DEPARTMENTS

 

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

Course Offerings

ADVANCED COMPOSITION 1-2 0367 - 0368
Recommended Courses Writing Seminar 1-2
Interest Interest is more advanced and in depth creative writing

Advanced Composition is recommended for college-bound juniors and seniors who wish to strengthen their expository writing skills.  Emphasis will be placed on the multi-paragraph essay and on research, analysis, and writing about nonfiction.  Developing advanced vocabulary skills will also be stressed.  This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU requirement.

AMERICAN LITERATURE 1-2 0367 - 0388
Recommended Courses English 3-4 or Honors Humanities
Interest Required

American Literature 1-2 introduces famous American writers such as Bradford, Dickinson, Whitman, Irving, Poe, Crane, Twain, O'Henry, Hawthorne, Hemingway and Steinbeck, and the philosophical context of the literature.  American Literature 2 deals with more modern American writers.  Possible choices of authors to be studied include Faulkner, Hemingway, Steinbeck, Albee, O'Neill, Williams, Salinger, Sandburg, Frost, or Fitzgerald.  Students will continue to practice the essay format, advanced literary concepts and SAT vocabulary.  This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU "B" or "G" requirement.

AP ENGLISH LANGUAGE 1-2 0372 - 0373
Recommended Courses Honors Humanities 1-2 or H.S. English 3-4

In this class students will read, discuss, and write about American fiction and non-fiction, from Colonial to modern times, focusing on text analysis, rhetorical strategies, and vocabulary development to prepare them for the AP Language Exam.  As an advanced reading and composition course, students should be familiar with the use of concrete details and commentaries to support a thesis driven essay.  Students will carefully review the essay form before moving on to develop a more specific understanding of audience and style for persuasive writing.  Students will focus on academic writing and the research process.  This course also emphasizes the development of research skills and the preparation of a persuasive research paper.  This course may be used for the UC/CSU "B" or "G" requirement.  UC approved for extra honors credit (A=5, B=4, C=3).

AP ENGLISH LITERATURE 1-2 0370 - 0371 Linked Course British Literature 1-2
Recommended Courses American Literature, Honors Survey of American Literature Interest College level in depth exploration of Western literacy development

Advanced Placement English 1-2 is a college-level course designed to prepare students to take the Advanced Placement English examination. The course presents examples of Western literary development from the Greeks through the twentieth century, acquainting students with various genres and themes.  Emphasis will be placed on a close reading and analysis of the individual literary work.  In addition, attention may be given to the historical and philosophical characteristics of the authors, literary movements and genres.  Students also will be expected to write expository, researched papers.  This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU "B" or "G" requirement.  UC approved for extra honors credit (A=5, B=4, C=3).

BRITISH LITERATURE 1-2 0384 - 0385
Recommended Courses  American Literature or Honors Survey of American Literature Interest Seek exposure to British Literature

British Literature 1-2 is a course that acquaints student with various genres and themes of literature produced by Irish, English and Scottish writers.  The course will develop students' techniques in reading, writing, speaking, and presenting.  While individual courses may vary, students will generally be expected to read 20-30 pages per night and be able to discuss each night's reading the following day.  Note:  British Literature will also be offered as a linked course with AP English 1-2.  This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU "B" or "G" requirement.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER (ELL) 1-2 0326 - 0327
Recommended Courses Placement Based on Testing

English Language Learner (ELL) 1-2 is a comprehensive course which takes students who are beginning English speakers and develops a foundation in basic English language skills needed to survive in the school community, both socially and academically.  Based on language acquisition theory, instruction focuses initially on listening and speaking and builds reading and writing skills.  The underlying goal of the course is to develop a strong foundation of knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to succeed in ELL 3-4.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER (ELL) 3-4 0328 - 0329
Recommended Courses  Placement Based on Testing

English Language Learner (ELL) 3-4 is a comprehensive course which takes students with limited English proficiency or literacy and develops their functional literacy and language arts skills to a level of proficiency which enables them to be successful in regular academic classes.  Based on language acquisition theory, instruction utilizes an integrated approach which blends listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Ultimately, the course develops the English/language arts knowledge, skills, and attitudes and helps students to become productive members of society. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU "B" or “G” requirement.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER (ELL) ELD EXPLORATIONS A/B 0335 - 0336
Recommended Courses Placement Based on Testing

