English & Language Arts – Geibel Catholic

Grade Level	Course Name	Credits	Weight
7	English Language Arts 7	—	Level I

English Language Arts 7 is an all-encompassing course, emphasizing analysis of the following literary genres: short stories, poems, informational texts, novels, and dramatic works. This course also emphasizes the development of students’ writing skills. Utilizing varied genres from literature, novels, and informational nonfiction sources, students work to develop their analytical skills. Special emphasis is placed on writing at a higher level using appropriate organization and developing cohesive and meaningful written responses and on refining skills — prewriting, drafting, editing, and revising — essential to the writing process. Students write in various genres, including persuasive/argumentative, expository/informative, narrative, and research. Embedded in the curriculum, vocabulary, spelling, and grammar development also continues. Students work both in groups and individually to enhance their teaming and learning experiences.

Grade Level	Course Name	Credits	Weight
8	English Language Arts 8	—	Level I

English Language Arts 8 is an all-encompassing course that includes literature, grammar, and writing. In literature, students will explore the following genres: short stories, poems, informational texts, novels, and drama. In grammar, students will continue to use all eight major parts of speech (nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, and conjunctions) as well as correctly use the four types of sentences; declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory. Students will incorporate theses grammar skills across the subject areas. Writing, language, comprehension, and vocabulary skills will continue to be developed in this course. Speaking and listening skills are incorporated throughout all subjects in grades 7 and 8.

Grade Level	Course Name	Credits	Weight
9	Foundations of World Literature	1	High School I

Foundations of World Literature emphasizes the study and analysis of literature, including the novel, short story, drama, poetry, and literary nonfiction. Students will strengthen their ability to write in expository, argumentative, and creative styles while also developing the skills necessary to write research papers. Grammar is reviewed to strengthen and enhance students’ English and language art skills.

Grade Level	Course Name	Credits	Weight
9	Honors Foundations of World Literature	1	High School II

Honors Foundations of World Literature will require consistent effort and a mature approach to challenge. Honors Foundations of World Literature students will work more independently and demonstrate a deeper understanding of world literature concepts. Students enrolled for this class should be self-motivated and willing to engage in critical and analytical thinking.
Honors Foundations of World Literature is the first in a series of advanced English classes. This Honors course is designed for those who excel in reading comprehension, analysis, and composition. The critical analysis of literature, including the novel, short story, drama, poetry, and composition, is an integral component of the course. Students also compose organized and meaningful pieces of formal writing (expository, persuasive, descriptive, and creative essays). Throughout the course, students improve and refine vocabulary and grammar skills to strengthen speaking and writing skills.

Grade Level	Course Name	Credits	Weight
10	World Literature	1	High School I

This course is a progression from Foundations of World Literature. Critical analyses of short stories, novels, drama, poetry, and literary nonfiction are integral components of the course. Students compose clear, concise, organized, and effective writing in response to various prompts. Students will analyze various genres of literature for purpose, meaning, and method of construction. Effective communication will be demonstrated in several different literary forms by improving and refining vocabulary and grammar skills. Compare and contrast the effectiveness of various literary forms through analyses of representative works will broaden understanding of the research and writing process from the planning stages to the finished product. Students will assess how (and explain why) authors employ specific literary techniques.

Grade Level	Course Name	Credits	Weight
10	Honors World Literature	1	High School II

Honors World Literature will require consistent effort and a mature approach to challenge Honors World Literature students will work more independently and demonstrate a deeper understanding of world literature concepts. Students enrolled for this class should be self-motivated and willing to engage in critical and analytical thinking.
A continuation of Honors Foundations of World Literature, this honors course is designed for sophomores who have demonstrated superior language skills. Critical analyses of various forms of literature, expository writing, the MLA college research paper, and the study of vocabulary and organization are integral parts of the course. Students compose clear, concise, organized, and effective formal essays in response to various prompts; analyze various genres of literature (e.g. short story, novel, drama, poem) for purpose, meaning and method of construction; communicate effectively in anyof a number of different literary forms; improve and refine vocabulary and grammar skills; understand and analyze literature from various time periods of human history (e.g. Elizabethan drama, the modern/postmodern novel); compare and contrast the effectiveness of various literary forms through analysis of representative works; broaden understanding of the research and writing process from the planning stages to the finished product; identify how (and explain why) authors employ numerous specific literary techniques. In this course, students engage in all aspects of research writing (gathering information, documenting sources, organizing ideas according to levels of specificity, drafting a manuscript, editing, and revising a manuscript, and publishing a final draft of a manuscript) in the production of an MLA research paper.

