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English Department

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English at Palmer

ENGLISH 1,2
Course Length: 2 Semesters
Grade: 9
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (English requirement or Elective)
Prerequisite: None

Primary emphasis is placed on the development of logical thinking skills and expository writing and speaking. By the end of grade nine, students should consistently apply proofreading and revising skills involving basic grammar, mechanics, spelling, clarity, and effectiveness. Reading skills stress vocabulary development, interpretation, analysis, and evaluation. Using the vocabulary of literary elements, students both talk and write about literature. Speaking activities include instruction in explanation and supported opinion. Evaluative, critical listening is incorporated. Thinking skills include: sequencing, concluding, implying, rephrasing, recognizing authority, comparing, contrasting, ordering by importance, developing cause and effect relationships, recognizing assumptions, and distinguishing literal versus figurative meanings. (12/94)

ENGLISH 1,2 HONORS
Course Length: 2 Semesters
Grade: 9
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (English requirement or Elective)
Prerequisite: Teacher recommendation

This is the first course of a four-year program for highly motivated, capable students. Students will study a broad sampling of literature which emphasizes conceptual, critical skills in reading, writing, and discussion. The sequence is designed to provide instruction in challenging skills and the opportunity to take Advanced Placement in the senior year.

 

ENGLISH 3,4
Course Length: 2 Semesters
Grade: 10
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (English requirement or Elective)
Prerequisite: Recommended English 1, 2 or Government and Literature 1, 2 or English 1, 2 H or IBMYP English 1, 2 Honors

This required course for sophomores includes the study of the five basic skills: reading, writing, speaking, listening, and viewing. Emphasis, however, is placed on reading with understanding, writing with clarity of ideas, and correctness of mechanics. The reading materials may include novels, plays, etc. Students may be required to revise their papers until their work is acceptable. A variety of materials and assessments are used to accommodate achievement levels of students.

 

ENGLISH 3,4 HONORS
Summer Readings Required
Course Length: 2 Semesters
Grade: 10
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (English requirement or Elective)
Prerequisite: English 1, 2 and invitation or recommendation of ninth-grade teacher.

This is the second in a four-step program for highly-motivated, capable students willing to study a broad sampling of literary materials with emphasis on conceptual and critical skills in reading, writing, and discussion. The sequence is designed to provide both instruction in higher-level skills and the opportunity to take advanced placement in the senior year. Summer reading is required.

 

ENGLISH 5,6
Course Length: 2 Semesters
Grade: 11
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (English requirement or Elective)
Prerequisite: Recommended English 3, 4

General and college preparatory students will build upon skills learned during the sophomore year by the study of genre, form and structure, literary devices and recognition of the characteristics of a literary work. A major focus of the course will be an intense study of composition. Discussion and speech activities are incorporated into the program.

 

ENGLISH 5, 6 HONORS
Summer Readings Required
Course Length: 2 Semesters
Grade: 11
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (English requirement or Elective)
Prerequisite: English 1, 2, 3, 4 and invitation or recommendation of sophomore teacher.

This third course in the honors sequence prepares motivated, capable students for advanced placement in the senior year through rigorous writing and discussion of a body of sophisticated literature. Summer reading is required.

 

ENGLISH 7, 8 ADVANCED PLACEMENT
Course Length: 2 Semesters
Grade: 12
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (English, Humanities, or Elective)
Prerequisite: English 1 through 6 and teacher recommendation

As the culminating course in the honors sequence, this class emphasizes skills in literary analysis, critical writing, and techniques of literary research. Work will be directed to the college freshman level and will provide, through a combination of seminar discussion and independent study and writing, the background skills necessary to take the national advanced placement tests. Depending upon the scores achieved on the national test in May, a student may receive college credit and/or college placement. Summer reading is required.

 

CREATIVE WRITING
Course Length: 1 Semester
Grade: 12
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (English, Humanities, or Elective)
Prerequisite: Credit equivalent of senior status

The course is designed for both college-bound seniors and seniors interested in creative writing in the work force. The focus is threefold: the student will analyze literature, according to style and detail; the student will apply successful writing standards to his/her own endeavors; the student will study marketing techniques and submit a final project of his/her own work for publication.

