Language Arts

Length and Credit: Year/1.0
Grade Level: 9/Required Course
This is an introductory class in high-school-level literature, composition (essay writing), and public speaking. Composition emphasizes sentence and paragraph structure, incorporation of direct textual quotes, and the different types of the five-paragraph essay.

Length and Credit: Year/1.0
Grade Level: 9
Honors 9 is an accelerated course of Western literature and poetry. The focus on classics prepares students for further pre-AP and AP/College Now classes. A heavy emphasis on writing and independent reading skills enable students to prepare for college-level writing and reading.

Length and Credit: Year/1.0
Prerequisite: English 9
Grade Level: 10
The study of literature, speech, and composition. Composition skills continue emphasizing the short essay. Students read a range of material from various genres.

Length and Credit: Year/1.0
Prerequisite: English 9
Grade Level: 10
Class designed as a world literature survey, with opportunities to write in multiple modes of writing. Students are expected to work above grade-level, as well as read and write independently. Class helps prepare students for AP classes.

Length and Credit: Year/1.0
Prerequisite: English 10
Grade Level: 11
Class combines American literature and composition. Students have opportunities to meet state benchmark standards and career related learning standards. Students will be given the opportunity to meet the Essential Skills in English through Smarter Balanced testing in this course.

Length and Credit: Year/1.0
Prerequisite: English 10
Grade Level: 11, 12
This course is intended to be an introduction to college-level writing. Students who take this course will become familiar with a variety of modes of writing, and learn the standards of creating college-level compositions. There is an opportunity to earn college credit with successful completion of a writing portfolio.

Length and Credit: Year/1.0
Prerequisite: English 10
Grade Level: 11, 12
A college preparatory reading and writing class emphasizing critical thinking skills through analysis of style and construction, including syntax word choice, figurative language and logic. There is an opportunity to earn college credit in this course.

Length and Credit: Year/1.0
Prerequisite: English 9, 10, 11
Grade Level: 12
This course introduces the basics of writing news stories and teaches necessary argumentative techniques associated with College Now Writing 122. Journalism class promotes creativity and community. Students will learn about design and visual storytelling, and learn to record and report events on campus and in the community. Students consume various forms of media analytically and report news through thoughtful observation, while writing and publishing accurately. Students will publish the award-winning Sonder magazine in the first semester. Second semester, students create projects based on argumentation, focusing on emotional, ethical, and logical appeals. Students draft and revise persuasive arguments as to why people should protect wilderness and forests, implement outdoor education, explore local geography, explore environmental topics, or any other inspiring topics. This class blends research, narrative writing, argumentation, and multimodal composition, and wraps up by producing the national award-winning magazine Backcountry Review. At the end of the term, you students combine elements of argument essays and personal narrative, finally creating a digital story.

Length and Credit: Year /1.0
Prerequisite: English 10
Grade Level: 11, 12
This is a college-level course offering an in-depth study of poetry, drama, modern literature, and nonfiction. Composition will focus on literary analysis, MLA format, and various modes of academic writing. There is an opportunity to earn college credit in this course.

Length and Credit: Semester/.5
Prerequisite: English 9, 10, 11
Grade Level: 12
Course study focuses on world myths and their influence on literature throughout the ages.

Length and Credit: Semester/.5
Prerequisite: English 11
Grade Level: 12
This class is an exploration of different kinds of heroes found in short stories, novels, nonfiction, poetry, and film. Students will write critical analysis and argumentative essays while continuing to develop their reading, writing, and analytical skills.

Length and Credit: Semester/.5
Prerequisite: English 11
Grade Level: 12

This course focuses on the critical analysis of literature and film. We cover source material for several critically-acclaimed films, and evaluate how those short stories and novels can come to life on the big screen. We examine how filmmakers use cinematic and theatrical elements to convey meaning, much in the same way an artful novelist does with written words. We explore thematic connections between fictional stories, film adaptations, current events, and our own lived experiences.

Length and Credit: Semester/.5
Prerequisite: English 11
Grade Level: 12

This course works to define social justice, evaluate and think critically about the value of differences in culture and identity, and examine where these ideas fit inside the education system. We look at the effect famous figures have had, evaluate different approaches for change, learn and use essential social justice vocabulary while reading and writing on these various topics.. We will ask the hard questions and face the sometimes harder answers.

Length and Credit: Semester/.5 
Prerequisite: English 11 
Grade Level: 12 
This is a semester-long senior English course that is worth .5 ELA credit. Through a variety of short stories, a novel, and 1-2 films, we will examine the different ways storytellers frighten audiences. We will focus on why fright is a useful emotion in demonstrating how horror techniques, tropes, and figures symbolize larger aspects of our society and human nature. 

Length and Credit: Semester/.5
Prerequisite: English 11
Grade Level: 12

Provides the opportunity for students to read a sampling of science fiction and see how authors forecast possible futures. Students study the development of the genre, key authors, stories and themes that led to the science fiction of today and its significance for the future. This course is a stand alone course, but can be repeated as needed. The course is designed to help students to develop and improve their functional reading skills, connecting to real-world applications.

Length and Credit: Semester/.5 credit 
Prerequisite: English 11 
Grade Level: 12 
Dive into the art of storytelling and self-expression in this exciting Creative Writing course! Explore a wide range of genres, including poetry, short stories, scriptwriting, and more. We’ll use mentor texts to analyze the meaning, style, and techniques of great writing—and apply those lessons to your own work. This class is perfect for students who love to write, want to expand their creativity, and explore the craft of writing in new and meaningful ways. Whether you dream of crafting gripping stories, heartfelt poems, or cinematic scripts, this class will give you the tools to bring your ideas to life. Let your creativity soar and discover the writer within!