ENGLISH 1 — 1 Unit of credit Freshmen
Prerequisite: None
This course provides students with enrichment in fundamental reading and writing skills. Students read literary works of various genres, arranged thematically to explore myth and legend. The literature includes three of the five following selections: Heroes, Gods, and Monsters of the Greek Myths; The Odyssey; Inherit the Wind; Romeo and Juliet; and The Martian Chronicles. Teachers will supplement the required reading with one of the following books providing multicultural, diverse perspectives: *The Secret Life of Bees, *There Are No Children Here, and *Maus. Topics for writing emerge from ideas expressed in the literature. Through analytical writing and personal writing in a workshop format, students gain practice in developing well-structured sentences, paragraphs, and essFebruary 6, 2008 4:59 PMormances, and oral interpretation of short scenes from literature strengthen verbal skills and enhance confidence in public speaking. Participation in a regular Reading Workshop encourages reading fluency, personal choice and accountability, and the enjoyment of self-selected titles. This course is taught in conjunction with the English/Reading course (see Reading). Students enrolled in English 1 are required to take both courses concurrently.

This course focuses on the experience of the individual in American society. It explores the self-discovery that emerges from the struggle for self-definition. Students consider how individuals define themselves and their place in the context of home, the larger community and society as a whole. Core texts offer students the opportunity to consider and reflect on course themes from a variety of perspectives. These texts include Black Boy or Raisin in the Sun, Of Mice and Men, and The Catcher in the Rye. Teachers may also select one or more supplemental texts supporting these themes: *The Miracle Worker, *House on Mango Street. English 2 students will develop their communication skills through analytical, personal, and creative writing in a workshop setting. They will pursue independent reading of self-selected titles through the Reading Workshop component of the course.

This course provides students with an overview of American Literature, focusing on the importance of the individual in society, the relationship of the individual to society, and the complexities of the American experience. The core texts include two of the following: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Death of a Salesman and The Catcher in the Rye; short stories from an anthology entitled Short Fiction; and poetry selections from Sound and Sense. Teachers will supplement these studies of the American experience with two texts taken from the following, one of which must be a starred title: *Black Boy, Ethan Frome, Our Town, *The Awakening, *Their Eyes Were Watching God, *Of Mice and Men, *Kindred, *The Chosen, and *How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent. Students develop writing skills through analytical papers, personal essays, and a workshop-centered creative writing program. Selected dramatic scenes, oral interpretations, and a persuasive speech unit will hone students’ speaking and listening skills. Through Reading Workshop students will pursue independent reading choices.

This course exposes students to philosophical trends that have shaped the course of American literature, ranging from Transcendentalism to the modern day hero’s concern with moral ambiguity. In addition to this cultural perspective, students will sharpen skills in literary interpretation while reading the following core texts: Short Fiction, Sound and Sense, Death of a Salesman, and either The Grapes of Wrath or The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. A Transcendentalism unit will include excerpts from “Self-Reliance” and may include “Civil Disobedience” and/or The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail. Teachers will supplement the study of the American experience with two or more of the following, at least one of which will be drawn from diverse, multicultural texts (starred items): The Catcher in the Rye, The Scarlet Letter, Billy Budd, Our Town, *The Awakening, Ethan Frome, *Black Boy, The Crucible, *Their Eyes Were Watching God,*Of Mice and Men, Zoo Story, *Kite Runner, *The Chosen, *Native Son, *Eight Men, *Namesake, *The Invisible Man, *How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent. The students develop writing skills through analytical, personal, and creative writing; they develop speaking skills through the preparation and presentation of a persuasive speech. In Reading Workshop, students develop independent reading tastes while exploring diverse genres and writing styles.

