Yearlong course / .5 Language Arts credits each semester

Freshman standing

This course is required for 9th graders

The ninth grade introduces students to high school genre study: short and long fiction, drama, poetry, and non-fiction and has a focus on the role of the individual in society and specifically concepts of justice and independence as seen by both individual and the larger social structure to which the individual belongs. 

Yearlong course / .5 Language Arts credits each semester

Sophomore standing

This course is required for 10th graders

The tenth grade continues the curriculum focus on genre study and includes beginning author study.  Major texts may include Animal Farm, Fahrenheit 451, and Night. The writing emphasis continues to increase in difficulty from the ninth grade year, with a focus on persuasive and expository writing.   

Yearlong course / .5 Language Arts credits each semester

Junior standing

This course is required for 11th graders

Emphasis in the junior year is on the theme of Perspective – self, society, and world.  Rigorous study of persuasion and media are interspersed throughout the assigned reading. Students write compositions in descriptive, narrative, comparison and contrast, and thesis and argument modes. 

>>AP 11 -- Language and Composition <<

Click here for the AP 11 Summer Reading Assignment

Yearlong course / .5 Language Arts credits each semester

AP 11 begins an intense study of language and composition suitable for the college bound student and satisfies the LA 11 requirement.

Yearlong course / .5 Language Arts credits each semester

Senior standing

Will satisfy fourth year for college entrance

This yearlong course continues the literature and composition studies of the first three years.   There is no fourth year Language Arts requirement for high school graduation; four-year colleges, however, require four years of English, and this course will satisfy that requirement.

>>AP 12 -- Literature and Composition <<

Click here to enter the HandMaid's Tale WebQuest

Click here for the AP 12 Summer Reading Assignment

Yearlong course / .5 Language Arts credits each semester

AP 12 builds on the curriculum begun in AP 11 and is suitable for college bound students.  AP 11 is not a prerequisite for AP 12; however it is recommended.

Semester long course / .5 credits

none

Open to all students in grades 9-12 except those who have already taken Newspaper.

This introduction to journalism class will introduce principles of journalism and focus primarily on improving writing.  During the course students will gain competence in journalistic writing, primarily news, features and opinions which provide further competence in rhetorical mode writing.  In addition, reading strategies, journalistic ethics, and career opportunities in print journalism, computer skills and organizational skills for news magazine production will be covered.

>>Advanced Journalism -- Newspaper Production <<

View the latest edition of The Talisman

Yearlong course / .5 credits each semester

Permission required

This class may be repeated as an elective

Newspaper production combines journalistic writing with newspaper production, photography, advertising, budgeting, graphics and electronic media.  The ultimate goal is the production of the school newspaper, The Talisman.  Students learn about the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment, the responsibilities of the press to inform, the ethical responsibility of truthfulness, fairness, accuracy and objectivity, and other principles as well as practical skills of analytical writing, layout, word processing, computer skills, and general paper production.

Yearlong course / .5 credits each semester

Permission from yearbook advisor

Yearbook Production combines journalistic writing with yearbook production, photography, advertising, budgeting, design and electronic media.  The ultimate goal is the production of the school yearbook. Students learn about the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment, the responsibilities of the press to inform, the ethical responsibility of truthfulness, fairness, accuracy and objectivity, and other principles as well as practical skills of analytical writing, layout, word processing, computer skills, and general paper production.