ENGLISH 9-P, ENGLISH 9-P/Freshman Focus; ENGLISH 10-P, and 10-P-XL

(1 year) 9^th – 10^th grade                

Prerequisite:  

English 9 (1 period):     None

English 9 (2 periods):   Placement determined by state assessment results (STAR), district assessments, and staff recommendat

English 10:                    Previous enrollment in Grade 9

English 10-P-XL:          Satisfy 10-P-XL Criteria.  This course requires completion of summer assignments for fall enrollment.

All English 9 and 10 classes offer an integrated reading, writing, listening and speaking curriculum.  The meaning-based study of literature will provide varied opportunities for learning and development of critical thinking skills.  Writing assignments will allow students to discover their own voice as they experience a wide range of audiences, purposes, and forms.  Classroom activities will include frequent opportunities for active speaking and listening.  Direct punctuation, usage, and grammar instruction will be included as needed for the class or the individual to improve student writing and speaking.  When possible, vocabulary and spelling lessons will be linked to context in the literary selections and students' writing.  Students will be guided and encouraged to become "real" readers, writers, speakers, and listeners.  English 10-P-XL requires completion of summer assignments for fall enrollment.  The two-period course allows for additional intervention strategies, and differentiated instruction.  English 9-P/Freshman Focus is designed to meet all of the above and is designed for the English learner students.

ENGLISH 11-P

ENGLISH 12-P

(1 year) 11^th – 12^th grade                                         Prerequisite:  Grade 11:  Previous enrollment in Grade 10

                                                                                                                    Grade 12:  Previous enrollment in Grade 11

English 11P-12P offers an integrated reading, writing, listening and speaking curriculum.  The meaning-based study of literature will provide varied opportunities for learning and development of critical thinking skills.  Writing assignments will allow students to discover their own voice as they experience a wide range of audiences, purposes, and forms.  Classroom activities will include frequent opportunities for active speaking and listening.  Direct punctuation, usage, and grammar instruction will be included as needed for the class or the individual to improve student writing and speaking.  When possible, vocabulary and spelling lessons will be linked to context in the literary selections and student writing.  Students will be guided and encouraged to become "real" readers, writers, speakers, and listeners.

AP ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION
(VHS/WCW) (1 year)  11^th – 12^th grade       Prerequisite:  Satisfy AP entrance requirement.  This course requires completion of summer work.

This course is designed for students capable of producing college-level work in a secondary school setting, and assumes advance reading and writing fluency, a strong willingness and ability to communicate orally, and a mature independence demonstrated by the completion of complex tasks in a responsible manner.  This course is designed for the student who shows exceptional ability in reading, writing, and analytical thinking.  Special emphasis will be on students refining their writing in the areas of coherence, logic, expression of themes, organization, and sentence fluency.  This course presents a survey of major expression of themes, organization, and sentence fluency.  Additionally, it presents a survey of major American writers, works, and literary themes.  Special emphasis is given to non-fiction, and composition of the "synthesis essay."  Students are expected to react to readings through frequent writing assignments; these include weekly essays, in-depth study of authors, a research paper, or essay examinations.
 

AP ENGLISH LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION

(VHS/WCW) (1 year) 12^th grade                             Prerequisite:  Satisfy AP Entrance Criteria.  This course requires completion of                                                                                                                                                     summer assignments for fall enrollment.

This course is designed to enhance college-level reading and response to literature.  It is for students who wish to satisfy requirements for the first year of college English while still in high school.  The course prepares students for and culminates in the AP Literature Exam in May.  Students should expect a rigorous study focusing on literary analysis and critical argument.

ENGLISH EXIT EXAM BASICS

(VHS/WCW) (1 sem – may be repeated with instructor’s permission) 12^th grade, retained 11^th, 11^th (second semester)

                                                                                Prerequisite:   Failure to pass the English-Language Arts part of the CAHSEE.
 

This course is designed to specifically address the reading and written language skills necessary to pass the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE), a graduation requirement.  Seniors as well as retained juniors who have not passed the CAHSEE will be enrolled in this course unless a written waiver from a parent/guardian is received by the school.   Credit for this course may be used to replace a failed English course.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT III:  STRUCTURES AND APPLICATIONS

(VHS/WCW) (1 - 3 years) 9^th – 12^th grade              Prerequisite:  English Language Development II or equivalent

ELD III:  Structures and Applications is a course for English Learners.  This foundation course emphasizes listening and speaking, writing, grammar, and reading skills in English.  Students learn the essential vocabulary to perform in those skill areas.  They read dialogues, short narratives, and simple stories.  They ask and answer questions, make interpretations, perform analysis, complete summaries, develop vocabulary and engage in reflections about their readings. This course counts towards graduation requirements for English.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT IV

(VHS/WCW) (1 - 3 years) 9^th – 12^th grade              Prerequisite:  Successful completion of English Language Development III or equivalent

English Language Development IV is designed to help the English Learner develop and refine reading and writing skills.  Writing assignments allow students to discover their own voice as they experience a wide range of audiences, purposes, and forms.  Classroom activities include frequent opportunities for active speaking and listening.  Direct instruction in punctuation usage and grammar are included, as needed, to improve student reading, writing and speaking.  Vocabulary and spelling lessons are linked to literacy selections and student writing.  Students are guided and encouraged to become "real" readers, writers, speakers, and listeners.  This course counts toward graduation requirements for English.

NEWSPAPER PRODUCTION
(VHS/WCW)  (1 sem)  9^th – 12^th grade                   Prerequisite:  B average in English or teacher permission.

Newspaper production students are responsible for the preparation and production of the school paper.  The production areas are:  writing, layout, advertising, photography, and commercial art.