English Language Arts
|
Course Title |
Vendor |
Prerequisite |
NCAA Approved |
HS Credit |
AP English Language & Composition S1 |
FlexPoint |
|
Y |
.5 |
AP English Language & Composition S2 |
FlexPoint |
AP English Language & Composition S1 |
Y |
.5 |
AP English Literature & Composition S1 |
FlexPoint |
|
Y |
.5 |
AP English Literature & Composition S2 |
FlexPoint |
AP English Literature & Composition S1 |
Y |
.5 |
Creative Writing: Unleashing the Core of Your Imagination |
eDynamic |
|
|
.5 |
English I Honors S1 |
FlexPoint |
|
Y |
.5 |
English I Honors S2 |
FlexPoint |
English I Honors S1 |
Y |
.5 |
English I S1 |
FlexPoint |
|
Y |
.5 |
English I S2 |
FlexPoint |
English I S1 |
Y |
.5 |
English II Honors S1 |
FlexPoint |
|
Y |
.5 |
English II Honors S2 |
FlexPoint |
English II Honors S1 |
Y |
.5 |
English II S1 |
FlexPoint |
|
Y |
.5 |
English II S2 |
FlexPoint |
English II S1 |
Y |
.5 |
English III Honors S1 |
FlexPoint |
|
Y |
.5 |
English III Honors S2 |
FlexPoint |
English III Honors S1 |
Y |
.5 |
English III S1 |
FlexPoint |
|
Y |
.5 |
English III S2 |
FlexPoint |
English III S1 |
Y |
.5 |
English IV College Prep S1 |
FlexPoint |
|
|
.5 |
English IV College Prep S2 |
FlexPoint |
English IV College Prep S1 |
|
.5 |
English IV Honors S1 |
FlexPoint |
|
Y |
.5 |
English IV Honors S2 |
FlexPoint |
English IV Honors S1 |
Y |
.5 |
English IV S1 |
FlexPoint |
|
Y |
.5 |
English IV S2 |
FlexPoint |
English IV S1 |
Y |
.5 |
Gothic Literature |
eDynamic |
|
|
.5 |
Intensive Reading: A Universe of Reading S1 |
FlexPoint |
|
|
.5 |
Intensive Reading: A Universe of Reading S2 |
FlexPoint |
Intensive Reading: A Universe of Reading S1 |
|
.5 |
Intensive Reading: Fields of Reading S1 |
FlexPoint |
|
|
.5 |
Intensive Reading: Fields of Reading S2 |
FlexPoint |
Intensive Reading: Fields of Reading S1 |
|
.5 |
Journalism 1a: Introduction |
eDynamic |
|
Y |
.5 |
Journalism 1b: Investigating the Truth |
eDynamic |
Journalism 1a: Introduction |
Y |
.5 |
Journalism S1 |
FlexPoint |
|
Y |
.5 |
Journalism S2 |
FlexPoint |
Journalism S1 |
Y |
.5 |
Mythology & Folklore |
eDynamic |
|
|
.5 |
Public Speaking 1a |
eDynamic |
|
Y |
.5 |
Public Speaking 1b |
eDynamic |
Public Speaking 1a |
Y |
.5 |
Reading and Writing for Purpose |
eDynamic |
|
|
.5 |
Speech |
Accelerate Education |
|
|
.5 |
The Lord of the Rings: An Exploration of the Films & Their Literary Influences |
eDynamic |
|
|
.5 |
|
English Language Arts
|
Course Title |
ONE Semester Course |
TWO Semester Course |
Honors |
NCAA Approved |
Credit Recovery Available |
CTE |
Vendors |
Singleton Available |
AP English Language & Composition |
|
X |
|
X |
|
|
Apex |
X |
AP English Literature & Composition (Materials Required Order) |
|
X |
|
X |
|
|
Apex |
X |
Creative Writing |
X |
|
|
X |
|
|
Apex |
X |
English 10 |
|
X |
Apex & FlexPoint |
X |
X |
|
Apex & FlexPoint |
Apex Only |
English 11 |
|
X |
Apex & FlexPoint |
X |
X |
|
Apex & FlexPoint |
Apex Only |
English 12 |
|
X |
Apex & FlexPoint |
X |
X |
|
Apex & FlexPoint |
Apex Only |
English 9 |
|
X |
Apex & FlexPoint |
X |
X |
|
Apex & FlexPoint |
Apex Only |
English Foundations I |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
Apex |
X |
English Foundations II |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
Apex |
X |
English IV College Prep |
|
X |
|
X |
|
|
FlexPoint |
|
Gothic Literature |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
