English is a cornerstone of education that focuses on developing language skills, literary analysis, and effective communication. It encompasses reading, writing, speaking, and listening, empowering students with essential language proficiency and critical thinking abilities.

This subject emphasizes the development of strong writing skills. Students learn to express themselves coherently and effectively, crafting essays, reports, and creative pieces. They acquire grammar, vocabulary, and writing mechanics to enhance their written communication abilities.

Curriculum

English

Students learn to express themselves coherently and effectively, crafting essays, reports, and creative pieces. They acquire grammar, vocabulary, and writing mechanics to enhance their written communication abilities.

Subject Areas

English 9 interweaves writing, reading, and classroom discussions so that students can relate continuously to what they have already learned while broadening their understanding of literature and the writing process. Students will become adept at recognizing the different genres of literature and applying various literary techniques. Students will begin to use writing as an analytical tool. Students will become proficient with standard grammar and usage and will be able to compose without mechanical errors. The research process will be reviewed and strengthened.

Credit: 1
Grade(s): 9 - 12
Meetings per week: 5
Length: Full Year

Honors English 9 offers an in-depth analysis of literature, a comprehensive review of grammar and usage, and a rigorous application of the writing process. The material is intended to provide students an introduction to college-level scholarship. Students will become adept at recognizing the different genres of literature and applying various literary techniques. They will begin to use writing as an analytical tool. Students will become proficient with standard grammar and will be able to compose without mechanical errors. The research process will be reviewed and strengthened.

PREREQUISITE(S): 80% in Honors English 8 or 90% in English 8 and teacher recommendation. Also, successful completion of summer reading and writing assignment(s); upon return to school, students will participate in discussion and complete exams on reading assignments.

Credit: 1
Grade(s): 9 - 12
Meetings per week: 5
Length: Full Year

This course is designed to reinforce students' appreciation of numerous literary genres, including short stories, drama, novels, and poetry. Speaking, discussion, and listening skills will be enhanced while exploring various literary selections. Emphasis also will be placed on the application of standard grammar, mechanics, and vocabulary development. The research process will be reviewed and strengthened. Vocabulary skills will continue to be reinforced.

Credit: 1
Grade(s): 10 - 12
Meetings per week: 5
Length: One Year

The objective of Honors English 10 is to refine reading comprehension skills, writing skills, and analytical skills, encouraging students to reach a proficiency in all areas, moving at a faster pace and at a more in-depth level than English 10. Students will be exploring the particulars of the writing process, delving into insightful concepts in literature, and reviewing grammatical and mechanical protocol. In addition, students will compile a research paper within the scope of the William Penn Academy, showcasing the ability to identify, comprehend, apply, analyze, and evaluate research in order to produce an argumentative position paper. Students will develop critical thinking, reading, writing, speaking, and vocabulary skills through a variety of assignments.

PREREQUISITE(S): 80% in Honors English 9 or 90% in English 9 and teacher recommendation. Also, successful completion of summer reading and writing assignment(s); upon return to school, students will participate in discussion and complete exams on reading assignments.

Credit: 1
Grade(s): 10 - 12
Meetings per week: 5
Length: One Year

This year-long American Literature course uses various themes to discuss and analyze works by famous American authors and poets. The course offers an analysis of American literature, a comprehensive review of grammar and usage, a study of different genres of literature and applying various literary techniques. Skills taught also include a rigorous application of the writing process through a research project.

Students will become adept at recognizing the different genres and themes of literature and applying various literary techniques. Students will also be able to trace the historical events, trends, and tendencies that influence traditional American literature language usage. Students will incorporate elements of American literature in the writing process using themes and issues in American fiction and non-fiction. Students will begin to use writing as an analytical tool and will become proficient with standard grammar and composition via research and supplemental writing assignments. Ideally, a team-teaching approach will be utilized to address the needs of individual students when applicable.

Credit: 1
Grade(s): 11 - 12
Meetings per week: 5
Length: Full Year

This is a college-level course that focuses on the semantic, structural, and rhetorical aspects of language. This course addresses various modes of rhetoric including narratives, essays, letters, speeches, and expository writing. Students will learn to analyze structure, diction, and sentence patterns in literary works and write with a command of the English language that features proper mechanics and eloquent style. Students have the option of taking the A.P. English examination that could result in attaining college credit

PREREQUISITE(S): 90% in Honors English 10, teacher recommendation based on course performance/standardized test grades, as well as the satisfactory completion of all summer work by the assigned date.

Credit: 1
Grade(s): 11 - 12
Meetings per week: 5
Length: Full Year

This Senior English course provides an overview of the language arts, including literature, writing, research, grammar, speaking, and vocabulary, utilizing the literature of Great Britain. By chronologically examining historical backgrounds of literary movements, the course focuses on the great masterpieces. Selections include but are not limited to. Beowulf, a Shakespearean play, The Canterbury Tales, legends about King Arthur, Robinhood, and William Wallace, Paradise Lost, Gulliver's Travels, The Importance of Being Earnest and Lord of the Flies. The honors student will be expected to read and analyze all forms of literature - prose, poetry and drama - and demonstrate their comprehension and analysis through a variety of reading, writing and speaking activities. Students will complete summer work in the form of research and writing and will also complete the Graduation Project requirement as part of this course.

Credit: 1
Grade(s): 12
Meetings per week: 5
Length: Full Year

In this course, students will be given the opportunity to critically examine what it means to be human through evaluating selected works of writing, music, film and art. Students will be asked to analyze works by engaging in an inquiry process; much of the course will center on essential questions about meaning, purpose, nature and values. Students will improve reading, writing, and speaking skills through this inquiry. Students will be required to read, write, and think critically about all aspects of the Humanities as well as to participate in whole class and small group discussion. Additionally, students will complete all phases of their Graduation Project.

Credit: 1
Grade(s): 12
Meetings per week: 5
Length: Full Year

The purpose of this course is to learn the core basics of the journalistic style of writing, and any student who is interested in any facet of the journalism industry should consider this course. The class focuses on the ethical, historical, and rhetorical components of journalism. Students will study the basics of the field, including the history and controversies of the press, the laws and ethics of scholastic press, the structure of a formal interview, the copy-editing process, the proper way to write headlines and captions, and the components of all types of news stories (hard news, features, editorials, sports, and reviews). Students will also begin learning the basics in desktop publishing and layout design in preparation for Newspaper.

NCAA Approved

Credit: 0.5
Grade(s): 9 - 12
Meetings per week: 5
Length: One Semester

Foundations of Creative Writing offers students an authentic application of the writing process to their original forms of expression. The material is intended to provide students with a creative outlet enabling them to cultivate self-expression through writing. This class is intended for students who are serious about writing. Students will create writing that is full of meaning and imagery yet is clear, concise, and vivid. The writing will adhere to all conventions of the English language and will exhibit a variety of sentence structures and word choice. The writing of short stories, a one-act play or screenplay, and poetry will be emphasized.

Credit: 0.5
Grade(s): 9 - 12
Meetings per week: 5
Length: One Semester

This course is designed to provide students with a wide variety of learning experiences: interviewing, writing, photography, layout design, advertising, budgeting, and fundraising. This course is an opportunity for students to publish their work, to learn how to manage a business, and to create and implement their own ideas while creating a book that will preserve their high school memories.

Credit: 1
Grade(s): 10 - 12
Meetings per week: 5
Length: Full Year