English Department

110/111 Basic Literature and Composition I: Assigned by Entrance Test

Grade offered

9

Required of students not enrolled in 112 or 114

Length

Full year

Credit

1 unit

Prerequisite

None

This course is required of students who demonstrate a need to improve English Usage, reading comprehension, and writing and study skills. This class is similar in context to other freshman literature/composition classes, but at a slower pace. The form and function of language used artistically is studied as it occurs in literature. A major emphasis is placed on the construction of simple sentences and the use of paragraphs in composition. Vocabulary work is stressed. Oral and written responses are required of students to demonstrate knowledge and skill in literary analysis and terminology.

112/113 Literature and Composition I

Grade offered

9

Required of students not enrolled in 110 or 114

Length

Full year

Credit

1 unit

Prerequisite

None

This course is the standard Freshman Literature and Composition course. Students are introduced to the form and function of language used artistically in short stories, poetry, and drama. The course emphasizes the nature and use of language, and the writing of paragraphs and compositions and use of study skills. Written and oral responses are required of students to demonstrate knowledge and skill in reading and using imagery, figurative language, and semantics, and in general sharpening their skills in literary analysis.

114/115 Honors Literature and Composition I: Assigned by Entrance Test

Grade offered

9

Required of students not enrolled in 110 or 112

Length

Full year

Credit

1 unit

Prerequisite

High grade in reading and writing skills test

This course is designed for students with a high degree of success in literature and composition in elementary school. Students are introduced to the form and function of language used artistically in short stories, poetry, and drama. The course emphasizes the nature and use of language and the writing of paragraphs and compositions. Written and oral responses are required of students to demonstrate knowledge and skill in reading and using imagery, figurative language, and semantics, and in general sharpening their skills in literary analysis. This course is design to prepare its students for the Advanced Placement Literature tests to be taken as part of the Advanced Placement Senior English course (150).

120/121 Sophomore American Literature and Composition

Grade offered

10

Required of students not enrolled in 124

Length

Full year

Credit

1 unit

Prerequisite

Freshman English

This course, designed to increase awareness of our culture, traces the literature of the United Sates from Native American works through recent authors. The student will become familiar with significant American themes as represented by such authors as Hawthorne, Poe, Melville, Twain, Fitzgerald, Hughes, and others. Short stories, essays, poetry, drama, and novels will be used to cover a wide range of forms and ideas. Students will demonstrate their skills at literary analysis in papers, as well as tests and quizzes. Besides reviewing grammar emphasizing word choice, syntax, and mechanics, students will write several compositions.

124/125 Honors American Literature and Composition

Grade offered

10

Required of students not enrolled in 120

Length

Full year

Credit

1 unit

Prerequisite

Grade B or better in 114

Designed to increase awareness of our culture among students who have excelled in English, the course is an in-depth study of the literature of the United States from Native American works through recent authors. The student will become familiar with significant American themes as represented by such authors as Hawthorne, Poe, Melville, Twain, Fitzgerald, Hughes, and others. Short stories, essays, poetry, dramas, and novels will be used to cover a wide range of forms and ideas. Students will demonstrate their skills at literary analysis in papers, as well as tests and quizzes. Besides reviewing grammar emphasizing word choice, syntax, and mechanics, students will write several compositions, culminating with a library research paper. Only serious college-bound students should select this course. This course is designed to prepare its students for the Advanced Placement Literature test to be taken as part of the Advanced Placement Senior English course (150).

130/131 British Literature and Composition

Grade offered

11

Required of students not enrolled in 134

Length

Full year

Credit

1 unit

Prerequisite

Credit in 120

This course is a survey of English Literature from the early Celtic times to the present, with emphasis on the Elizabethan, Romantic, and Victorian eras. Works of Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton, Wadsworth, Byron, Shelley, and Dickens will be stressed. Students will write papers to demonstrate their analytical skills. “A formal research paper will be required.”

134/135 Honors British Literature and Composition

Grade offered

11

Required of students not enrolled in 130

Length

Full year

Credit

1 unit

Prerequisite

Grade of B or better in 124

This course is a survey of English Literature from the early Celtic times to the present, with emphasis on the Elizabethan, Romantic, and Victorian eras. Works of Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton, Wordsworth, Byron, Shelley, and Dickens will be stressed. Students will write papers to demonstrate their analytical skills. A formal research paper will be required. Only serious college-bound students should select this course. This course is designed to prepare students for the Advanced Placement Senior English Course.

148/149 Senior English

Grade offered

12

Required of students not enrolled in 150

Length

One semester

Credit

1 unit

Prerequisite

130 or 134

This course is a survey of world literature from the oral tradition and Ancient World to the present with emphasis upon European, Asian and African literature. Students will continue to demonstrate their skills at literary analysis geared toward college preparation. Students will be required to read complete unabridged novels. This course will also give the students the opportunity to learn and develop their skills in various facets of writing such as poetry, essays, and literary reviews of books, movies and television shows. The students will explore elements of oral communication and interpretation, including special-occasion speaking.

150/151 Advanced Placement Senior English

Grade offered

12

Elective

Length

Full year

Credit

1 unit

Prerequisite

Grade B in 130 or 134

This course is designed to be the culminating experience in high school literature and composition. Students will explore - through extensive reading and analysis - various types of literature and common themes from around the world, and throughout history. Compositions based on both the literary experiences and more general topics are aimed to prepare the student for college writing. Although it does not automatically exempt students from college composition and literature classes, the course gives students enough expertise so that they may be able to test out of beginning college courses. Only serious college-bound students who meet the prerequisite should select this course.
Students enrolled in this course will be required to take the Advanced Placement Literature Exam at the close of the 4th quarter. All fees applicable will be assessed with the guidelines of the exam. See fee page for specifics.