Grade Level	Course Name	Credits	Weight
11	American Literature	1	High School I

American Literature is a yearlong course that is a survey of American literature complementing the students; study of American history during the junior year. The course includes selections form the Colonial Period, the Neoclassical Age, nineteenth-century Romanticism, Nationalism, Transcendentalism, Realism, twentieth-century Modernism, and Post Modernism. Special emphasis is placed on the literary history of the United States as the religious, cultural, and political influences are explored through representative selections of prose and poetry. Sundry literary genres that include historical narratives, short stories, essays, themes, poetry, novels, and dramas are read and analyzed. The expression of personal interpretation, criticism, and insight is encouraged in writing as well as through classroom discussion. The source also addresses the need for students to refine and enhance their skills in grammar and SAT vocabulary. Competency and experienc ein expository, creative, and persuasive writing are requisites for the course; students are introduced to research materials and methods that adhere to the MLA standards of presentation and documentation.

Grade Level	Course Name	Credits	Weight
11/12	CHS Composition & Rhetoric	1	High School III

CHS Composition and Rhetoric will require consistent effort and a mature approach to challenge. CHS Composition and Rhetoric students will work more independently and demonstrate a deeper understanding of effective writing concepts. Students enrolled for this class should be self-motivated and willing to engage in critical and analytical thinking.
In this course, students will be exposed to basic composition theory that will be completed as the course develops and as the assigned essays become more complex in nature. This foundational theory will be concretized through the application in a students’ writing a series of essays, during which the student will receive direction both in the instructor’s classroom lecture and activities as well as in the instructor’s conferencing and directing each student with specialized instruction in order to better facilitate not only the individual student’s particular composition but also the individual student’s overall development in academic writing by addressing her/his particular weaknesses and strengths in reasoning and composition. As noted, the writing process requires extensive revision. Thus the student will learn and will apply specific revision techniques that are appropriate for each kind of essay being revised in terms of the Six Principles of Good Writing, with special emphasis on organization, style, and sentence-level issues. The student will systematically revise each essay both before and after submission of the essay.
This College in High School course is offered through Seton Hill University.

Grade Level	Course Name	Credits	Weight
12	Foundations of Western Literature	1	High School I

Foundations of Western Literature is designed as the culmination of the high school English curricula. Critical analyses of short stories, novels, drama, poetry, and literary nonfiction are integral components of the course. Students compose clear, concise, organized and effective writing in response to various prompts; analyze various genres of literature for purpose, meaning, and method of construction; communicate effectively in any of a number of different literary forms; improve and refine vocabulary and grammar skills; compare and contrast the effectiveness of various literary forms through analyses of representative works; broaden understanding of the research and writing process from the planning stages to the finished product; and assess how (and explain why) authors employ numerous specific literary techniques. In this course, students engage in all aspects of research writing (gathering information, documenting sources, organizing ideas according to levels of specificity, drafting a manuscript, editing and revising a manuscript, and publishing a final draft of a manuscript) in the production of an MLA research paper. Upon completion of this course, students will posses the levels of mastery necessary for success at the undergraduate college level.

Grade Level	Course Name	Credits	Weight
12	CHS Principles of Literature	1	High School III

Introduction to reading, research, grammar, and writing in the study of literature. Emphasis on literary forms, research tools, and the vocabulary of literary study. Practice in writing the literary essay. THis course will introduce the three different varieties of the English major: creative writing, new media journalism, and literature. Coursework will include reading poetry, short fiction, drama, and one novel; critiquing peer drafts; maintaining and online journal; short papers in each of these three areas, a fourth short paper in any area of English, and a researched essay.
This College in High School course is offered through Seton Hill University.

Grade Level	Course Name	Credits	Weight
10/11/12	Communications & Publications	1	High School I

Through a study of yearbook theory, including typography, photographic special effects, and page layout, the students in this class study and learn responsibility for publication of the yearbook, Geibel Galaxy. Studnets will have extensive exposure to the program Yearbook Avenue provided by Jostens Publishing Company. Students will use publishing, writing, media skills, and cooperative learning to produce print and video news segments.

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