Course Offerings in English Grade 9 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12
Students are required to earn sixteen (16) English credits for graduation. At least four (4) credits in Writing and Literature A & B, six (6) additional credits in literature, and two (2) credits in oral communication are required. Special Education students must satisfy these requirements for graduation unless the individual education plan specifies an exemption in advance. Students must be enrolled in English for two trimesters each year but may not enroll in more than one English course per trimester except by permission of the department head and the assistant principal. Additionally, students must pass the MCAS English Language Arts test in order to earn a diploma.
Students begin the high school English program by completing a two-part writing and literature course during ninth grade. In tenth grade, Literature as Social Criticism and Oral Communication are required. These courses provide students with intensive practice in the fundamentals of writing and with exposure to a variety of literary forms: poetry, drama, fiction, and nonfiction. Oral Communication stresses the improvement of speaking and listening skills. The ninth and tenth grade sequence is:
Ninth Grade: Writing and Literature A / Writing and Literature B
Tenth Grade: Literature as Social Criticism / Oral Communication
Students must successfully complete the ninth and tenth grade courses before enrolling in eleventh and twelfth grade elective courses.
The broad range of courses offered by the English department is intended to satisfy a variety of interests. However, it is important that students choose courses with care to ensure that they will have completed a balanced program by the time they graduate. To guide this selection, the department offers the following suggestions:
1. Literature:A minimum of two trimesters of literature (one each year) are required in the junior and senior years; it is strongly suggested that students choose at least one literature course from Category One and at least one literature course from Category Two in order to balance Classic and Modern Literature.
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Category 1: The Classics |
Category 2: Modern and Contemporary Literature |
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American Literature and Nature: Claiming the Self |
African-American Literature |
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Ancient and Medieval Literature and Philosophy |
American Literature and Society |
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Bible and Related Literature |
Contemporary Literature and Multicultural Identity |
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British and Irish Literature |
Gay and Lesbian Literature |
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Introduction to Shakespeare |
Modern and Contemporary Poetry |
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Renaissance and Modern Literature and Philosophy |
Women in Literature |
2. Writing: A writing course is not required, but the department recommends that students take one writing course in the junior or senior year from the following offerings:
Creative Writing
Expository Writing
Journalistic Writing
NOTE: Students who wish to pursue English studies beyond the college prep requirements may do so through the honors portfolio process (see below).
All students in English classes will engage in a program of portfolio assessment. A portfolio is a compilation of exemplary work derived from class assignments. Students assemble a portfolio and reflect on their learning during each trimester English course. The student’s teacher will review the portfolio at the end of each trimester and the accompanying comments will detail the student’s progress.
Students who wish to engage in advanced, intensive study in English may do so through the honors project option. The honors project includes the course portfolio assignments and a guided independent study which reflects the content of the specific course. The honors projects are reviewed at the end of each trimester. In order to undertake the honors project, students must have earned at least a B- at midterm. At the beginning of each course, students receive information describing the course portfolio and honors project in more detail.
The English department’s 11/12 literature electives challenge students to examine texts through the multiple lenses of literary criticism. Each course syllabus includes works of literature from the suggested reading list provided by the College Board for Advanced Placement courses in literature. Students in these classes can pursue AP projects through substantial independent work as literary critics with selected texts. Students who enroll in TWO literature classes over the course of their junior and senior years and successfully complete an Advanced Placement Project in both will receive AP credit on their transcripts. The equivalent of one full year [or two trimesters] of AP work is required to meet College Board Advanced Placement standards. Students who choose only one of the literature electives in the 11th or 12th grades can receive honors credit for the successful completion of a single AP project. It is recommended that students opting for the AP option maintain a B- or better average in their English course. A third AP project is not required for students who have successfully completed two AP projects and enroll in a third literature course during the 11th and 12th grade.
Students who wish to fulfill AP credit requirements must choose one course from the Category 1: Classics list and one course from the Category 2: Modern and Contemporary Literature list. See previous page.
Eleventh and twelfth grade electives in English build on the skills and experiences acquired in the ninth and tenth grade courses. Therefore, students who fail these courses must fulfill the course requirements in one of the following ways:
1. Successfully completing the approved summer school course (e.g., Encounters in Literature, Essentials of Writing, or Oral Communication). Approval to take one of these summer school courses for English credit is based on the student earning a grade of 50% or better in the regular English curriculum or permission of an administrator.
2. Repeating the course (on a space available basis).
Some of the 11th and 12th grade literature classes rotate from year to year, so students should consult the chart below when planning for course selection. This rotation is organized to provide three writing classes, two or three classic literature classes, and four contemporary literature classes in each year of the cycle.
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11th/12th Grade English Electives for 2012-2013 |
11th/12th Grade English Electives for 2013-2014 |
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African-American Literature Ancient and Medieval Literature
American Literature and Nature Bible and Related Literature Contemporary Literature and Multicultural Identity Gay and Lesbian Literature Women in Literature Creative Writing Expository Writing Journalistic Writing |
African-American Literature
American Literature and Nature British and Irish Literature Contemporary Literature and Multicultural Identity Gay and Lesbian Literature Renaissance and Modern Literature Women in Literature Creative Writing Expository Writing Journalistic Writing |