eDynamic |
X |
Intensive Reading: A Universe of Reading |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
FlexPoint |
|
Intensive Reading: Fields of Reading |
|
X |
|
|
|
|
FlexPoint |
|
Journalism |
|
X |
|
X |
|
|
FlexPoint |
|
Journalism 1a: Introduction |
X |
|
|
X |
|
|
eDynamic |
X |
Journalism 1b: Investigating the Truth |
X |
|
|
X |
|
|
eDynamic |
X |
Lord of the Rings: An Exploration of the Films and their Literary Influences |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
eDynamic |
X |
Media Literacy |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Apex |
X |
Mythology & Folklore: Legendary Tales |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
eDynamic |
X |
Public Speaking 1a: Introduction |
X |
|
|
X |
|
|
eDynamic |
X |
Public Speaking 1b: Finding Your Voice |
X |
|
|
X |
|
|
eDynamic |
X |
Reading Skills & Strategies |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Apex |
X |
Writing Skills & Strategies |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
Apex |
X |
|
CREDIT: 0.5 per semester
GRADE LEVEL: 10-12
PREREQUISITE: None
AP® English Language and Composition course invites students to investigate rhetoric and its impact on culture through analysis of notable fiction and nonfiction texts, from pamphlets to speeches to personal essays. The equivalent of an introductory college-level survey class, this course prepares students for the AP exam and for further study in communications, creative writing, journalism, literature, and composition.
Students explore a variety of textual forms, styles, and genres. By examining all texts through a rhetorical lens, students become skilled readers and analytical thinkers. Focusing specifically on language, purpose, and audience gives them a broad view of the effect of text and its cultural role. Students write expository and narrative texts to hone the effectiveness of their own use of language, and they develop varied, informed arguments through research. Throughout the course, students are evaluated with assessments specifically designed to prepare them for the content, form, and depth of the AP® Exam.
AP® English Language and Composition is recommended for 11th and 12th grade students. This course fulfills 11th grade requirements. Consequently, we recommend that students take only one of the following courses: English 11, Texas English III, and AP English Language and Composition.
Required Materials:
Semester 1:
The Great Gatsby. F. Scott Fitzgerald. (Knopf Doubleday, 1997).
ISBN-10: 0743273567 / ISBN-13: 9780743273565 / $22.00
This book is also required for 11th grade English and is included in the general studies book set.
Other editions acceptable.
Into the Wild. Jon Krakauer. (Scribner, 1995).
ISBN-10: 0385486804 / ISBN-13: 9780385486804 / $20.00
Other editions acceptable.
Semester 2:
A Raisin in the Sun. Lorraine Hansberry. (Vintage, 2004).
ISBN-10: 0679755330 / ISBN-13: 9780679755333 / $11.00
This book is also required for 11th grade English and is included in the general studies book set.
Other editions acceptable.
The Way to Rainy Mountain. N. Scott Momaday.
(University of New Mexico Press, 1969).
ISBN-10: 0826304362 / ISBN-13: 9780826304360 / $22.00
This book is also required for 11th grade English and is included in the general studies book set.
Other editions acceptable
The Grapes of Wrath. John Steinbeck. (Penguin Classics, 2006).
