1120 English 9 CP
Literature
Grade Level: 9
Year Course
Prerequisite: Placement
Test
10 Credits
Permission: None
UC, CSU, NCAA
This is a basic course
in the study of grammar,
usage, vocabulary and
composition. As an
introduction to
literature, all genres
will be explored.
Students will write
various essays including
autobiographical
incident, reflective, a
narrative essay and
original poetry.
1130 English 9 CP
Composition
Grade Level: 9
Year Course
Prerequisite: Placement
Test
10 Credits
Permission: None
UC, CSU, NCAA
This is a basic course
in the study of grammar,
usage, and composition,
as well as an
introduction to
literature. Fiction, the
drama and the novel will
be explored. Students
will learn a basic
format for compositions
of the reflective,
narrative, and
autobiographical nature
as well as have basic
grammar and usage skills
reinforced. Emphasis
will be placed on
effective communication
through composition.
1140 English 9 Basics
Grade Level: 9
Year Course
Prerequisite: Placement
Test
10 Credits
Permission: None
The class will work
toward bringing the
students up to grade
level in
vocabulary,reading,
grammar, and writing
skills. Students who are
below grade level in
reading and English
skills will be assigned
to this class.
1150 English Read 180®
Grade Level: 9
Year Course
Prerequisite: Placement
Test
10 Credits
Permission: None
This course is offered
to students whose
Placement Test scores
indicate they could use
extra instruction in the
area of Language Arts.
The course emphasizes
the development of
reading comprehension
skills, vocabulary
building, contextual
clues, analytical skills
and critical thinking.
Additional instruction
is also offered in
paragraph writing and
sentence construction.
The course is offered in
conjunction with
Scholastic Inc.
1210 English 10 World
Literature (H)
Grade Level: 10
Year Course
Prerequisite: A or B in
English 9H, A in English
9 CP
10 Credits
Permission: Teacher
Recommendation
UC, CSU, NCAA
In this course on world
literature, students
will read and analyze
novels, short stories
and poems from various
cultures. Students will
also learn to write
various types of essays.
The honors course
requires additional
readings, writings and
in-depth analysis. This
course will have a
weighted grade.
1220 English 10 CP World
Literature
Grade Level: 10
Year Course
Prerequisite: Completion
of English 9 CP
10 Credits
Permission: None
UC, CSU, NCAA
In this course on world
literature, students
will read and analyze
novels, short stories
and plays from various
cultures around the
world. This course will
include (but is not
limited to) such
literary works as A
Doll's House, selections
from The Iliad, Oedipus
Rex, and a play by
Shakespeare. Students
will study basic grammar
and vocabulary, as well
as different genres of
writing, including, but
not limited to,
exposition, persuasion,
reflection, and literary
analysis.
1230 English 10 CP
Composition
Grade Level: 10
Year Course
Prerequisite: Completion
of English 9
10 Credits
Permission: Teacher
Recommendation
UC, CSU, NCAA
In this course on world
literature, students
will read and analyze
short stories from
various cultures
selected from their
literature anthology.
They will analyze the
assigned summer reading
book and an additional
novel in the spring.
Students will study
basic grammar and
vocabulary. The course
places great emphasis on
improvement of basic
writing skills. Students
will learn to write
various types of essays,
including the report of
information, evaluation
and observational
writing.
1310 English (AP)
(American Literature)*
Grade Level: 11
Year Course
Prerequisite: A or B in
English 10H (B- is not
10 Credits
acceptable) or an A in
English 10
CP UC, CSU, NCAA
Permission: Teacher
Recommendation
The students will study
the development of
American Literature from
the Puritan era to the
twentieth century. All
literary genres will be
explored with emphasis
on the varied American
Classics: The Scarlet
Letter, The Grapes of
Wrath and The Great
Gatsby. In-depth
analysis through
discussion and an AP
writing program will be
integral parts to the
class. Students will
also prepare for the
Advanced Placement
Examination in English
Language and
Composition. Summer
course work will be
assigned and required.
*This course is approved
by the University of
California for a
weighted grade
1320 English 11 CP
American Literature
Grade Level: 11
Year Course
Prerequisite: Completion
of English 10
10 Credits
Permission: None
UC, CSU, NCAA
The students will study
the development of
American Literature from
Puritan times to the
twentieth century. All
literary genres will be
covered with emphasis on
the American classics,
such as The Crucible,
Death of a Salesman, In
Our Time and The Great
Gatsby. In their
quarterly essays,
students will practice
various essay types,
including the
controversial issue,
cause and effect, and
the I-search. Vocabulary
and testing will help
prepare students for the
PSAT and SAT tests.
1410 English (AP)
(English Literature)*
Grade Level: 12
Year Course
Prerequisite: A or B in
English 11AP (B- is not
acceptable) or A in
English 11
10 Credits
Permission: Teacher
Recommendation
CP UC, CSU, NCAA
This Advanced Placement
course will include the
rigorous study of
various types of
literature, with an
emphasis on British
literature encompassing
the major periods of the
English language. Some
of the authors that will
be read include the
following: Shakespeare,
Camus, Orwell, Conrad,
Ellison, and many of the
more influential poets.
A significant emphasis
will also be placed on
analytical writing.
Research is a necessary
component of this
course. The various
reading and writing
assignments will serve,
in aggregate, to prepare
students for the AP
Literature and
Composition exam. Summer
course work will be
assigned and required.
1420 English 12 CP
English Literature
Grade Level: 12
Year Course
Prerequisite: Completion
of English 11
10 Credits
Permission: None
UC, CSU, NCAA
In this course on
British Literature,
students will survey the
development of English
Literature from Beowulf,
Shakespeare's Macbeth,
Mary Shelley's
Frankenstein, 1984 and
Heart of Darkness. Class
discussion and writing
skills will be
emphasized. A major
research paper is
required, as well as
various types of
quarterly essays,
including interpretation
and reflection.
1610 Practicum in
Journalism
Grade Level: 10, 11, 12
Year Course
Prerequisite: None
2.5 Credits each
Semester
Permission: Instructor's
Permission
This course is designed
to teach the basics of
journalism through
working on the St.
Mary’s newspaper, The
Kettle. Students will
learn how to run a
working publication.
Skills taught include
news, sports, and
feature writing, layout,
photography and
advertising, in addition
to current topics in the
field of journalism
today. This class meets
after school.
1813 Rhetoric
Grade Level: 10, 11, 12
Semester Course
Prerequisite: C or
better in English
5 Credits
Permission: None
UC, CSU, NCAA
This course is designed
to teach the basics of
public speaking and how
it relates to the
classroom, the
community, and the work
place. The students will
learn to speak with
confidence; construct
arguments and
informational speeches;
and improve writing and
research skills.
