Welcome to the English Dept. web page.
The English Department prepares students to become independent learners who are proficient in writing, speaking, critical reading, thinking, listening, and viewing. Students use the language arts to explore and respond to classical and contemporary works from many cultures and literary periods. With teacher guidance, students develop interpretative and evaluative skills and make connections between their reading, their writing, and their lives.
301 - English 9 - 1 credit - 1 year (levels – honors - 303, comprehensive - 301)
This course provides an in-depth study of literature with an emphasis on student writing, research skills, and vocabulary development on all ability levels. Journals will be required of all students.
304 - English 10 – 1 credit - 1 year (levels – honors - 306, comprehensive - 304)
Prerequisite: English 9
This year of English is dedicated to the study of four major genres of literature: the novel, the short story, poetry, and drama. Emphasis is placed on the form and structure of each. The skills of reading, writing, speaking, listening, thinking, and vocabulary development are integrated in each class.
309 - English 11 AP– 1 credit – 1 year
Prerequisite: Teacher/Dept. Chairperson recommendation
This course is designed for the highly motivated honors student and fulfills the American Literature requirement for graduation. The primary emphasis will be on preparing advanced students to succeed on the AP English Literature and Composition exam. This course will combine reading selections from both American and British Literature. Four major themes will be required throughout the year in addition to several creative writing pieces, oral presentations, and major research projects. An independent vocabulary program designed to improve SAT scores will be part of the class. Students enrolled in this course will be expected to meet high standards of written performance and critical reading.
310 - American Literature – 1 credit – 1 year – Grade 11
Prerequisite: English 9 and English 10
This course fulfills the American Literature requirement for graduation. The objective of this course is to help the student develop an understanding of the relationship of our literary heritage to contemporary American thought and culture. Students will study works by such authors as Hawthorne, Twain, Crane, Steinbeck, and Fitzgerald. The critical reading skills and vocabulary that are taught are helpful preparation for SAT testing.
315 – English 12 ECE – 1 credit – 1 year
(
Equivalent to four college credits for UCONN’s English 110 – Seminar in Academic Writing)
Prerequisite: 83 or above in English 11 Honors or 93 or above in American Literature and recommendation by the English Department Chairperson. UCONN sets a maximum enrollment for this course at 18.
The University of Connecticut courses are intended to give advanced students an opportunity to do college level work in high school. English 110 combines language and composition with the study of expository writing. Students will write extensively in a variety of rhetorical styles and study complex pieces of literature. To receive college credit at the University of Connecticut, a student must apply to the Cooperative program at the University of Connecticut and receive a final grade of 73 or better for the course. Additionally, the course is designed to prepare the advanced student to succeed on the AP English Language and Composition Exam.
314 – English 12 AP– 1 credit – 1 year
Open only to qualified seniors holding an 87 average or better in American Literature or a 77 average or better in English 11 Honors. Recommendation by the English Department Chairperson is required. The first semester introduces students to the study of a variety of rhetorical styles. Students will study selected works of world literature throughout the year. A journal and four papers per quarter will be required of all students. Additionally, the course is designed to prepare the advanced student to succeed on the AP English Language and Composition Exam.
312 – English 12 – 1 credit – 1 year
This course examines the human condition in terms of classical and contemporary world literature. Students receive instruction in language arts needed for success in future education and the work place, including literary analysis, projects, vocabulary development, research, business writing, and presentation.
Electives
316 – Speech – 1/2 credit – 1/2 year
The purpose of this course is to improve student skills in public speaking and presentation. A variety of speeches will be given, including informative, persuasive, and entertaining. Open only to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Juniors and seniors will be eligible for credit at Manchester Community College upon enrollment in the Tech Prep Program and successful completion of the course.
317 – Introduction to Acting – 1/2 credit – 1/2 year
The purpose of this course is to improve students’ acting skills in both serious and comedic roles. Students also will improve skills in public speaking and presentation. A variety of monologues, scenes, and performance pieces will be presented and evaluated by students throughout the semester. The use of improvisation and theater games in rehearsal also will be explored. Open only to sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
318 – Creative Writing I – 1/2 credit – 1/2 year
This course is designed for those students who seek an opportunity for self-expression and creativity through the art of writing. Students will write short stories, plays, and poetry. The course is open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
322 – Creative Writing II – 1/2 credit – 1/2 year
This course is a sequel to Creative Writing I, which must be taken as a prerequisite. The course provides the more serious writer an opportunity to study particular writers and their craft. Students would work on their writing portfolios and explore career options in publishing. Open to juniors and seniors only.
319 – Journalism – 1/2 credit – 1/2 year
In this course students will learn all aspects of journalism, including terminology, ethics, and the role of journalism in a democratic society. Students will write news, features, and columns. The class will collectively produce their own newspapers and magazines. This class is open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
323 – Introduction to the Theatre – 1/2 credit – 1/2 year
This course studies the art, history, and production of plays. Students will read, view, and attend plays as a basis for discussion, which will focus on the roles of the playwright, director, actors, designers, and audience. This is not an acting class. Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors only. (Offered odd years only)
324 – Media Studies – 1/2 credit – 1/2 year
This course explores the impact the mass media have on our lives. Individual topics include the history of communication, advertising, propaganda, print journalism, radio, television, film, and the Internet. Each medium will be explored on a theoretical and a practical level. One goal of the course is the production of TV programs for broadcast during the school day. Open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors only.
Interdepartmental
225 - Introduction to Web Design – ½ credit – ½ year (Fall Semester)
In this one semester course, students will develop the basic skills necessary for creating an effective web design. Students will become familiar with the Macromedia Dreamweaver environment and create web pages by typing and formatting text, importing graphics, adding, links, building tables, using frames, and up leading files to a remote server. Students will work on individual as well as team based projects. Student projects will range from basic personal profile and on- line resume pages to more creative and conceptual pieces designed to tell stories or promote a commercial endeavor.
251- Advanced Web Design – ½ credit – ½ year (Spring Semester) In this one
semester course, students will develop advanced skills of web design. In addition to exploring the advanced features of Macromedia Dream weaver, students will become familiar with the graphic design functions of Macromedia FreeHand, the animation features of Macromedia Flash and learn how to create vector graphics, edit bitmap graphics, optimize images, and create and assign rollover effects for the Web using Macromedia Fireworks. Student projects will focus on the design and execution of highly interactive web sites. These projects will be performed in a real world production atmosphere where students brainstorm, outline objectives and goals, write proposals, draw flow charts, sketch storyboards, and present their proposal to mock clients.
