AP Language and Composition                                    Recommended Grade(s) 11
This Advanced Placement Language and Writing course is designed to offer ambitious students a chance to access a college-level English course while still in high school. The course primarily emphasizes close and critical reading of texts. With a focus on American literature, readings include nonfiction works in a variety of style and modes. In addition to verbal analysis, great emphasis is placed on written expression. Designed for students who possess self-motivation and maturity, AP Language prepares pupils to read widely, analyze with confidence, write in a variety of modes, and create strong arguments regarding literature. The course conforms to all current guidelines set down by the College Board, and the AP English Course Description.
Requirements Juniors: B in Honors Euro Lit. or A- in Euro Lit. (PSAT scores may be used as a guideline). Semester(s) 2

AP Literature                                                                Recommended Grade(s) 12
This Advanced Placement Literature and Writing course is designed to offer ambitious students a chance to access a college-level English course while still in high school. The course primarily emphasizes close and critical reading of literary texts. With a focus on British literature, readings include various genres and periods. In addition to verbal analysis, great emphasis is placed on written expression.  Written expression will include both formal and informal activities designed to foster the ability to communicate both logically and creatively, and with variety and richness in language.  Furthermore, students improve critical thinking skills through timed drills of multiple choice and essay questions. To emphasize writing as a process, the teacher makes extensive written commentary on essays, often followed by group discussion, peer review, rewriting, and meetings with individual students. Both written and oral analysis will include an examination of technical aspects of literature such as structure, diction, tone, syntax, imagery, metaphor, symbolism, point of view and the like as well as a consideration of the historical and social context of a work. Designed for students who possess self-motivation and maturity, AP Literature prepares pupils to read widely, analyze with confidence, write in a variety of modes, and create strong arguments regarding a variety of texts and genres. The course conforms to all current guidelines set down by the College Board, and the AP English Course Description.
Requirements Seniors: B-in AP Lang, B+ in Amer. Lit. (SAT scores may be used as a guideline)
                                                                                                Semester(s) 2

Creative Writing                                                           Recommended Grade(s) 9,10,11,12
This course is open to all students who have an interest in creative writing. Students will be encouraged to observe, record, and explore as they create their own works of poetry and prose. The class will take the format of a workshop in which students will share their works with the class as well as work independently on their own writing. Students will work towards compiling a portfolio of their work. Students who have taken creative writing before are eligible to take the course again at a more advanced level by working with the instructor.
Requirements NA                                                                   Semester(s) 1

English Literature                                                        Recommended Grade(s) 12
Utilizing a thematic approach, students will study a variety of writers from the British Empire. Through the investigation of different genres within this body of literature, students will look closely at form as well as function. These studies will hone students’ critical thinking skills and exercise their higher order cognition as they learn to synthesize their abilities in all aspects of literature. In English Literature students will also continue their exploration of various writing techniques. A focus of this course will be to encourage insightful articulation of independent ideas.
Requirements Seniors not taking AP Lit                                   Semester(s)  2

European Literature                                                     Recommended Grade(s) 10
Ranging from classical beginnings to modern day, this course will take students on an exploration of literature of European descent. Students will follow a thematic approach to their study by tracing the ideas of The Quest for Honor and Truth, The Individual v. Society, and The Consequences of Self-Realization. Throughout the year, students will also examine their own journey of self-knowledge through creative writing and self-reflection on their individual learning styles. This course will emphasize writing as a process as well as focus on how to closely interpret and analyze literary text. Exploring different genres, students will read authors ranging from Homer and Sophocles to Dante and Shakespeare to Henrik Ibsen, George Orwell, and Muriel Spark. This course should enhance a student’s course of study in European History.
Requirements NA                                                                      Semester(s) 2

Films of the 90s                                                           Recommended Grade(s)  9,10,11,12
This class is designed to give students a basic understanding of the greatest and most important films of the 1990’s.  The class will study a wide array of films, everything from foreign films (Run Lola Run) to the emergence of independent filmmaking (Bottle Rocket).  Students will be graded based on the discussions held in class as well as series of critical response papers.
Requirements NA                                                                       Semester(s) 1