ISBN-10: 0143039431 / ISBN-13: 9780143039433 / $24.00
Other editions acceptable.
The Things They Carried. Tim O’Brien. (Mariner Books, 2009).
ISBN-10: 0618706410 / ISBN-13: 9780618706419 / $21.00
Other editions acceptable.
CREDIT: 0.5 per semester
GRADE LEVEL: 10-12
PREREQUISITE: At least a B-grade in most recent English course
AP® English Literature and Composition immerses students in novels, plays, poems, and short stories from various periods. Students will read and write daily, using a variety of multimedia and interactive activities, interpretive writing assignments, and class discussions to assess and improve their skills and knowledge. The course places special emphasis on reading comprehension, structural and critical analysis of written works, literary vocabulary, and recognizing and understanding literary devices. The equivalent of an introductory college-level survey class, this course prepares students for the AP® exam and for further study in creative writing, communications, journalism, literature, and composition.
Required Materials:
Semesters 1 and 2: Required
- The Norton Anthology of Poetry, 6th ed. Margaret Ferguson et al, eds. (W.W. Norton, 2018).
ISBN-10: 0393679020 / ISBN-13: 97803936790210
Acceptable alternate: 5th ed. (2005). ISBN 10: 0393979202
Acceptable alternate: 4th ed. (1996). ISBN-10: 0393968200
- The Story and Its Writer, 10th ed. Ann Charters (Bedford/St. Martins, 2018).
ISBN-10: 1319105602 / ISBN-13: 9781319105600
Acceptable alternate: 9th ed. (2014). ISBN-10: 1457665557
Acceptable alternate: 8th ed. (2010). ISBN-10: 0312596231
Semester 1: Required
- Hedda Gabler. Henrik Ibsen (Dover, 1990).
ISBN-10: 0486264696 / ISBN-13: 9780486264691
Other editions acceptable.
- A Streetcar Named Desire. Tennessee Williams (New Directions Publishing Corporation, 2004).
ISBN-10: 0811216020 / ISBN-13: 9780811216029
Other editions acceptable.
- Their Eyes Were Watching God. Zora Neale Hurston (Harper, 2006).
ISBN-10: 0060838671 / ISBN-13: 9780060838676
Other editions acceptable.
- Twelfth Night. William Shakespeare. Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine, eds.
(Washington Square Press, 1993).
ISBN-10: 0743482778 / ISBN-13: 9780743482776
Other editions acceptable
Semester 2: Required
- The Great Gatsby. F. Scott Fitzgerald (Scribner, 1994).
ISBN-10: 0743273567 / ISBN-13: 9780743273565
Other editions acceptable.
Ebook available online: https://www.openrightslibrary.com/the-great-gatsby-ebook/
- Annie John. Jamaica Kincaid (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1985).
ISBN-10: 0374525102 / ISBN-13: 9780374525101
Other editions acceptable.
- Jane Eyre. Charlotte Bronte. Michael Mason, ed. (Penguin, 2006).
ISBN-10: 0141441143 / ISBN-13: 9780141441146
Other editions acceptable.
CREDIT: 0.5
GRADE LEVEL: 11-12
PREREQUISITE: English 10
Creative Writing course is an English elective course that focuses on the exploration of short fiction and poetry, culminating in a written portfolio that includes one revised short story and three to five polished poems. Students draft, revise, and polish fiction and poetry through writing exercises, developing familiarity with literary terms and facility with the writing process as they study elements of creative writing.
Elements of fiction writing explored in this course include attention to specific detail, observation, character development, setting, plot, and point of view. In the poetry units, students learn about the use of sensory details and imagery, figurative language, and sound devices including rhyme, rhythm and alliteration. They also explore poetic forms ranging from found poems and slam poetry to traditional sonnets and villanelles.
