade (Two Semesters)

Pre-requisite: World Literature (English 10)

Course description:
This course surveys the writings of American authors in chronological order from the earliest settlers to the twentieth century.  Reading selections cover all genre of writing-essays, journals, speeches, poetry, short stories, novels, and drama-and literary analysis focuses on developing critical thinking skills.  Students continue developing their composition skills through various writing assignments, including speeches, literary analysis, and creative writing. Students continue reviewing the principles of grammar and vocabulary which are necessary for furthering composition skills. They also complete a research paper on the American Melting Pot.

American Literature Honors* - UC Approved

Grade level: 11th grade (Two Semesters)

Pre-requisite: A- (89.75%) or higher in World Literature (English 10) or B- (79.75%) in World Literature H and English Department Head approval

Course description:
This course provides an intensive, analytical study of the writings of American authors in chronological order from the earliest settlers to the twentieth century.  Reading selections cover all genre of writing: essays, journals, speeches, poetry, short stories, novels, and drama.  Literary analysis focuses on critical thinking that will allow students to take AP Literature their senior year if they choose.  Students continue developing their composition skills through various writing assignments, including speeches, literary analysis, and creative writing. Students continue reviewing the principles of grammar and vocabulary which are necessary for furthering composition skills. Students also complete a major research project on a literary drama.  

*As an honors class this course requires students to do more reading than a regular English class.  The English Department guidelines for honors classes emphasize the importance of higher order thinking skills and writing skills within a rigorous academic context.

Language Advanced Placement* - UC Approved

Grade level: 11th grade (Two Semesters)

Pre-requisite: A- (89.75%) or higher in World Literature H and English Department Head approval

Course description:
This course combines the study of American literature with college-level instruction in expository writing.  Students study and write in the major rhetorical modes: narration, description, definition, analysis, classification, comparison/contrast, cause/effect, argument and synthesis.  Students complete a research project on a notable drama.   *As an Advanced Placement class meant to equal a freshman college course, this class requires students to do significantly more work than a regular English class.  In order to succeed, students should possess solid reading and writing skills, along with a willingness to spend considerable time to homework and study.  All students in this class will be expected to pay for and take the AP Language exam in May 2010; a primary class goal will be to prepare for this test.   AP curriculum guidelines stress higher order thinking skills and writing skills within a rigorous academic context.

British Literature - UC Approved

Grade level: 12th grade (Two Semesters)

Pre-requisite: American Literature (English 11)

Course description:
This course is a chronological survey of British literature from the Anglo-Saxon period to the twentieth century.  It includes analytical, reflective, and expository writing, with additional vocabulary, grammar, research, and oral skills emphasized as well. Biblical worldview discussions are incorporated throughout the course, and students study a special unit about our Christian heritage as found in the writings of John Wycliffe, John Foxe, Thomas Cranmer, and William Tyndale.

British Literature Honors* - UC Approved

Grade level: 12th grade (Two Semesters)

Pre-requisite: A- (89.75%) or higher in American Literature (English 10) or B- (79.75%) in American Literature H and English Department Head approval

Course description:
This is a chronological survey of British literature from the Anglo-Saxon period to the twentieth century.  It includes analytical, reflective, and expository writing, with additional vocabulary, grammar, research, and oral skills emphasized as well. Biblical worldview discussions are incorporated throughout the course, and students study a special unit about our Christian heritage as found in the writings of John Wycliffe, John Foxe, Thomas Cranmer, and William Tyndale.

*As an honors class this course requires students to do more reading than a regular English class.  The English Department guidelines for honors classes emphasize the importance of higher order thinking skills and writing skills within a rigorous academic context

Literature Advanced Placement* - UC Approved

Grade level: 12th grade (Two Semesters)

Pre-requisite: A- (89.75%) or higher in American Literature H or B- (79.75%) in AP Language and English Department Head approval

Course description:
This course is a rigorous college-level course. It is designed to enable students to write in order to analyze, understand, explain, and evaluate a literary work to prepare the students to pass the AP exam in May. Students study fiction through short stories from American, British, and world authors and from the novels Jane Eyre, Frankenstein, Crime and Punishment, Heart of Darkness, and a 20th century novel. Students study British poetry chronologically from the Anglo-Saxon period to the modern age. They also read plays ranging in style and eras from Shakespeare to modern American playwrights.

*As an Advanced Placement class meant to equal a freshman college course, this class requires students to do significantly more work than a regular English class. In order to succeed, students should possess solid reading and writing skills, along with a willingness to spend considerable time to homework and study. All students in this class will be expected to pay for and take the AP Literature exam in May 2010; a primary class goal will be to prepare for this test. AP curriculum guidelines stress higher order thinking skills and writing skills within a rigorous academic context.