Departmental requirement for graduation is 3 credits; departmental recommendation for college bound students is 4 credits.

FRESHMEN ENGLISH

1200/1201 ENGLISH I A/B (Grade 9; 2 semesters; 1 credit)
This course combines the study of literature, grammar, and composition. The student will learn the terms and literary techniques and backgrounds used in short stories, poetry, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Greek mythology, and several paperback novels from the freshman reading list. Composition skills will emphasize correct sentence structure and writing a unified, coherent paragraph. The class will have a library unit to develop competence in using the library facility and its materials. The class also focuses on grammar skills, parts of speech, sentence structure, and usage. English IA moves at a faster pace than English IB.

SOPHOMORE ENGLISH

1202/1203 ENGLISH II A/B (Grade 10; 2 semesters; 1 credit)
Students will read short stories, poetry, drama, Arthurian legends, and novels. Course objectives include developing the student’s ability to identify, analyze, and interpret plot, setting, characterization, narration, diction, figurative language, imagery, symbolism, and theme. Students will be given the opportunity to identify and analyze different types of poetry such as sonnets, ballads, and dramatic monologues. In addition, students will identify and analyze major characteristics of drama and its particular forms. There will also be an opportunity for students to analyze and interpret selected elementary medieval romance. Students will learn writing techniques and will demonstrate these skills in various writing assignments which will include writing compositions and essays of analysis, interpretation, and evaluation. There will also be the opportunity for expansion of vocabulary. English IIA moves at a faster pace than English IIB.

ENGLISH COURSES SELECTION RECOMMENDATIONS – JUNIORS AND SENIORS

The English Department and the Guidance Department strongly recommend four full years of English for college-bound students. The University of Missouri now requires four units for admittance. We recommend that all college-bound students or those considering college take Great Books I/Essay during their Junior year and Great Books II/Term Paper during their Senior year. The second halves of both years should include at least one semester of literature (your choice of English, American, or World) and a semester’s choice which most accurately meets your interests and needs.

COLLEGE PREPARATORY SELECTIONS – JUNIOR/SENIOR LEVELS

1204 GREAT BOOKS I/ESSAY (Grades 11-12; 1 semester; ½ credit)
This course is the first of the college-preparatory courses which concentrates on the reading of modern works of American and world literature which can be considered contemporary classics. Students will interpret and evaluate the selections to determine and support a thesis statement and essay for novels. Students will also write argumentative essays and work to improve writing skill, style, and essay structure. Selections include: The Good Earth, The Grapes of Wrath, The Sun Also Rises, The Chosen, All Quiet on the Western Front, and Cold Sassy Tree.
Prerequisite: English teacher’s signature

1205 GREAT BOOKS II/RESEARCH PAPER (Grade 12; 1 semester; ½ credit)
This course is a college-preparatory course which concentrates on the reading of literary classics and on learning the necessary skills for constructing a documented research paper. Students will discuss the literary value and techniques of the work and will interpret and evaluate selected novels. Also, students will apply research skills and will emphasize self-discipline in following directions, meeting specific deadlines, and implementing documentation. Novels include: Catcher in the Rye, My Antonia, Franny & Zooey, A Tale of Two Cities, Wuthering Heights, The Scarlet Letter, The Lord of the Flies, and 1984.
Prerequisite: English Teacher’s signature

1206 ENGLISH LITERATURE (Grade 11-12; 1 semester; ½ credit)
This course is highly recommended for the college-bound student. It is a chronological study of some of the great works in English literature from its beginnings to the present. Works read include Arthurian legend, The Canterbury Tales, Shakespeare’s MacBeth, modern short stories and poems, a wide range of genre and writers. Students will be asked to respond in writing to the literature and will work to develop independence in reading ability and maturity in analytical response to literature.
Prerequisite: English Teacher’s signature

1207 WORLD CLASSICS (Grades 11-12; 1 semester; ½ credit)
This course is highly recommended for the college-bound student. It consists of a survey of important literary works of all forms from major authors of ancient Greece to the modern period. Selections from the Cultures of Africa, Asia, and Europe are included in the textbook. World literature is designed to give the student additional exposure to the various forms of literature, including the essay, short story, poetry, drama, and the novel. Students will be asked to respond to the literature in writing.
Prerequisite: English teacher’s signature

1212 AMERICAN LITERATURE (Grade 11-12; 1 semester; ½ credit)
This course is highly recommended for the college-bound student. It is a chronological study of some of the great works in American literature from its beginnings to the present. Authors include Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, Robert Frost, modern poets and novelists. Students will be asked to respond to the literature in writing and will work to develop independent reading skills and maturity in analysis.
Prerequisite: English teacher’s signature

1208 CREATIVE WRITING (Grades 11-12; 1 semester; ½ credit)
This course combines reading with writing as a means of self-expression and self-discovery. Students will explore the genres of the short story, personal essay, poetry, and drama. Studying novels and other writing stimulates imagination and provokes consideration of moral and ethical values requiring the student to search within himself for expression. Students are encouraged to view language with an artistic eye and cultivate it as a form of creative expression.
Prerequisite: A working knowledge of grammatical structures and an English teacher’s signature.

1209 ADVANCED PLACEMENT ENGLISH (Grade 12; 2 semesters; 1 credit)
This course is designed as an intensive study of literature and composition to prepare the advanced senior student. The course will demand skills in reading, writing, and thinking and will require independent work. Only students who want to work at a more intense pace and at a very mature level of thought and performance should enroll in the course. The course will include an intensive study of all kinds of literature: novels, drama, poetry, short stories, and expository writing covering themes common through literature and including writers who are considered foremost in literature (Shakespeare, both modern and classical poets, Charles Dickens, etc.) to develop close reading skills and a broad frame of reference of ongoing literary themes. The students will be expected to write frequently and will practice analysis, exposition, and critical essay skills. Students will also be taught proper research methods and will be asked to write a research paper. Students will be required to do summer reading before the course.
Prerequisite: English teacher’s signature

NON-COLLEGE BOUND SELECTIONS-JUNIOR/SENIOR LEVELS

1210 MODERN ENGLISH (Grade 11; 2 semesters; 1 credit)
This course is designed for students not planning on entering college. It will focus on reading, writing, and editing skills with application more towards practical, everyday reading and writing experiences than on academic. Emphasis will be on improving sentence maturity, writing skills, and editing errors out of finished work. The course will include a study of contemporary literature and a variety of novels, a unit on language used by the media, a unit on critical television viewing, a unit on a reputable news magazine with students having a month-long subscription, and a unit on writing business letters, filling out applications and business forms correctly.
Prerequisite: English teacher’s signature

1211 ENGLISH IV (Grade 12; 2 semesters; 1 credit)
This course will practice and improve language skills in the form of reading, writing, and speaking. Special emphasis is placed on individual skills and interest levels. The course includes creative essay and research writing. Short stories, poetry, and several novels will be used for both structured and free reading exercises. Students are given additional exposure to advanced sentence structure techniques, usage skills, and vocabulary.
Prerequisite: English teacher’s signature