 

MODERN FICTION
Course Length: 1 Semester
Grade: 12
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (English, Humanities, or Elective)
Prerequisite: Credit equivalent of senior status

This course focuses on the reading and discussion of 20th and 21st century fiction works. Emphasis will be on understanding the works through multiple literary approaches, which will include socio-historic, biographical, and Jungian/archetypal. Although the course is designed for students who plan to attend college, any senior who enjoys reading modern works of fiction is invited to take this course.

 

FROM NOVEL TO FILM
Course Length: 1 Semester
Grade: 12
Credit per Semester: 1.0 English
Prerequisite: Credit equivalent of senior status

This course provides an introductory examination of film techniques used in feature length films to provide students with the tools needed to decide whether or not a film has retained the integrity of the novel upon which it is based. This course will help students develop critical thinking skills in understanding film as art. Two key elements of this course will require students to give speeches and to write argumentative essays on the underlying aesthetic aspects on the novels-to-films they read and view.

 

LITERATURE FROM THE BIBLE
Course Length: 1 Semester
Grade: 12
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (English, Humanities, or Elective)
Prerequisite: Credit equivalent of senior status

Designed for any student, whether or not they have a biblical background, this course consists of readings in the Old and New Testaments; a study of genres, themes, and other literary characteristics; readings of secular works for thematic comparison; and a study of the influence of the Bible on art and music. Although the course is directed toward the student going to college or planning other post-high school training, any senior wanting to know about the great stories, poetry, drama, essays and letters relating to the Bible may also want to take this course.

 

MYTHOLOGY
Course Length: 1 Semester
Grade: 12
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (English, Humanities, or Elective)
Prerequisite: Credit equivalent of senior status

This course surveys world mythology, including Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Norse, and American. A variety of selections including classical literature will be read. Emphasis will be on the origin and influence of mythology on our culture.

 

JOURNALISM 1, 2
This course does not qualify for NCAA initial-eligibility certification.
Course Length: 2 Semesters
Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (Humanities or Elective)
Prerequisite: None

This is an introductory course to the fundamentals of journalism. Course content includes basic news writing, features, editorials, straight news, newspaper layout, copy reading, some photojournalism, and techniques of production. The course is a prerequisite for working on the staff of the school newspaper. Class members will be given the opportunity to report for the school newspaper.

 

JOURNALISM 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
These courses do not qualify for NCAA initial-eligibility certification.
Course Length: Up to 6 Semesters
Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (Humanities or Elective)
Prerequisite: Completion of Journalism 1, 2;
Application required

The newspaper course is a laboratory-workshop class of students responsible for the publication of the school newspaper. Each staff member assumes and/or delegates responsibility for the following: reporting and writing assigned stories, planning and editing sections, planning page layouts and content, assigning and taking pictures, and copy-proofreading stories. These responsibilities are determined by the staff member's position.

 

YEARBOOK 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
These courses do not qualify for NCAA initial-eligibility certification.
Course Length: Up to 8 Semesters
Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (Humanities or Elective)
Prerequisite: Teacher recommendation

The yearbook staff produces the school yearbook which entails planning pages, drawing layouts, gathering information, writing copy, and composing pages for the sections of the book with the guidance of the instructor. Ordering, cropping, placing photographs, and selling ads are the duties of editors and staff. Experienced dependable photographers are needed. Applicants for the editorial staff should be able to write effectively, to do neat work, and to meet deadlines. Interested students must get an application from instructor.

 

IB Courses

IBMYP ENGLISH 1,2 HONORS
Grade: 9
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (English requirement)
Prerequisite: IB Program

Students with outstanding skills in reading, thinking, and composition may be recommended for participation in IB English 1-2. Higherlevel thinking skills of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation; group and individual oral activities; in and outofclass writing requiring detailed analysis; and reading of different genres from around the world help prepare students to succeed in Higher Level Language A.

