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Academics :: Course Catalog :: English

Note:  The letter following the course title indicates which University of California A-G requirement the course fulfills.  Click here to view the University of California A-G requirements.

Essential Standards:
  • Students read a wide range of print and non-print texts to build an understanding of texts, of themselves, and of the cultures of the United States and the world; to acquire new information; to respond to the needs and demands of society and the workplace; and for personal fulfillment.
  • Students read a wide range of literature from many periods in many genres to build an understanding of the many dimensions of human experience.
  • Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts.
  • Students adjust their use of spoken, written, and visual language to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.
  • Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.
  • Students apply knowledge of language structure, language conventions, media techniques, figurative language, and genre to create, critique, and discuss print and non-print texts.
  • Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems.
  • Students use a variety of technological and information resources to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.
  • Students develop an understanding of and respect for diversity in language use, patterns, and dialects across cultures, ethnic groups, geographic regions, and social roles.
  • Students whose first language is not English will develop competency in the English language arts.

Course Offerings ::


Ten Credits

Open to Grade 9

PREREQUISITES: None

DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to strengthen a student's writing ability by bolstering his skills in grammar, vocabulary, sentence development, paragraph development, and formal composition development. By the end of the course, students will have composed descriptive, narrative, argumentative, and expository essays. Students will read some non-fiction pieces to highlight quality expository writing.


Ten Credits

Open to Grade 9

PREREQUISITES: None

DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to enhance a student's appreciation of literature: the novel, the short story, drama and poetry. Special emphasis is placed on enhancing reading comprehension and analytical skills. Students will read a broad selection of novels, short stories, and a play to learn how to analyze components of literature, such as plot, symbolism, conflict, and characterization. Students will also be introduced to poetry in order to analyze the elements of the art's many forms. Students will compose analytical, comparative, persuasive, and narrative essays.


Ten Credits

Open to Grade 9

PREREQUISITES: Honors grades in English and Social Science; top scores on the entrance exam, standardized testing, and writing sample.

DESCRIPTION: This course is the first of a four-year English honors program designed for students who demonstrate superior reading and writing skills. Students will read a variety of literature such as novels, short stories, drama, poetry, and non-fiction pieces while learning to analyze the components of literature. In addition, students will continue to enhance their reading comprehension and writing skills by learning new reading strategies and by reviewing and composing analytical essays.


Ten Credits

Open to Grade 10

PREREQUISITES: None

DESCRIPTION: This survey course samples the extraordinary body of literature created by the many world cultures. The class begins with ancient epics and runs through the course of recorded history to find what themes are common to humans of all races and places. Close attention will be paid to major literary genres: poetry, short story, the novel, and drama. In addition, students will strengthen their writing skills by reviewing important grammar concepts and continuing the practice of composing analytical, comparative, persuasive, and narrative essays.


Ten Credits

Open to Grade 11

PREREQUISITES: None

DESCRIPTION: This college-preparatory course is designed to build on the reading and writing skills developed in the previous two years of English. Students will survey the poetry and literature of North America and the United States from the pre- Columbian era to the present. Teachers will continue to develop grammar and usage concepts and review those learned in lower division English. The continued focus of the writing portion of this class is on the major types of essays: analytical, persuasive, and comparative, as well as research papers or projects.


Ten Credits

Open to Grade 11

PREREQUISITES: "B" or higher in previous English Courses and teacher recommendation

DESCRIPTION: This is an Advanced Placement course designed to prepare students to pass the Advanced Placement English Language exam offered in May. Some novels and short stories will be read, but the core of this college-level course focuses on various modes of rhetorical expression: analytical, persuasive, narrative, descriptive, and comparative writing.


Ten Credits

Open to Grade 12

PREREQUISITES: None

DESCRIPTION: Historians have expressed for many years that the twentieth century was by far the bloodiest in history. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, a spirit of innovation thrived, inspiring artists and writers to radically redefine form and style and reconsider subject. In this course, students will closely read some of the most important novels of the century, beginning with the premise that literature mirrors its time even if it tries not to. Students will write analytical essays in order to explore important ideas, themes, and patterns found in the literature of the twentieth century.


Ten Credits

Open to Grade 12

PREREQUISITES: "B" or higher in previous English Courses and teacher recommendation

DESCRIPTION: This is an Advanced Placement course designed to prepare students to pass the Advanced Placement English Literature exam offered in May. Students in this college-level class will read a selection of great literature from a broad range of authors as prescribed by the College Board. Students will write analytical essays to explore important ideas, themes, and patterns found in great literature, as well as compose “college essays” and research papers. Students who pass the AP exam receive college credit.


Ten Credits / Elective

Open to Grade 10, 11, and 12

PREREQUISITES: Independent Study and prior approval by Moderator

DESCRIPTION: This is an introductory course to print journalism in which students learn the skills necessary to produce a newspaper. The students in the class function as the staff of the school paper, The Crusader, and as such, are responsible for the entire process of creating the paper: brainstorming ideas and topics, background research, interviews, news writing, editing, photography, and layout. Students discuss current events, especially as they may relate to the responsibilities, standards, and ethical considerations of journalists or relate to a topic they want to cover in the paper. Students in this class will learn how to use the professional desktop publishing program Adobe Indesign to produce the school paper and will also work with other software programs such as Adobe Photoshop and MS Office.

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