English Electives
Creative Writing
CREATIVE WRITING I This course is designed for the student interested in writing original poetry, plays, essays, and short stories. Students consider the elements of creativity - inspiration, form, content - in relation to styles of representative authors. Self-criticism, group evaluation, contest entries, and publication of students' work are required activities. Projects may include entertainment of a poet-in-residence and publication of a literary magazine.
CREATIVE WRITING II Recommended prerequisite(s): Creative Writing I In this course students research, create, read, and study a specific genre and the movements within that genre over the past 100 years. They create manuscripts for presentation to various outlets for publication and may be expected to participate in the publication of a school literary magazine.
CREATIVE WRITING II (HONORS) Recommended prerequisite(s): Creative Writing I This course is designed for students interested in exploring the Creative Writing II curriculum at a more intensive and extensive level. Students taking this course for Honors credit must write extended and polished responses to course assignments, participate in peer review panels, and submit manuscripts for publication. They may also be expected to participate in local publication of a school literary magazine.
CREATIVE WRITING II Recommended prerequisite(s): Creative Writing I In this course students research, create, read, and study a specific genre and the movements within that genre over the past 100 years. They create manuscripts for presentation to various outlets for publication and may be expected to participate in the publication of a school literary magazine.
CREATIVE WRITING II (HONORS) Recommended prerequisite(s): Creative Writing I This course is designed for students interested in exploring the Creative Writing II curriculum at a more intensive and extensive level. Students taking this course for Honors credit must write extended and polished responses to course assignments, participate in peer review panels, and submit manuscripts for publication. They may also be expected to participate in local publication of a school literary magazine.
Newspaper
NEWSPAPER I Recommended prerequisite(s): Application and teacher recommendation, and A or B in last English Course This introductory newspaper course is designed for students interested in the construction and publication of regular editions of the school newspaper. Focus areas are learning the skills of newspaper writing and the responsibilities of newspaper business management.
NEWSPAPER II Recommended prerequisite(s): Newspaper I, application, and teacher recommendation This second-level newspaper course is designed to help students refine their skills in interviewing and reporting. Students design and publish regular editions of the school newspaper. They also deepen their understanding of the business management aspect of the newspaper.
NEWSPAPER II (HONORS) Recommended prerequisite(s): Newspaper I, application, and teacher recommendation This honors course allows junior- and senior-level publication staff members to develop advanced journalistic skills in addition to leadership skills. Students enrolled for honors credit are required to fill an editor's position or take a leadership role on the publication staff. They participate in the construction and publication of the school newspaper and master additional editorial and technological skills. Editorial skills include planning an entire issue, copy editing, and completing portfolios of their work. The technological skills include mastering advanced layout and design of desktop publishing and mastering digital imagery and photo placement. Students may receive honors credit in Newspaper II Honors one time only.
NEWSPAPER III Recommended prerequisite(s): Newspaper I and II and teacher recommendation Students who have completed Newspaper I and II and who desire to refine skills in writing, editing, imaging, finance, and printing may elect this course. In addition to development of higher level writing skills and business management procedures, students enhance their knowledge of the laws and ethics of journalism.
NEWSPAPER III (HONORS) Recommended prerequisite(s): Newspaper I, Newspaper II (Honors), and teacher recommendation This honors course provides advanced journalism students the opportunity to expand their portfolios (begun in Newspaper II Honors) and to develop and deliver training modules for all staff positions. Students electing this course are required to fill an editor’s position or take a leadership role on the publication staff. In addition, they refine writing, editing, imaging, finance, and printing skills. Students may receive honors credit in Newspaper III Honors one time only.
LEADERSHIP IN MEDIA I (HONORS) FALL Recommended prerequisite(s): Newspaper I/II and Teacher Recommendation This Honors-level course provides advanced students with the atmosphere to obtain leadership skills. Students successfully completing this course will be responsible for coaching and mentoring peers, setting and managing deadlines, leading instruction, having a cogent awareness of current trends within the medium, and producing a collaborative product that serves the school and community. This course is designed for students who have committed to leadership positions for school-wide publications, such as the school newspaper.
LEADERSHIP IN MEDIA II (HONORS) SPRING Recommended prerequisite(s): Leadership in Media I (Honors) In addition to the leadership skills required in Leadership in Media I, students in this Honors course act in a supervisory role for not only their peers but emerging leaders within their staffs, conducting meetings, fostering creativity and productivity, and establishing a collaborative and communicative environment.
NEWSPAPER II Recommended prerequisite(s): Newspaper I, application, and teacher recommendation This second-level newspaper course is designed to help students refine their skills in interviewing and reporting. Students design and publish regular editions of the school newspaper. They also deepen their understanding of the business management aspect of the newspaper.