Films of Hitchcock                                                       Recommended Grade(s) 9,10,11,12
Alfred Hitchcock is unarguably one of the most iconic and dynamic film directors throughout the history of filmmaking.  He pioneered techniques in the suspense and thriller genres and changed filmmaking forever with films such as “Psycho,” “The Birds,” “North by Northwest”, and “Rear Window.”  In films of Hitchcock we will survey the director’s greatest work and study his growth as a filmmaker.  Grading will be based on a series of response papers and oral presentations designed to make students critically think about the films they have seen in class.
Requirements NA                                                                         Semester(s) 1

Honors European Literature                                         Recommended Grade(s) 10
Ranging from classical beginnings to modern day, this course will take students on an exploration of literature of European descent. Students will follow a thematic approach to their study by tracing the ideas of The Quest for Honor and Truth, The Individual v. Society, and The Consequences of Self-Realization. Throughout the year, students will also examine their own journey of self-knowledge through creative writing and self-reflection on their individual learning styles. This course will emphasize writing as a process as well as focus on how to closely interpret and analyze literary text. Exploring different genres, students will read authors ranging from Homer and Sophocles to Dante and Shakespeare to Henrik Ibsen, George Orwell, and Muriel Spark. This course should enhance a student’s course of study in European History. Students pursuing honors level work should be prepared for the high level of rigor involved in reading some rather difficult, yet rewarding works of literature.
Requirements A- or above in regular Humanities, B or above in honors Humanities     Semester(s) 2

History of Documentary                                                Recommended Grade(s)      9,10,11,12
History of Documentary is designed to give students a broad understanding of the documentary genre.  More and more documentary filmmaking permeates our everyday life through reality TV programming.  Studying documentaries will help students understand both the history of the genre as well as the growth it has experienced in recent years.  The class will start with the classic, “Nanook of the North”, and work our way through the decades to modern works such as “Super Size Me.”  Grading will be based on a series of response papers and oral presentations designed to make students critically think about the films they have seen in class.
Requirements NA                                                                           Semester(s) 1

Humanities and Honors Humanities 9                          Recommended Grade(s)                     9
Through studying works of literature from Africa, India, the Middle East, and China, students will develop an understanding of the variety of life experiences of individuals in other cultures. Works from numerous genres will be covered, including the following: autobiography, folklore (including creation myth and folk epic), film, novels, short stories, and poetry.   Students will be expected to read critically and respond thoughtfully to their reading through a variety of assignments including reflection journals, projects, essays, class discussion, and formal evaluations.  Humanities 9 English is an interdisciplinary course aligned with Humanities 9 social studies.  Students should anticipate possible crossover between these classes and may be expected to submit joint evaluations and projects.
Requirements NA                                                                           Semester(s) 2

Moonlight and Magnolias-Eng Sem: Amer. Lit.            Recommended Grade(s)  10th with permission, 11, 12,
                                                                                                                  
With an emphasis on twentieth century literature, film, and culture, students will examine the Old South vs. the New South, the myths behind the South, and the stereotypes that have evolved and are being broken.  At the end of the course, they will decide if there still is a unique South or if it is becoming assimilated into the rest of the nation.  Students will read works from authors such as Faulkner, Welty, Hurston, Angelou, O’Connor, and Edgerton.
Requirements Humanities & European Literature                       Semester(s) 1

Media Studies                                                              Recommended Grade(s) 9,10,11,12
Media literacy is more vital in our world than it ever has been.  From our understanding of current events and popular culture to our preferences as consumers, the media plays a powerful role in shaping the way we interpret our world.  This course will encourage students to critically examine various forms of media, to understand how these forms are constructed, and to investigate the effects they have on culture and society.  The emphasis of this elective course will be discussion, reflection, and interpretation. 
Requirements NA                                                                           Semester(s) 1