This course focuses on the theme of self-exploration, particularly on the individual who feels like an outsider to mainstream society because of discrimination based on sex, ethnicity, social class, race, or disability. Students will have the opportunity to develop reading and writing skills through the three components of the course: Shared Literature, Writing Workshop, and Reading Workshop. Shared Literature will include units on short stories and poetry and three of the following novels: Ordinary People, To Kill a Mockingbird, *Speak, *Many Stones, *Monster, and *Stuck in Neutral. The workshop structure allows students to create individualized reading and writing goals, make choices about their reading selections and writing experiences, and receive individual guidance from the teacher as they work toward their goals.

This course explores various genres of English and other European literature, including novels, short stories, plays, and poetry. Students gain a cultural overview as they study Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Othello, or King Lear; All Quiet on the Western Front; selections from Short Fiction and Sound and Sense; and two selections from the following works, including at least one starred title: A Doll’s House, Lord of the Flies, Ordinary People, In Country, The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, Candide, The Collector, *My Name is Asher Lev, *The Red Tent, *The God of Small Things, *Kite Runner, *Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, *Chronicle of a Death Foretold and *Hunger of Memory. The course focuses on listening and speaking skills through formal oral interpretation, informal class discussion, and a performance unit in drama. The students’ study of analytical and personal writing through the Writing Workshop component of the class enhances their understanding of organization, unity, precision of expression, use of evidence, and the development of a writer’s voice.

This course explores the concept of “What Is Art?” through the study of English and other European literature, including novels, short stories, plays, and poetry. Literature selections include: The Theban Plays; A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man or To the Lighthouse; Macbeth, Othello, or King Lear; and selections from Short Fiction and Sound and Sense. Teachers will supplement these texts with two or more selections from the following list, at least one of which must be a starred title: The Tempest, As You Like It, Taming of the Shrew, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Twelfth Night, Ibsen’s plays, Gulliver’s Travels, The Turn of the Screw, Emma, Great Expectations, Pride and Prejudice, Candide, A Room with a View, The Collector, A Thousand Acres, *My Name is Asher Lev, *Kite Runner, *Chronicle of a Death Foretold, *The Red Tent, *The God of Small Things, *Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, and *Hunger of Memory. Students improve writing skills through analytical assignments and creative writing through the Writing Workshop program. In addition, they refine oral communication skills through participating in informal class discussions and presenting debates, symposia, and oral interpretations of literature selections.

ENGLISH 4 — ½ Unit of credit Seniors
Prerequisite: English 3

This one semester survey course meets the needs of individuals who want to strengthen their background and foundations in several English skill areas: reading and understanding literature as well as speaking and writing in a variety of situations and for a variety of purposes. Discussion of selected literature focuses on change and making transitions while expanding the students’ knowledge of theme and characterization. Students have the opportunity to choose from a variety of projects to demonstrate their understanding of the works studied as well as works they have chosen for Reading Workshop to expand their knowledge. The course will use two or more of the following texts: All Quiet on the Western Front, The Things They Carried, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Into the Wild, and You Hear Me?

ENGLISH 4: Composition/Personal Writing — ½ Unit of credit Seniors
Prerequisite: English 3

This semester course is structured so that students can improve their own writing skills with tutorial help. Students write pieces from major writing genres: process, comparison and contrast, analysis, persuasion, narration, etc. The class operates as a Writing Workshop: students respond to writing prompts and activities to generate writing topics and confer with the teacher and peers to determine the strengths and weaknesses of their written work, formulate goals, and check progress. Grades are determined by the students’ efforts, consistency, and improvement. This course may be repeated for credit.

COLLEGE PREP ELECTIVES -- Seniors, also open to juniors as a second English course.

COMPOSITION — ½ Unit of credit Juniors, Seniors
Prerequisite: English 3 CP or concurrent enrollment in English 3CP

This semester course is focused on expository writing in preparation for the demands of college level writing assignments. Students write essays from among the major expository genres: process, comparison and contrast, analysis, persuasion, critique, personal essay, etc. Models demonstrate techniques suitable to the various genres. Class operates as a Writing Workshop: students assist in the teaching by their comments, analytical discussions and contributions to class activities. The culmination of the composition course is a writing portfolio that showcases the student’s reflection, revision and attention to writing strategies and technical correctness that result in effective written communication. This course may be repeated for credit.