In addition to applying literary craft elements in guided creative writing exercises, students engage in critical reading activities designed to emphasize the writing craft of a diverse group of authors. Students study short stories by authors such as Bharati Mukherjee and Edgar Allan Poe, learning how to create believable characters and develop setting and plot. Likewise, students read poetry by canonical greats such as W. B. Yeats and Emily Dickinson as well as contemporary writers such as Pablo Neruda, Sherman Alexie, and Alice Notley. Studying the writing technique of a range of authors provides students with models and inspiration as they develop their own voices and refine their understanding of the literary craft.
By taking a Creative Writing course, students find new approaches to reading and writing that can affect them on a personal level, as the skills they gain in each lesson directly benefit their own creative goals. Students who are already actively engaged writers and readers learn additional tools and insight into the craft of writing to help them further hone their skills and encourage their creative as well as academic growth. All English elective content is based on the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) standards.
Required Materials: None
CREDIT: 0.5 per semester
GRADE LEVEL: 10
PREREQUISITE: English 9
The focus of English 10 is the writing process. Three writing applications guide the curriculum: persuasive, expository, and narrative writing. Each lesson culminates in a written assignment that lets students demonstrate their developing skill in one of these applications.
English 10 includes at least one anchor text per lesson, but the essays, articles, stories, poems, and speeches are often presented as models for students to emulate as they practice their own writing. So that these readings may serve as proper examples for students, a high proportion of texts for this course are original pieces.
English 10 also continues to develop students’ reading, listening, and speaking skills. Readings include poems, stories, speeches, plays, and a graphic novel, as well as a variety of informational texts. The readings represent a wide variety of purposes and cultural perspectives, ranging from the Indian epic The Ramayana to accounts of Hurricane Katrina told through different media. Audio and video presentations enhance students’ awareness and command of rhetorical techniques and increase their understanding of writing for different audiences.
Required Materials (Apex): Check out at local library
- American Born Chinese. Gene Luen Yang. (Suare Fish, 2008). ISBN-10: 0312384483 / ISBN-13: 9780312384487 / $14.00 -- Other editions acceptable.
- Fast Food Nation. Eric Schlosser. (Mariner Books, 2012). ISBN-10: 0547750331 / ISBN-13: 9780547750330 / $21.00 -- Other editions acceptable.
CREDIT: 0.5 per semester
GRADE LEVEL: 11
PREREQUISITES: English 9, 10
In our English 11 course, students examine the belief systems, events, and literature that have shaped the United States. They begin by studying the language of independence and the system of government developed by Thomas Jefferson and other enlightened thinkers. Next, they explore how the Romantics and Transcendentalists emphasized the power and responsibility of the individual in both supporting and questioning the government. Students consider whether the American Dream is still achievable and examine the Modernists’ disillusionment with the idea that America is a “land of opportunity.”
Reading the words of Frederick Douglass and the text of the Civil Rights Act, students look carefully at the experience of African Americans and their struggle to achieve equal rights. Students explore how individuals cope with the influence of war and cultural tensions while trying to build and secure their own personal identity. Finally, students examine how technology is affecting our contemporary experience of freedom: Will we eventually change our beliefs about what it means to be an independent human being?
In this course, students analyze a wide range of literature, both fiction and nonfiction. They build writing skills by composing analytical essays, persuasive essays, personal narratives, and research papers. In order to develop speaking and listening skills, students participate in discussions and give speeches. Overall, students gain an understanding of the way American literature represents the array of voices contributing to our multicultural identity.
Required Materials (Apex):
Semester 1: Check out at local library
The Great Gatsby. F. Scott Fitzgerald. (Scribner, 1995). ISBN-10: 0743273567 / ISBN-13: 9780743273565 / $22.00
Other editions acceptable.
Semester 2: Check out at local library
A Raisin in the Sun. Lorraine Hansberry. (Vintage, 2004). ISBN-10: 0679755330 / ISBN-13: 9780679755333 / $11.00
Other editions acceptable.