ELD Explorations A/B s a course designed to support English learner students at an intermediate level of English fluency who are concurrently enrolled in ELD 3-4. The purpose of this course is to allow the students extra time each day to develop their proficiency in English and to practice the skills learned in ELD 3-4. The curriculum is based on the ELD standards and focuses on developing students’ listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. This course does not meet UC/CSU English requirements.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER (ELL) NEWCOMER CLASS 1-2 0333 - 0334
Recommended Courses  Placement Based on Testing

The Newcomer Class is designed to acquaint newly immigrated students to the culture of the United States and the Poway Unified School District. In addition, students are introduced to early American history as well as geography of the United States. The primary purpose of the class is to provide intensive practice in English and additionally teach basic academic skills, promote higher-order thinking skills, and develop appropriate reading and writing skills. NOTE:  Students receive elective credit only.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER (ELL) READING/WRITING 1-2 0322 - 0323
Recommended Courses Placement Based on Testing

English Language Learner Reading/Writing 1-2 is a supplementary English course designed to provide intermediate-level English language learners with additional support in English language development. Students who score in the intermediate level as determined by the California English Language Development Test (CELDT) can enroll concurrently in ELL 3/4 and ELL Reading and Writing to develop their language arts skills. This course does not meet UC/CSU English requirements.

ENGLISH PREP 1-2 0318 - 0319 Linked Course English 1-2
Recommended Courses None
Interest Needs to better develop basic writing skills

English Prep is a ninth grade course designed to help students to gain skills necessary for success in High School English 1-2. The course will focus on the identification and strengthening of specific reading, writing, listening and speaking skills which will enable students to meet ninth grade standards. Students will be taught a variety of strategies, using both narrative and expository works, to become more effective readers and writers.  NOTE:  Students receive elective credit only.

EXPOSITORY READING AND WRITING 1-2 0315 - 0316
Recommended Courses None
Interest Interest is more advanced and in depth creative writing

Expository Reading and Writing prepares college-bound seniors for the literacy demands of higher education. Students in this rhetoric-based course will become more proficient in expository, analytical, and argumentative reading and writing, increasing their awareness of the rhetorical strategies employed by authors and applying those same strategies to their own writing. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU "B" or "G" requirement.

HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH 1-2 0301 - 0302
Recommended Courses None
Interest Required Course

HS English 1-2 builds on knowledge and skills developed in middle school.  Students will continue to develop their thinking-in-writing by practicing a variety of writing modes including description, narration, and literary analysis.  Students will learn the basics of the academic essay, developing their understanding of appropriate paragraph structure.  Concurrently, they will acquire and use specific skills to read and respond to different genres of literature, including the short story, myths and legends, the novel, and assorted non-fiction.  Students will continue to practice descriptive, narrative and analytical writing, while also acquainting themselves with reflective writing and formal academic research.  They will develop more sophisticated responses to literature, learning to create and support inferences about characters, moods, themes, etc.  They will read literary works of greater complexity and scope, and thereby prepare themselves for more advanced English courses.  This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU "B" or "G" requirement.

HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH 1-2 (Sheltered) 090301 - 090302
Recommended Courses Placement based on testing
Interest Required Course

HS English 1-2 (Sheltered) builds on knowledge and skills developed in middle school. Students will continue to develop their thinking-in-writing by practicing a variety of writing modes including description, narration, and literary analysis. Students will learn the basics of the academic essay, developing their understanding of appropriate paragraph structure. Concurrently, they will acquire and use specific skills to read and respond to different genres of literature, including the short story, myths and legends, the novel, and assorted non-fiction. Students will continue to practice descriptive, narrative and analytical writing, while also acquainting themselves with reflective writing and formal academic research.  They will develop more sophisticated responses to literature, learning to create and support inferences about characters, moods, themes, etc. They will read literary works of greater complexity and scope, and thereby prepare themselves for more advanced English courses. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU "B" or "G" requirement.

HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH 3-4 0310 - 0311
Recommended Courses None
Interest Required Course

Through a thematic approach to the study of literature and written composition, students in High School English 3-4 will broaden their knowledge of literature and its cultural elements (e.g. art, music, dance, politics, etc.). They will improve their ability to understand their connection to literature, develop writing and thinking skills, master punctuation and grammar skills, and further improve listening and speaking skills. Writing modes addressed will include: reflective, interpretive, and evaluative. Also, a research-based controversial issue essay will be required. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU "B" or "G" requirement.