 

IB MYP ENGLISH 3, 4 HONORS
Course Length: 2 Semesters
Grade: 10
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (English requirement or Elective)
Prerequisite: English 1, 2 & IB Program

Students accepted in the IB Program enroll in this required course. Higher-level thinking skills of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation; group and individual oral activities; in- and out-of-class writing requiring detailed analysis; and reading of different genres from around the world help prepare students to succeed in Higher Level Language A.

 

IB LANGUAGE A 5, 6, 7, 8 (ENGLISH) HIGHER LEVEL
Course Length: 4 Semesters
Grade: 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (English requirement)
Prerequisite: IB Program

Part of the International Baccalaureate Program, this intensive, four-semester study of world literature in translation focuses primarily on the development of solid analytic skills as demonstrated in essays of literary criticism and in various oral presentations. Students encounter literature from many diverse regions and cultures, including Latin America, Africa, Asia, and North America. A certain number of written and oral assignments throughout the two-year course are externally evaluated by the IB Examination Office to ensure that students meet the assessment criteria mandated by the Program. Expectations concerning workload are generally equivalent to Honors and AP English courses.

 

IB THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE 1, 2
Course Length: 3 Quarters
Grade: 12
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (Total 1.5 -- 1.0 first semester; .5 third quarter)(Humanities or Elective)
Prerequisite: IB Program

This course is obligatory for every candidate for the Diploma because it is a key element in the educational philosophy of the IB Program. Its purpose is to stimulate critical reflection upon knowledge and the experience of students both in and outside the classroom. The course is thus "philosophical" in the sense that it is meant to encourage students to acquire a critical awareness of what they and others know through analyzing concepts and arguments as well as the basis of value judgments which all human beings have to make.

 

IBMYP THEATRE ARTS 1
Course Length: 1 Semester
Grade: 9,10
Credit per Semester: 1.0 Elective
Prerequisite: Current enrollment in IB Middle Years Program

IBMYP Theater Arts provides students with opportunities to develop the ability to express themselves and their ideas about the world they live in. This course introduces students to stage direction, effective communications techniques, stage production, and drama philosophy.

 

IB THEATRE ARTS STANDARD LEVEL
Course Length: 2 Semesters
Grade: 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (Humanities or Elective)
Prerequisite: IB Program

IB Theatre Arts includes four parts in its curriculum: performance skills, theatre studies from an international perspective, play analysis and interpretation of three texts and a theatre production.

 

Other English Courses

FUND ENG/COM 1, 2, 3, 4 (FUNDAMENTALS OF ENGLISH/ COMMUNICATIONS)
Course Length: 2 Semesters
Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (English requirement or Elective)
Prerequisite: Student requires alternative curriculum as stated on current IEP.

These individualized courses are tailored to student needs. Emphasis is on basic academic and/or functional life skills in areas to include: reading, writing, language, and communication.

 

FUND READING 1, 2 (FUNDAMENTALS OF READING)
Course Length: 2 Semesters
Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (English or Elective)
Prerequisite: Student requires alternative curriculum as stated on current IEP

These individualized courses are tailored to student needs. Emphasis is on basic academic and/or functional life skills in areas to include reading, writing, language, and communication.

 

ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Course Length: Up to 8 Semesters
Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (English requirement)
Prerequisite: Student has major difficulty in comprehension of English and school placement

Designed for a speaker of English as a second language, this individualized course is
tailored to the student's needs. Emphasis is on basic skills.

 

ESL READING 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Course Length: Up to 8 Semesters
Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit per Semester: 1.0 (Humanities or Elective)
Prerequisite: None for one semester; instructor's approval 2 through 8

This course is designed to give students individualized help with basic reading skills. Students will work to improve in areas of vocabulary, reading comprehension and study skills.

 

EXPRESSIVE ENGLISH 1, 2
Course Length: 1 or 2 Semesters
Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Credit pre Semester: 1.0 (English, Humanities, or Elective)
Prerequisite: PHLOTE identified

Expressive English is a course to help students from bilingual backgrounds develop their reading, writing, speaking, and study skills. Enrollment for identified PHLOTE students only. For information, see your counselor.