A Way to Rainy Mountain. N. Scott Momaday. (University of New Mexico Press, 1969). ISBN-10: 0826304362 / ISBN-13: 9780826304360 / $22.00
Other editions acceptable.
CREDIT: 0.5 per semester
GRADE LEVEL: 12
PREREQUISITE: English 9, 10, 11
Our English 12 course asks students to closely analyze British literature and world literature and consider how we humans define and interact with the unknown, the monstrous, and the heroic. In the epic poems The Odyssey, Beowulf, and The Inferno, in Shakespeare’s Tempest, in the satire of Swift, and in the rhetoric of World War II, students examine how the ideas of “heroic” and “monstrous” have been defined across cultures and time periods and how the treatment of the “other” can make monsters or heroes of us all. Reading Frankenstein and works from those who experienced the imperialism of the British Empire, students explore the notion of inner monstrosity and consider how the dominant culture can be seen as monstrous in its ostensibly heroic goal of enlightening the world.
Throughout this course, students analyze a wide range of literature, both fiction and nonfiction. They build writing skills by composing analytical essays, persuasive essays, personal narratives, and research papers. In order to develop speaking and listening skills, students participate in discussions and give speeches. Overall, students gain an understanding of the way British and world literature represent the array of voices that contribute to our global identity.
Apex Required Materials:
Semester 1: Optional
Robinson Crusoe. Daniel Defoe. (Penguin Random House Llc, 2008). ISBN-10: 0-451-53077-2 / ISBN-13: 978-0-451-53077-6 / $8.00
Other editions are acceptable.
NOTE: This book is provided in digital format in the course. If students wish to read offline, purchase or check out at the local library.
The Tempest. William Shakespeare. (Simon & Schuster, 2004). ISBN-10: 0156027321 / ISBN-13: 9780743482837 / $8.00
Other editions are acceptable.
NOTE: This book is provided in digital format in the course. If students wish to read offline, purchase or check out at the local library.
Semester 2: Optional
Frankenstein. Mary Shelley. (Dover Publications, 1994). ISBN-10: 0486282112 / ISBN-13: 9780486282114 / $8.00
Other editions are acceptable.
NOTE: This book is provided in digital format in the course. If students wish to read offline, purchase or check out at the local library.
CREDIT: 0.5 per semester
GRADE LEVEL: 9
PREREQUISITE: None
Our English 9 course is an overview of exemplar selections of literature in fiction and nonfiction genres. Students read short stories, poems, a full-length novel, and a full-length Shakespeare play, analyzing the use of elements of literature in developing character, plot, and theme. For example, in selected stories, students compare the effect of setting on tone and character development. Likewise, in the poetry unit, students analyze how artists and writers draw from and interpret source material.
Each unit includes informational texts inviting students to consider the historical, social, and literary context of the main texts they study. For example, in the first semester, a Nikolai Gogol story that is offered as an exemplar of magical realism is accompanied by instruction on that genre. Together, the lesson content and reading prompt students to demonstrate their understanding of magical realism by analyzing its qualities in a literary text.
Throughout the course, students respond to others’ claims and support their own claims in essays, discussions, and presentations, consistently using thorough textual evidence. The range of texts includes canonical authors such as William Shakespeare, Franz Kafka, and Elie Wiesel, as well as writers from diverse backgrounds, such as Alice Walker, Li-Young Lee, and Robert Lake-Thom (Medicine Grizzlybear).
Required Materials Apex:
Semester 1:
OPTIONAL: The Metamorphosis. Franz Kafka. David Wyllie, translator. (Classix Press, 2009).
ISBN-10: 1557427666 / ISBN-13: 9781557427663 / $9.00
Other editions are acceptable.
NOTE: This book is provided in digital format in the course. If students wish to read offline, purchase or check out at local library.
Semester 2:
OPTIONAL: Macbeth. William Shakespeare. Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine, eds. (Simon & Schuster, 2003). ISBN-10: 0743477103 / ISBN-13: 9780743477109 / $9.00 Other editions acceptable.