This semester course gives students the opportunity to explore authors of their own choice in a reading/writing environment that focuses on contemporary topics in literature and in the real world. Students may choose to study several books by the same author or from the same time period and are encouraged to find reading partners or reading groups to discuss the works read. One text, A Lesson Before Dying, will be read and discussed by the entire class. The literature serves as a springboard to the writing that students often encounter in their development as literate members of the reading/writing community. Genres explored include comparison/contrast, analysis, style imitation, the book review, the character sketch, and the personal narrative. As a culminating activity, students design and produce a comprehensive written project. This course is open to students from the college preparatory or honors levels. Honors credit, however, will not be awarded.

DRAMA (CP or H) —½ Unit of credit Juniors, Seniors
Prerequisite: English 3 CP or concurrent enrollment in English 3CP

This is a performance class open to juniors and seniors. In fact, it is especially suited to juniors who wish to enhance their skills prior to senior year auditions. In this semester course, units include extensive self-assessment, improvisation, solo and group performances and an emphasis on character development. To that end, we explore techniques advanced by Stanislavski and learn how to read and score scripts to unlock deeper understanding of character and make more dynamic choices. During the semester we will also have brief units on theatre history and other aspects of theatre in order to provide context for the element of performance. Students are encouraged to read and attend plays as individuals to enrich their appreciation of the genre. Students who have shown a high degree of proficiency in English and in drama may take the course for honors credit. Additional performances, outside reading and research designed to challenge the exceptionally motivated student will distinguish the requirements established for honors credit. As a performance class, this course does not have a final exam per se; it has a final performance, which my be anything from monologues to scenes to a full play performed by the class. The text is Acting Onstage and Off.

GRAMMAR — ½ Unit of credit Juniors, Seniors
Prerequisite: English 3 CP or concurrent enrollment in English 3CP

This semester course is geared for those students who plan to enter the business or professional world. Writing proficiency depends upon students’ ability to recognize problems of structure, and subsequently, of comprehension in their own writing. Therefore, our approach will be different from the usual error-correction procedure. The course will concentrate on how students can acquire a wider knowledge of sentence patterns and structures. Students should become more adept at manipulating sentences so that their essays will say what students want them to say. Students will learn not only through formal instruction, but also through such methods as lab sessions, peer editing and teacher conferences. By the end of the semester, students should have a better grasp of the logic inherent in the English language. Students will use the Little, Brown Compact Handbook.

The semester course is partly a study in the close-reading approach to poem analysis, and it is partly a workshop in which students learn poetic techniques by writing poetry. Prior experience in such writing is not required. Poems from The Norton Introduction to Literature as well as other poetry sources may be used as models for writing assignments. In-class journals, oral readings and various writing exercises enrich class discussions. Students do analytical writing and participate in poetry slams. A portfolio of major works by the student will be the culminating piece of the course. Students should be prepared to share their ideas and their work.

SPEECH —½ Unit of credit Juniors, Seniors
Prerequisite: English 3 CP or concurrent enrollment in English 3CP

This semester course is a performance class in which students prepare and present a variety of speeches ranging from informational to persuasive. Eight presentations are required including a final exam speech. The art of communication is also studied through modeling, reflection and terminology. Students participate in written and role-playing exercises that promote confidence in delivery as well as audience participation.

WORLD FICTION — ½ Unit of credit Juniors, Seniors
Prerequisite: English 3 CP or concurrent enrollment in English 3CP

This semester course focuses upon discussion and analysis of fiction written by authors from around the world. Organized in a seminar format, the course is directed by both student and teacher interest. Students spend several weeks learning how to read literary works from various critical perspectives. Students then apply their knowledge of these perspectives to their reading of short stories and novels such as Things Fall Apart, The Metamorphosis, and other classic texts based in part on student interest. Students learn how cultural patterns, language, history, and symbols shape beliefs. An emphasis is placed on critical reading and analysis writing. Paper topics are generated through individual journal writing and class discussion. Part of the semester may be spent on independent study, structured and approved by both students and teacher. Supplemental books include Fathers and Sons and Les Miserables.