NEWSPAPER II (HONORS) Recommended prerequisite(s): Newspaper I, application, and teacher recommendation This honors course allows junior- and senior-level publication staff members to develop advanced journalistic skills in addition to leadership skills. Students enrolled for honors credit are required to fill an editor's position or take a leadership role on the publication staff. They participate in the construction and publication of the school newspaper and master additional editorial and technological skills. Editorial skills include planning an entire issue, copy editing, and completing portfolios of their work. The technological skills include mastering advanced layout and design of desktop publishing and mastering digital imagery and photo placement. Students may receive honors credit in Newspaper II Honors one time only.
NEWSPAPER III Recommended prerequisite(s): Newspaper I and II and teacher recommendation Students who have completed Newspaper I and II and who desire to refine skills in writing, editing, imaging, finance, and printing may elect this course. In addition to development of higher level writing skills and business management procedures, students enhance their knowledge of the laws and ethics of journalism.
NEWSPAPER III (HONORS) Recommended prerequisite(s): Newspaper I, Newspaper II (Honors), and teacher recommendation This honors course provides advanced journalism students the opportunity to expand their portfolios (begun in Newspaper II Honors) and to develop and deliver training modules for all staff positions. Students electing this course are required to fill an editor’s position or take a leadership role on the publication staff. In addition, they refine writing, editing, imaging, finance, and printing skills. Students may receive honors credit in Newspaper III Honors one time only.
LEADERSHIP IN MEDIA I (HONORS) FALL Recommended prerequisite(s): Newspaper I/II and Teacher Recommendation This Honors-level course provides advanced students with the atmosphere to obtain leadership skills. Students successfully completing this course will be responsible for coaching and mentoring peers, setting and managing deadlines, leading instruction, having a cogent awareness of current trends within the medium, and producing a collaborative product that serves the school and community. This course is designed for students who have committed to leadership positions for school-wide publications, such as the school newspaper.
LEADERSHIP IN MEDIA II (HONORS) SPRING Recommended prerequisite(s): Leadership in Media I (Honors) In addition to the leadership skills required in Leadership in Media I, students in this Honors course act in a supervisory role for not only their peers but emerging leaders within their staffs, conducting meetings, fostering creativity and productivity, and establishing a collaborative and communicative environment.
Speech
SPEECH I This course, designed for the beginning and experienced speaker alike, helps all students excel as it cultivates a positive and supportive classroom environment in which students become comfortable in front of an audience of their peers, giving a wide variety of speeches, practicing the virtues of constructive criticism, and learning the fundamentals of academic and legislative debate.
SPEECH II Recommended prerequisite(s): Speech I This course hones public speaking skills so that students may more rewardingly engage in competitive speaking and debate. Class activities are modeled on local, statewide, and national events expected by the National Forensics League. Included are dramatic and humorous interpretation of poetry and prose, student Congress, public forum and Lincoln-Douglas debate, extemporaneous speaking, and original oratory. Students who belong to a Speech and Debate Team will greatly benefit from this course, but all students who want to take their skills to the next level would derive much benefit and pleasure.
SPEECH II (HONORS) Recommended prerequisite(s): Speech I Honors The Honors section of this course requires students to meet the rigorous and rewarding standards promoted by the National Forensics League. Students will explore all of the main events sponsored by the league: dramatic and humorous interpretation of poetry and prose, student Congress, public forum and Lincoln-Douglas debate, extemporaneous speaking, and original oratory.honing their skills, students will be expected to delve more deeply into the art of argumentation and the resources available through advanced research.
SPEECH II Recommended prerequisite(s): Speech I This course hones public speaking skills so that students may more rewardingly engage in competitive speaking and debate. Class activities are modeled on local, statewide, and national events expected by the National Forensics League. Included are dramatic and humorous interpretation of poetry and prose, student Congress, public forum and Lincoln-Douglas debate, extemporaneous speaking, and original oratory. Students who belong to a Speech and Debate Team will greatly benefit from this course, but all students who want to take their skills to the next level would derive much benefit and pleasure.
SPEECH II (HONORS) Recommended prerequisite(s): Speech I Honors The Honors section of this course requires students to meet the rigorous and rewarding standards promoted by the National Forensics League. Students will explore all of the main events sponsored by the league: dramatic and humorous interpretation of poetry and prose, student Congress, public forum and Lincoln-Douglas debate, extemporaneous speaking, and original oratory.honing their skills, students will be expected to delve more deeply into the art of argumentation and the resources available through advanced research.