NOTE: This book is provided in digital format in the course. If students wish to read offline, purchase or check out at local library.
CREDIT: 0.5 per semester
GRADE LEVEL: 9-12
PREREQUISITE: None
Our English Foundations I course supports adolescent literacy development at the critical stage between decoding and making meaning from text. Through intensive reading and writing skills instruction, deep practice sets, consistent formative feedback, graduated reading levels, and helpful strategy tips, the course leads students to improved comprehension and text handling.
Semester 1 provides instruction in basic reading skills and vocabulary building. The student learns what a successful reader does to attack words and sentences and make meaning from them. Semester 2 provides instruction in basic writing skills, introduces academic tools, and demonstrates effective study skills. The student learns step-by-step processes for building effective paragraphs and learns how to use academic tools such as reference books and outlines. To provide additional support, the course uses text features and visual clues to draw students’ attention to important information. The use of text features is also designed to help students internalize strategies for comprehending informational text.
Characters appear throughout the instruction to offer tips and fix-up strategies in an authentic, first-person, think-aloud format. Their inclusion makes transparent the reading processes that go on inside the mind of a successful reader. This extra metacognitive support serves to bolster student confidence and provide a model of process and perseverance.
Numerous practice opportunities are provided in the form of assessments that move from no stakes to low stakes to high stakes throughout a unit. This practice is centered on authentic and age-appropriate passages that are written in a topical framework and use controlled syntax and vocabulary. The difficulty of these passages gradually increases from a 3rd- to 5th grade reading level over the duration of the course. Additional support is offered through significant formative feedback in practice and assessment.
This course guides students through the reading, writing, and basic academic skills needed to prepare for success in academic coursework. At the end of the course, the student should be poised for continued success in the academic world. The content is based on extensive national and state standards research and consultation with reading specialists and classroom teachers.
Required Materials: None. Reading materials are provided digitally in the course.
CREDIT: 0.5 per semester
GRADE LEVEL: 9-12
PREREQUISITE: None
Our English Foundations II course offers a year of skill building and strategy development in reading and writing. Semester one is a reading program designed to help struggling readers develop mastery in the areas of reading comprehension, vocabulary building, study skills, and media literacy. Semester two is a writing program that builds confidence in composition fundamentals by focusing on the areas of composing, grammar, style, and media literacy. Both semesters are structured around ten mini-units which offer interactive instruction and guided practice in each of the four learning strands. Students read for a variety of purposes and write for a variety of audiences. The workshops stress high interest, engaging use of technology, relevant topics, and robustly scaffolded practice. Students learn to use different types of graphic organizers as they develop and internalize reading and writing process strategies. They build confidence as they develop skills and experience success on numerous low stakes assessments that encourage growth and reinforce learning.
The reading program content is based on the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), International Reading Association (IRA), National Reading Program (NRP), and McREL, standards and aligned to state standards.
Required Materials: None. Reading materials are provided digitally in the course.
CREDIT: 0.5 per semester
GRADE LEVEL: 12
PREREQUISITE: None
In this course students will develop the skills they need to gain insights from what they read and to use their knowledge in creative and analytical writing. The course begins with fundamentals in reading and writing. From there, students will apply those concepts to closely read and analyze contemporary and historical informational text. The texts they read provide the background for narrative, informative/explanatory, and argument writing. The strategies the students practice in this course will prepare them for the demands of reading, writing, and communicating in college and the workplace.
Required Materials: None. Reading materials are provided digitally in the course.
CREDIT: 0.5
GRADE LEVEL: 9-12
PREREQUISITE: None
From vampires to ghosts, these frightening stories have influenced fiction writers since the 18th century. This course will focus on the major themes found in Gothic literature and demonstrate how the core writing drivers produce, for the reader, a thrilling psychological environment. Terror versus horror, the influence of the supernatural, and descriptions of the difference between good and evil are just a few of the themes presented. By the time students have completed this course, they will have gained an understanding of and an appreciation for the complex nature of dark fiction.