HONORS HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH 1-2 0303 - 0304
Recommended Courses None
Interest Required Course, students who enjoy & are successful in Language Arts

Students will read novels, study mythology, poetry and perform literary analysis, review the parts of speech and build vocabulary. Students will research and write a multi-page paper on a controversial issue and present a 5-10 minute persuasive speech. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU "B" or "G" requirement.

HONORS HUMANITIES 1-2 0313 - 0314
Recommended Courses English 1-2 or Honors English 1-2
Interest Preparing for more rigorous Language Arts

Honors Humanities studies man’s relationship with society, nature and himself. Students write in a variety of essay modes including: interpretive, expository, reflective, and persuasive. The course involves library research, outside reading, peer cooperation and formal public speaking. Students begin a survey of Western culture beginning with the Ancient Greeks and continuing through the Renaissance in order to understand how the historical context in which a piece of writing, or music or of art is created gives added meaning, as does the political or social milieu. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU "B" or "G" requirement.

HONORS SURVEY OF AMERICAN LITERATURE 1-2 0382 - 0383
Recommended Courses
English 3-4 or Honors Humanities
Interest Seek a more rigorous Language Arts experience

AP English Honors Survey of American Literature 1-2 provides an overview of the development of the short story, poem, novel and play in America. The course is taught at a faster pace and in greater depth than the regular American Literature 1-2. Major periods of writing covered include the Puritans, Neo-classicists, the Romantics, Realists, Naturalists and modern writers. Emphasis on the historical and psychological contexts in which the literature was produced is included as well as the stylistic characteristics of the authors. Examples of authors studied are Bradford, Irving, Poe, Hawthorne, Emerson, Twain, Crane, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Steinbeck and Salinger. Students will be expected to do written literary analyses and long-term, independent research topics will be selected by each student. In-depth reading on this topic will include analysis of three books and references, and the writing of a 10-15 page paper. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU "B" or "G" requirement. UC approved for extra honors credit (A=5, B=4, C=3).

JOURNALISM 1/CRITICAL STUDY OF MASS MEDIA 0355 - 0358
Recommended Courses None
Interest Interest in exploring and understanding aspects of Mass Media in the United States

This course teaches news writing and other aspects of newspaper production. Included are lead writing, news writing, editorial writing, feature writing and headline writing. Also included are the legal aspects of copy reading, layout, makeup and journalism. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU “G” requirement.

JOURNALISM 2 (School Newspaper) 0356
Recommended Courses Journalism 1
Interest Interest in writing, editing, producing school newspaper

In Journalism 2, a two term/year-long course, students design and produce the school newspaper. They learn news, feature, review, editorial and sports writing styles. Using a computer desktop publishing program, they design pages and finalize their work. Students also familiarize themselves with the business aspects of newspaper production by handling advertising accounts. This course meets the districts Computer Literacy Requirement. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU “G” requirement. (No more than two semesters of Journalism may apply for college admission).

SPEECH WORKSHOP 0332
Recommended Courses
Permission of Instructor

Speech Workshop is an advanced, intensified course in the study and practice of giving speeches.  Communication theory is taught and examined along with the important elements of delivery. The ethics of communication, literature interpretation, organization, delivery strategies, and debate techniques will also be taught. The student will prepare a contest speech for use in the San Diego Speech League or any service club contest. One semester of this course may be used to meet the UC/CSU "G" requirement.

WORLD LITERATURE 1-2 0393 - 0394
Recommended Prerequisites American Literature or Honors Survey of American Literature Interest Seek exposure to World Literature and cultures

Students will develop their own voices and values on a journey of self-discovery through classic and contemporary World Literature. The course will expose them to literary works from a variety of cultures where they can experience the works of writers who view the world from perspectives different from their own. By visiting distant places and times, students will discover not only the riches of human experience and the universality of the human condition; they will also examine worldly and spiritual themes, all the while coming closer to becoming citizens of the world we live in and thinkers considerate of other peoples and their cultures. Note:  World Literature will also be offered as a linked course with AP World History 1-2.  This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU "B" or "G" requirement.

WRITING SEMINAR 1-2 0363 - 0364
Recommended Courses High School English 3-4, or Honors Humanities or British Literature or World Literature
Interest Interest in creative writing in any form

Writing Seminar 1 is designed for students with an interest in creative written expression and an interest in the connection between writing and reading. The course has three purposes: 1) to explore and practice various styles of expository and narrative writing, 2) to understand the writing process and the importance of revision to writers, and 3) to read critically various pieces of literature and to apply the techniques of published writers into their own analyses. This course may be used to meet the UC/CSU "G" requirement.