• ENGLISH

     

    All English courses include development of skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening. All courses include specific study of vocabulary, spelling, usage, punctuation and grammar, library research and assigned outside reading in addition to the literature studied in class. All courses include work in composition.

     

     

    ENGLISH 9 (1 UNIT)
    Throughout ninth grade English, students will use literary elements (irony, figurative language, symbolism) to understand reading selections. They will also be able to distinguish differences among various forms of poetry (sonnet, lyric, narrative, epic) and engage in a variety of shared-reading experiences. Students will also analyze poetry in order to recognize the differences between poetic and everyday language. During the course of the year, the students will study the development of characters and central themes. There will be a variety of pre-writing and writing tasks for students to perform in order to demonstrate their abilities as writers who understand their audiences and acceptable conventions of the English language versus e-mail. Knowledge and the ability to use a variety of research tools (newspapers, magazines, and internet – on-line data resources) in order to distinguish between provable statements and assumption will be taught. The ISafe Program will be presented during all English 9 classes. Students will understand the consequences of plagiarism.

    ENGLISH 10 (1 UNIT)

    Throughout tenth grade English, students will continue to work on the skills that were begun in English 9. In addition, they will be reading and evaluating short stories, novels, plays, poetry, and essays. They will be asked to read critically and write complete and insightful responses. They will need to become proficient in their grammar skills, especially punctuation, spelling, capitalization, correct pronoun use, and paragraphing.

    Students will also work on improving their listening, thinking, and writing skills in order to challenge the Regents in grade 11.

    ENGLISH 11 (1 UNIT)
    This course emphasizes the application of writing skills through the organization of composition and themes. An introduction to American Literature is used for interpretation and critical reading.

     

    JCC 1530
    Students will successfully complete writings in persuasion and various modes of exposition about a variety of topics. Students will develop research skills and gain confidence in completing a well-documented research based paper. Students will also continue to develop their command of the conventions of standard written English. These activities should ultimately produce improved critical thinking skills that will evidence themselves in written and oral communication. Finally, since writing is not only about clear and precise communication but also a tool for personal discovery, students should see this class as an opportunity to continue to develop their own individual "voice."

     

    JCC 1540
    This course focuses on imaginative literature – drama, poetry, and prose fiction. Students will be expected to consider how authors utilize the tools at their disposal (elements of fiction, figurative language, devices of sound and structure, etc.) in order to create their literary works. In the process students will be exposed to works from a variety of cultures and time periods. Students will be expected to improve their abilities to write critically and analytically about drama, poetry, and prose fiction. Students will also be expected to see literature as a commentary on human experience and view literary works from a variety of perspectives and interpretive approaches.

    ENGLISH 12 (1 UNIT)
    This course must prepare seniors for the variety of opportunities and responsibilities they will encounter after graduation. Ultimately, English 12 will help students apply their English language skills to the world beyond the classroom.
    English 12 will offer reading, writing, and speaking components with units in the novel, research writing, drama and film, persuasive writing, children’s literature, and the short story. Within these units poetry will be considered and creative writing and public speaking tasks will be assigned. In some cases these components will be mixed and merged under thematic units. For example, a thematic unit entitled "Power, Authority, and Civic Responsibility" will allow students to consider drama, novels, short stories, poems, as well as non-fiction articles and essays. From these sources students can then engage in a variety of writing tasks and speaking opportunities.