Required Materials:
Check out at local library: Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley; The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson; Dracula, by Bram Stoker; “The Black Cat” and “Berenice”, by Edgar Allan Poe.
CREDIT: 0.5 per semester
GRADE LEVEL: 9-12
PREREQUISITE: None
The purpose of this course is to provide instruction that enables you to accelerate the development of reading and writing skills, and to strengthen those skills so you are able to successfully read and write grade-level text independently. Instruction emphasizes reading comprehension, writing fluency, and vocabulary study through the use of a variety of literary and informational texts that encompass a broad range of text structures, genres, and levels of complexity.
Required Materials: None. Reading materials are provided digitally in the course.
CREDIT: 0.5 per semester
GRADE LEVEL: 9-12
PREREQUISITE: None
This course will engage you in interactive text-based discussions, question generation, and research opportunities. You will write in response to reading, and cite evidence when answering text dependent questions orally and in writing. Scaffolding is provided as necessary as you will engage in reading and writing increasingly complex text, and is removed as your reading and writing abilities improve over time.
Required Materials: None. Reading materials are provided digitally in the course.
CREDIT: 0.5 per semester
GRADE LEVEL: 9-12
PREREQUISITE: None
If you’re the first to know what’s going on in your school or town, or the first to post on Facebook or Instagram about your favorite TV shows or favorite celebrities, then you’re just the person that every online, in-print, and broadcast news outlet is looking for. And Journalism: Investigating the Truth is the perfect course for you! In this course, you’ll learn how to write a lead that grabs your readers, how to write engaging news stories and features, and how to interview sources. You’ll also learn about the history of journalism, how to succeed in the world of social media news, and how to turn your writing, photography, and people skills into an exciting and rewarding career.
CREDIT: 0.5 per semester
GRADE LEVEL: 9-12
PREREQUISITE: None
Does your curiosity lead you to the heart of the matter? Channel this curiosity into developing strong writing, critical thinking, and research skills to perform interviews and write influential pieces, such as articles and blog posts. Learn about the evolution of journalism and its ethics, bias, and career directions to forge your path in this field.
Required Materials:
Software
CREDIT: 0.5 per semester
GRADE LEVEL: 9-12
PREREQUISITE: None
Journalists are asked to tell the world a story every single day—and their job is, to tell the truth. Learn how to choose a topic, structure your story, research facts, hone your observational skills, and write an article following journalism tradition. Go beyond the print world and discover how journalism can lead to exciting careers that will put you right in the action.
Required Materials:
Software
CREDIT: 0.5
RADE LEVEL: 9-12
PREREQUISITE: None
Hobbits, Orcs, wizards, dashing knights, and powerful elves are all part of the magic created in J.R.R. Tolkien’s famously epic tale, The Lord of the Rings. For years, the vivid characters within this beloved story could exist only in the readers’ minds—until it was adapted into a movie that allowed fans to finally see, through the eyes of Hollywood magic and brilliant technology, the manifestation of these characters on screen. What does it take to transport these well-known images like Gollum and the Shire from dusty pages to the giant screen? In The Lord of the Rings: An Exploration of the Films & Its Literary Influences, you will see first-hand how classic literature can become modern film and bring the fantasy alive for a whole new generation of believers.
Required Materials:
You will be required to have access to the standard (non-extended) editions of the three Lord of the Rings films: • The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring • The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers • The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King If you do not already have access to these movies, you may consider other sources such as your local library. Note: Timestamps referenced throughout the course apply to standard editions of the applicable film and may not align with any extended/modified versions.
CREDIT: 0.5
GRADE LEVEL: 9-12
PREREQUISITE: None
Our online Media Literacy course teaches students how to build the critical thinking, writing, and reading skills required in a media-rich and increasingly techno-centric world. In a world saturated with media messages, digital environments, and social networking, concepts of literacy must expand to include all forms of media. Today’s students need to be able to read, comprehend, analyze, and respond to non-traditional media with the same skill level they engage with traditional print sources.
