Eastern Jr/Sr High School English Department Courses

1. Eastern Jr/Sr High SchoolEnglish Department Courses Grades 9-12

2. English 9 • Basic English 9: This class is moderately paced, and covers a variety of topics from reading, writing, grammar and oral presentation. In this class students are introduced to Shakespeare through the reading of Romeo & Juliet, and spend several weeks reading and responding to the play. Students also read a variety of texts from fiction—where we focus on plot and characterization—to nonfiction, where students examine real-world stories and identify markers of nonfiction. • Honors English 9: This class includes a required summer reading project, which is due on the first day of school. The reading is generally high interest and the students enjoy it. During the school year, students spend class time discussing texts and learning together. This class tends to be more fast-paced and students are expected to be more self-directed. For example, more of a text is read independently, so class time is spent responding to reading in various ways rather than reading together.

3. English 10 • Honors 10: This course builds upon and extends the skills learned in English 9 Honors with a continued emphasis on the reading and writing skills necessary for college. At this level the writing program consists of an abbreviated review of the writing process with a focus on narrative, descriptive, informative and persuasive writing. The research paper for this course requires research and organizational skills, keeping notecards, and documenting sources. Students choose their topics with approval from the teacher. This course also includes the study of grammar, vocabulary and literature; reading skills are refined through comprehension exercises and class discussion. Students read William Shakespeare's Macbeth. Additionally, students will read John Knowles novel, A Separate Peace and one additional novel. • Prerequisite: It is highly recommended that the student have worked at a minimum of "B" level in 9th grade English. • English 10 : (A one-year course) This course continues an emphasis on the reading and writing skills necessary for technical training or on-site job skills as well as college. Applications to the work-world and hands-on teaching methods are stressed. There is continued development of word processing skills. The research paper for this course requires research and organizational skills, keeping notecards, and documenting sources. The study of grammar and vocabulary is continued; reading and oral communication skills are developed and refined. Students read William Shakespeare's Macbeth and one novel is introduced and read in class. • Both class cover the following units: Plot, setting and mood, character development, narrative devices, theme, author’s purpose, argument and persuasion, poetry, and author’s style and voice

4. English 11 • English 11, American Literature, focuses on American literature from the early Indians through the 1900's. • There is English 11, Honors English 11, and Advanced Honors English 11. The main difference between English 11 and Honors English 11 is the vocabulary and assignment requirements. English 11 focuses more on the technical aspect of language, whereas the Honors English 11 focuses on the Literary aspect. • Advanced Honors 11 has summer requirements and more outside of the classroom reading.

5. English 12 • Honors English: This is a college preparatory class designed to have students prepared to write and think analytically as well as communicate effectively; students are exposed to a diverse background of fundamental literature as well as classic ideas and themes throughout this course. We journey through the different British literary time periods to establish a basis of understanding for thought. Students are expected to complete a term paper. • AP English: This is a very fast-paced class that requires the ability of students to work individually as well as think creatively and pose valid questions. It has a demanding reading curriculum and regular analytical writing responses. We explore all of the British literary time periods, and students complete the course by taking the AP Literature class at the end of the second semester. Students complete both outside reading projects as well as a term paper. • Dual-credit English: This is a class that is offered through Ball State University during the 2nd semester. The teacher serves as the university professor, and the curriculum is tailored to follow the Eng 103 course that is standard for Ball State students, which is a writing class. We use a college textbook and complete a series of 4 projects throughout the semester. There is a demanding amount of independent work and reading. Students are also expected to participate in an on-line class forum weekly. Upon completion of the course with a grade of C or better, students will receive 3 college credits. There is the possibility that there will be 2 different dual-credit classes offered in the future: one during the fall semester and then the one during the spring semester (both are writing based and successful completion of the fall semester would be a prerequisite for the spring class). If students were to complete both dual-credit classes, they would receive 6 college credits in English.