English Course Descriptions

This course focuses on a study of literary genres and informational texts.  Students develop initial understanding of both the structure and the meaning of a literary work and explore the effect of the literary form in regards to interpretation. Students will also read across the curriculum to develop academic and personal interests in different subjects. In conjunction with reading skills, students will demonstrate competency in a variety of writing genres: argumentative, informational/expository, and narrative. They will also engage in research, timed writings, and the writing process. Instruction in language conventions will occur within the context of reading, writing, and speaking, rather than in isolation. Students will also demonstrate an understanding of speaking and listening for a variety of purposes.

This course focuses on a study of literary genres and informational texts.  Students develop initial understanding of both the structure and the meaning of a literary work and explore the effect of the literary form in regards to interpretation. Students will also read across the curriculum to develop academic and personal interests in different subjects. In conjunction with reading skills, students will demonstrate competency in a variety of writing genres: argumentative, informational/expository, and narrative. They will also engage in research, timed writings, and the writing process. Instruction in language conventions will occur within the context of reading, writing, and speaking, rather than in isolation. Students will also demonstrate an understanding of speaking and listening for a variety of purposes. Other topics and skills specific to preparing students for the rigors of an Advanced Placement (AP) course will be integrated throughout the course.

This course builds upon the 9th Grade Literature and Composition course through a continued focus on a study of literary genres and informational texts. Students will develop an understanding that theme is what relates literature to life and that themes are recurring in the literary world, and students will explore the effect of themes in regard to interpretation. Students will also read across the curriculum to develop academic and personal interests in different subjects. While the focus of composition studies is writing argument in tenth grade literature, students will also demonstrate competency in informative/expository and narrative writing genres. They will also engage in research, timed writings, and the writing process. Instruction in language conventions will occur within the context of reading, writing, and speaking, rather than in isolation. Students will also demonstrate an understanding of speaking and listening for a variety of purposes. 

This course builds upon the 9th Grade Literature and Composition course through a continued focus on a study of literary genres and informational texts. Students will develop an understanding that theme is what relates literature to life and that themes are recurring in the literary world, and students will explore the effect of themes in regard to interpretation. Students will also read across the curriculum to develop academic and personal interests in different subjects. While the focus of composition studies is writing argument in tenth grade literature, students will also demonstrate competency in informative/expository and narrative writing genres. They will also engage in research, timed writings, and the writing process. Instruction in language conventions will occur within the context of reading, writing, and speaking, rather than in isolation. Students will also demonstrate an understanding of speaking and listening for a variety of purposes.  Other topics and skills specific to preparing students for the rigors of an Advanced Placement (AP) course will be integrated throughout the course.

This course is a survey of American Literature from the Colonial Period to the Modern Era.  It builds upon the 10th Grade Literature and Composition course through a focus on the acquisition of higher level reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language skills. This course focuses on the study of American literature and informational texts, writing modes and genres, and essential conventions for reading, writing, and speaking. Students will read a variety of informational and literary texts in all genres and modes of discourse. In addition, students will read across the curriculum to develop their academic and personal interests in different subjects. While expository writing is the focus in American literature, students will also demonstrate competency in argumentative and narrative genres. They will also engage in research, timed writing, and the writing process. Instruction in language conventions will occur within the context of reading, writing, and speaking. Students will also demonstrate an understanding of speaking and listening for a variety of purposes. 

*The state mandated Georgia Milestones End of Course Assessment is required and counts 20% of the student’s overall course grade.

Advanced Placement English Language and Composition/American Literature (11th grade)

AP English Language and Composition is an introductory college-level composition course. Through the study of American Literature, students cultivate their understanding of writing and rhetorical arguments through reading, analyzing, and writing texts as they explore topics like rhetorical situation, claims and evidence, reasoning and organization, and style. This course reflects the Georgia Standards of Excellence and College Board expectations.

*The state mandated Georgia Milestones End of Course Assessment is required and counts 20% of the student’s overall course grade.

Advanced Placement Seminar (11th grade)

AP Seminar is a foundational course that engages students in cross-curricular conversations that explore the complexities of academic and real-world topics and issues by analyzing divergent perspectives. Students learn to investigate a problem or issue, analyze arguments, compare different perspectives, synthesize information from multiple sources, and work alone and in a group to communicate their ideas.

Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition (12th grade)

AP English Literature and Composition is an introductory college-level literary analysis course. Students cultivate their understanding of literature through reading and analyzing texts as they explore concepts like character, setting, structure, perspective, figurative language, and literary analysis in the context of literary works.

Advanced Placement Research (12th grade)

AP Research, the second course in the AP Capstone experience, allows students to deeply explore an academic topic, problem, issue, or idea of individual interest. Students design, plan, and implement a yearlong investigation to  address a research question. Through this inquiry, they further the skills they acquired in the AP Seminar course by learning research methodology, employing ethical research practices, and accessing, analyzing, and synthesizing information.  Students reflect on their skill development, document their processes, and curate the artifacts of their scholarly work through a process and reflection portfolio. The course culminates in an academic paper of 4,000–5,000 words  (accompanied by a performance, exhibit, or product where applicable) and a presentation with an oral defense.

This course focuses on an introduction to journalistic writing through an analysis of newspapers, yearbooks, literary magazines, and broadcast journalism.  A concentration on the following components of journalistic writing may include, but is not limited to, the interview process; evaluating sources; purpose, structure, and diction in writing; and training in the various technology used in publishing. Students should participate in news gathering, the study of journalism ethics and laws, and the aspects of copy writing, editing, and revising. If a publication is produced, the students will be exposed to the process of publishing and how to manage a successful publication. 

The course offers an advanced study of journalistic writing. Skills from Journalism I are continued as students focus on a more intense analysis of print and broadcast journalism.  This course requires more critical thinking and more in-depth writing as related to newspaper, yearbook and/or literary magazine. Students will also be expected to gain more independence in the daily tasks of producing a publication. 

This course is an extension of Journalism I and II; students will enhance and hone the skills in journalistic writing, with a main focus on analysis of print and broadcast publications. An in-depth coverage of level-two topics will serve as the main premise. Students will evaluate and apply skills appropriately and efficiently to various publication opportunities and activities, both in-school and out-of-school. 

This course is designed for students who have mastered skills in Journalism III. Students will publish journalistic articles as appropriate either in a school newspaper (print or electronic), yearbook or literary magazine. The range of opportunities to apply skills will be increased and students are expected to manage all aspects of the publishing process with the delivery of a final publication.