A major topic in Media Literacy is non-traditional media reading skills, including how to approach, analyze, and respond to advertisements, blogs, websites, social media, news media, and wikis. Students also engage in a variety of writing activities in non-traditional media genres, such as blogging and podcast scripting.
Students consider their own positions as consumers of media and explore ways to use non-traditional media to become more active and thoughtful citizens. Students learn how to ask critical questions about the intended audience and underlying purpose of media messages, and study factors that can contribute to bias and affect credibility.
The course content is based on The National Association for Media Literacy Education’s Core Principles of Media Literacy Education, as well as aggregate state standards and research into best pedagogical practices.
Required Materials: None. Materials are provided digitally in the course.
CREDIT: 0.5
GRADE LEVEL: 9-12
PREREQUISITE: None
Mighty heroes. Angry gods and goddesses. Cunning animals. Mythology and folklore have been used since the first people gathered around the fire as a way to make sense of humankind and our world. This course focuses on the many myths and legends woven into cultures around the world. Starting with an overview of mythology and the many kinds of folklore, the student will journey with ancient heroes as they slay dragons and outwit the gods, follow fearless warrior women into battle and watch as clever animals outwit those stronger than themselves. They will explore the universality and social significance of myths and folklore, and see how they still shape society today.
Required Materials: None. Reading materials are provided digitally in the course.
CREDIT: 0.5
GRADE LEVEL: 9-12
PREREQUISITE: None
Do you strive to gain more confidence when speaking in front of people? Learn techniques from famous speakers throughout history while learning what it takes to make a great speech. Develop skills that will serve you well throughout your career and personal life.
CREDIT: 0.5
GRADE LEVEL: 9-12
PREREQUISITE: Public Speaking 1a
Bring your speeches to life by learning about body language, vocal, and other techniques. Learn about logic and reason while gaining the confidence to help create and deliver great presentations and speeches. You will also critically examine your speeches and presentations and those of others to improve upon your in-person and virtual presentation skills.
CREDIT: 0.5
GRADE LEVEL: 9-12
PREREQUISITE: None
Reading Skills and Strategies is a course designed to help the struggling reader develop mastery in the areas of reading comprehension, vocabulary building, study skills, and media literacy, which are the course’s primary content strands. Using these strands, the course guides the student through the skills necessary to be successful in the academic world and beyond. The reading comprehension strand focuses on introducing the student to the varied purposes of reading (e.g., for entertainment, for information, to complete a task, or to analyze). In the vocabulary strand, the student learns specific strategies for understanding and remembering new vocabulary. In the study skills strand, the student learns effective study and test-taking strategies. In the media literacy strand, the student learns to recognize and evaluate persuasive techniques, purposes, design choices, and effects of media. The course encourages personal enjoyment in reading with 10 interviews featuring the book choices and reading adventures of students and members of the community.
Required Materials: None. Reading materials are provided digitally in the course.
CREDIT: 0.5
GRADE LEVEL: 9-12
PREREQUISITE: None
Our online Writing Skills and Strategies course develops key language arts skills necessary for high school graduation and success on high stakes exams through a semester of interactive instruction and guided practice in composition fundamentals. The course is divided into ten mini-units of study. The first two are designed to build early success and confidence, orienting students to the writing process and to sentence and paragraph essentials through a series of low-stress, high-interest hook activities. In subsequent units, students review, practice, compose and submit one piece of writing. Four key learning strands are integrated throughout: composition practice, grammar skill building, diction and style awareness, and media and technology exploration. Guided studies emphasize the structure of essential forms of writing encountered in school, in life, and in the workplace. Practice in these forms is scaffolded to accommodate learners at different skill levels.
Required Materials: None. Materials are provided digitally in the course.
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