English

Sites to Support 21st Century Literacy:

Digital Discussion:

• Today's Meet

Blog:

• WordPress
• Blogger
• Google Sites

Storytelling: 

• Creativist (gorgeous, but only one free)
• iBooks Author  (kids might be able to work on their iPhones, but not going to be universal at our site)
• NewHive (free; super 90s vibe)
• Storehouse (free app)
• Exposure (free, less pretty, but more options than Storehouse, but no .gifs)
• Interlude (free with ads; harder, but can add audio)
• Explory

FRESHMEN COURSES

English 9:

In this college preparatory course, students read significant literary works in order to explore values, ideas, and important issues.  Listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills are developed in the context of the literature read and in response to student needs.  Through the writing process, students will achieve skills in a variety of writing styles.

English 9 Puente:

This is an introductory class for students who have been selected for the Puente Program.  This college preparatory English course is offered to students who wish to study literature and issues relating to Mexican-American/Latino culture in addition to the core works.  Reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills will be developed in the context of the literature read, and in response to student needs.  Through the writing process, students will achieve skill in a variety of writing styles.  

SOPHOMORE COURSES
English 10:

In this college preparatory course, students read significant literary works in order to explore values, ideas, and important issues.  Listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills are developed in the context of the literature read and in response to student needs.  Through the writing process, students will achieve skills in a variety of writing styles.

English 10 Puente:

This course is for students who are in the Puente Program.  This college preparatory English course is offered to students who wish to study literature and issues relating to Mexican-American/Latino culture in addition to the core works.  Reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills will be developed in the context of the literature read, and in response to student needs. Through the writing process, students will achieve skill in a variety of writing styles.  

English 10 Accelerated (World Literature) Prerequisite: English 9

This is a Pre-Advanced Placement course for students seeking increased rigor and an accelerated pace in preparation for AP English Language and AP English Literature. The course dedicates one semester to analysis of world literature across a range of time periods and genres, including novels, memoir, poetry, and drama. The second semester introduces argumentation and rhetorical analysis. Listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills will be developed in the context of world literature, argument, and rhetoric. Throughout the duration of the course, students write research-based argument, rhetorical and literary analysis, and poetry. Students who complete this course are encouraged to continue in advanced placement and honors courses. Completion of an application process, summer reading, and a student contract are required. 

JUNIOR COURSES

English 11:

In this college preparatory course, students read significant literary works in order to explore values, ideas, and important issues.  Listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills are developed in the context of the literature read and in response to student needs.  Through the writing process, students will achieve skills in a variety of writing styles.

English 11: African-American Literature:

The course is designed for students interested in “real world” (argumentative/rhetorical) application of literary forms.  This college preparatory English course is offered to juniors who wish to study literature and issues relating to African-American literature.

AP English Language & Composition

This advanced placement English course, offered to juniors, consists of extensive experience in the English language, rhetoric, college-level writing, and literature. Students’ skills in writing, reading, speaking, listening, and analysis will be developed through the study of both fiction and non-fiction texts.  This course will prepare students for college-level writing and thinking, as well as lay a solid foundation of skills for students planning to take AP English Literature their senior year.  Students who take this class will also be prepared and encouraged to take the AP English Language exam in May. Students may potentially receive college credit or placement at a higher-level course if they pass the AP exam. Completion of an application process, summer reading, and a student contract are required.  This course may be used to satisfy the HUSD Language Arts requirement toward graduation.

SENIOR COURSES

English 12: Expository Reading and Writing (ERWC)

The goal of this course is to prepare college-bound seniors for the literacy demands of higher education.  Through a sequence of rigorous instructional modules, students in this year-long, rhetoric-based course develop advanced proficiencies in expository, analytical, and argumentative reading and writing.  The cornerstone of the course—the assignment template—presents a process for helping students read, comprehend, and respond to non-fiction and literary texts.  Modules also provide instruction in research methods and documentation conventions. Students will be expected to increase their awareness of the rhetorical strategies employed by authors, and to apply those strategies in their own writing.  They will read closely to examine the relationship between the author’s  argument or theme and his or her audience and purpose, to analyze the impact of structural and rhetorical strategies, and to examine the social, political, and philosophical assumptions that underlie the text. Course texts include contemporary essays, newspaper and magazine articles, editorials, reports, biographies, memos, assorted public documents, non-fiction texts and district adopted language arts materials.  The course materials also include modules on two full-length works (one novel and one work of non-fiction).  Written assessments and holistic scoring guides conclude each unit per California State University guidelines.

English 12: Language and Gender

Through critical study of media, literature, and law, students will investigate the cultural formation of gender and its power in society.  In addition to working with the usual foundational texts of an English class (novels, short stories, poems and essays), we will explore advertisements and historical documents, and tackle critical essays that theorize gender and culture.  We will read from Pearson’s Gender and Literature and the HUSD-adopted Language Arts textbooks as well as key legal decisions and legislation.  In accordance with the state’s Language Arts standards, the course will develop student’s reading comprehension and literary analysis while building their capacity to adeptly use multimedia and public speaking to persuade and inform.  Students’ writing will focus on literary analysis and expository and persuasive essay writing.  The course will also survey and compare historical time periods through a comparison of the public documents relating to the gender movements throughout American history.  

AP English Literature & Composition

This course is designed for highly motivated students who enjoy a more extensive experience in literature and writing.  This course will provide seniors with the opportunity to pursue college level study while still in high school.  In addition, this course helps prepare students to take the Advanced Placement Examination in English Literature.  As in the regular program, students will read significant library works in order to explore values and ideas as well as important issues.  Listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills will be developed in the context of the literature read and in response to students’ needs.  Through the writing process, students will achieve skills in a variety of writing styles.  Students must be willing to commit to more rigorous requirements.  Students are expected to take the AP English Literature Exam.