WRITING/AMERICAN LITERATURE—½ Unit of credit Juniors, Seniors
Prerequisite: English 3 CP or concurrent enrollment in English 3CP

This semester course presents American novels written since World War 1: The Great Gatsby and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest plus two novels chosen from A Thousand Acres, The Joy Luck Club, Beloved, In Country and The Grapes of Wrath. Students read and analyze the novels from both historical and literary viewpoints. Films of these novels supplement the discussion of the texts. Comprehension assessment is project based, requiring both creative and analytic writing.

This semester course traces the evolution of British thought in the modern era through the study of novels, plays, and films. Students discuss themes such as evil vs. goodness, human passion, and self-discovery. Through discussion, projects and analytical essays, students will explore such culturally expressive works as Hamlet, Heart of Darkness, A Clockwork Orange plus two works chosen from Wuthering Heights, Great Expectations, Pride and Prejudice, Equus, The Razor’s Edge, and Waiting for Godot.

WRITING/CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF FILM—½ Unit of credit Juniors, Seniors
Prerequisite: English 3 CP or concurrent enrollment in English 3CP

This semester course is designed for serious students of film who wish to increase their appreciation of films as art and learn the art of writing about film technique and literary content. Students view selected film classics whose sequence is related to that of the text, Understanding Movies, which covers photography, lighting, realism, expressionism, mise-en-scene, movement, editing, sound, acting and directing, The films students view range from documentary to avant-garde in style. The course requires written film analysis and criticism, journal response, projects such as storyboards and careful reading of the text.

WRITING/MASS COMMUNICATION—½ Unit of credit Juniors, Seniors
Prerequisite: English 3 CP or concurrent enrollment in English 3CP

This semester course is based upon the premise that society receives most of its information from and is primarily influenced by the mass media. Therefore, it is designed to encourage critical thinking skills and to develop criteria for media evaluation. To this end, students will explore television, radio, movies, magazines, newspapers and the popular culture in their functions as instruments of education, entertainment and persuasion. The course requires analytical writing, oral reporting and participation in creative group projects. The text is Understanding Mass Media.

BRITISH LITERATURE H — ½ Unit of credit or 1 Unit of credit Junior, Seniors
Prerequisite: English 3 Honors or English 3CP with current teacher recommendation

This two-semester course traces the development of English literature from Beowulf to the work of contemporary British authors. Students will learn about the different literary movements that have evolved within English history. During the first semester, students shall cover representative works of prose and poetry up to and including the eighteenth century. In the second semester, students shall begin their study with the pre-Romantics and continue through to contemporary poets and essayists. Students will also read and discuss contemporary British novels. Throughout the year there will be numerous essays, projects and oral reports. The basic text will be England in Literature. Students may take this course either for a full-year or for one semester, either first or second.

CONTEMPORARY CHICAGO WRITERS H – ½ Unit of credit Juniors, Seniors
Prerequisite: English 3 Honors or English 3CP with current teacher recommendation

This semester course examines Chicago writers from diverse ethnic backgrounds and both genders. Students learn about the Chicago writer’s relationship with his or her urban space. Students explore the following using various texts and multi-media: Chicago’s literary voice and identity (and the impact of culture, politics, sociology and history upon it); the “text” of the city’s physical space; and the difference between “space” and “place.” During the semester, students approach these questions through at least four of the following texts chosen by their instructor: Nelson Algren’s Neon Wilderness and/or Never Come Morning, Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street, Richard Wright’s Eight Men, Saul Bellow’s The Dean’s December, and Robert G. Spinney’s City of Big Shoulders. Other related articles and supplemental works of Mike Royko, Stuart Dybek, Z.Z. Packer, Ben Hecht, Studs Terkel, James Farrell, etc. will contribute to the course readings. Lecture is alternated with class discussion. Class-projects, critical and creative essays, oral reports, and in-class exams are among the course requirements.

Grammar and Composition is a full-year, team-taught, honors-designated elective for students who wish to study grammar in the context of a composition class, thus enhancing both the grammar and the composition aspects of the class. This class is for anyone planning to enter the business or professional world before or after college. Students will improve their writing proficiency by learning to recognize problems of structure and clarity in their own writing. The course will concentrate on how students can acquire a wider knowledge of sentence patterns and structures by acquainting the students with numerous examples of writing styles. This approach should allow students to become more adept at crafting sentences so that their essays say what the students want them to say. Through ongoing teacher-student conferences and continual essay writing, students will improve their command of English grammar by applying grammar principles to the compositions that will constitute their writing portfolios.

CREATIVE WRITING H —½ Unit of credit Seniors
Prerequisite: A minimum grade of “B” in the first semester of English 3 CP or English 3 Honors and/or teacher recommendation.
A creative piece (500 words) written on the instructor’s topic

Creative Writing is designed for serious writers who want not only to practice their writing, but also to gain expertise as writers in a collaborative environment. Creative Writing is a workshop course, offering students the freedom to explore different topics, formats, and techniques. Students are required to spend time outside of class writing journal entries, poems, short stories, or plays. They will also have frequent opportunities in class to respond to class writing prompts designed to move student writing forward or in new directions. Conferences with peers and the teacher will guide the revision process. A key component of the course is the submission of a polished semester portfolio. Students may prepare manuscripts for Scholastic Writing Awards and other contests and for submission to Young Idea.

This course examines ten philosophical issues facing the humanities: the nature of good and evil, our relationship to the universe and our planet, fate versus free will, the soul and immortality, and the relationship between reason and emotion. In both semesters, students approach the concepts by examining primary texts as well as supplemental readings of current questions facing the humanities. First semester focuses on the writings of Western thinkers who have shaped the collective Western perspective, from the ancient Greeks to the writings of the existentialists. In lieu of a final exam, first semester culminates in a multi-media project. In second semester, students consider the same ten questions and their answers to them, but the focus turns global, as students study the writings of thinkers from the Far East, Africa, and the Mideast, as well as lesser known female voices. Throughout first and second semester, students articulate and debate ideas through discussion, journal writing, reader responses, essays, oral reports, and essay exams. Students may enroll in first or second semester, or both.

Students accepted for Advanced Placement English must present evidence of the superior quality of their motivation and must understand clearly what is expected before registering for the program. Students will learn to approach literary criticism primarily through the close-reading method of analysis, although they will be introduced to a variety of other forms of criticism as well. First-semester begins with Burton Raffel’s translation of Beowulf, a classic hero myth providing a view of law, morality, and good and evil that will serve as a backdrop for the remaining literature of the course. Students will study texts selected by their teacher from the list below, including representative European and American plays, novels, essays, short stories, and poems. Significant works will be covered each semester as central themes are investigated and developed. Students entering or continuing into the second semester will find the literature selections to be non-repetitive and with integrity of their own, continuing the thematic strands explored during first semester. In conjunction with the reading and class discussion, great emphasis is placed on writing: both analytical and creative essays are emphasized, and both in-class and out of class writing is practiced. Additional assignments include oral and written projects and presentations, in-class themes, and tests. The titles from which each semester’s study will be drawn include: Beowulf, Hamlet, Madame Bovary, Crime and Punishment, Heart of Darkness, Catch-22, Beloved, The Great Gatsby, The Things They Carried, Joseph Andrews, Pygmalion, The Metamorphosis, Story and Structure, and Sound and Sense. Students are expected to take the Advanced Placement Exam as part of this course.