English Electives
ESSENTIALS OF READING
Course: 111 Credit: .5 Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12 |
In this course, students will learn and apply critical literacy skills to enrich their reading practice. Students will read a variety of sources, learn to ask questions, and build their vocabulary skills. Reading activities will incorporate both fiction and nonfiction, and students may have opportunities to self-select works to read. Instruction will include guided reading with focused word study and comprehension strategies, as well as analyzing, summarizing, and inferencing skills.
Note: This course cannot be taken for English credit; elective credit will be awarded. |
Prerequisites: PVAAS/PSSA scores and/or Teacher Placement
SPEECH COMMUNICATIONS AND INTRODUCTION TO DEBATE
Course: 114 Credit: .5 Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12 NCAA Accepted |
In the 21st century, speaking skills are more important than ever. A thorough understanding of spoken communication can help to ensure the success of today’s students in the classroom and beyond. Speech Communications & Introduction to Debate is a semester-long elective course that provides students with the theoretical knowledge and the practical skills to communicate effectively by studying and practicing the model of communication. Students will apply that model to tasks which will require effective oral speaking strategies, including an awareness of body language, vocal variety, pace, eye contact, and poise. In addition, the course will challenge students to communicate not only with precision of oral delivery, but also with clarity and conciseness of their written content. This course enables students to master speaking skills by engaging participants in a variety of presentations and verbal exercises, along with practice in stylistic writing for the spoken word form. Students will prepare and present a variety of formal speeches, informal conversational drills, and researched persuasive exercises to recognize and experience in the art of debate. The ultimate goal of this semester course aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully engage in all modes of communication in social and professional settings.
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Prerequisites: None
CREATIVE WRITING
Course: 133 Credit: .5 Grade: 10, 11, 12 NCAA Accepted |
This semester course provides students with an interest in creative writing opportunities to express these skills both collaboratively and independently in an exercise-based, workshop setting. Students will create metrical and free style poetry, descriptive short stories, a children's book, TV/video script, and other similar projects. Students will also perform 5-10 minute writing warm-ups in a daily journal, critique each other's work, and perform various exercises designed to stimulate the imagination and hone writing skills. Opportunities for publication are provided through various writing contests and the student literary magazine.
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THEATRE ARTS
Course: 135 Credit: .5 Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12 |
This semester-long elective course offers students an introduction to the world of the performing arts. Theatre Arts is an introductory course which highlights all components of the concept of storytelling through the lens of “From Page to Stage.” This workshop-style course is activity based, allowing students to experience all aspects of the production process from creating and original character to acting techniques to technical theatre. Students will engage in units of study that support the entire production process in school and community theater. Every student must contribute – either in front of the curtain or behind-the-scenes - in one of the school productions during the semester in which the student is enrolled in the course.
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JOURNALISM I
Course: 141 Credit: 1 Grade: 9, 10, 11 NCAA Accepted |
This course is designed to provide an in-depth study of various facets of journalism. The student develops an understanding of different communications careers, becomes familiar with the operations of the mass media, learns to comprehend graphic design, develops a basic news writing style, and explores legal and ethical principles of journalism. The student will be expected to write extensively and to publish in the school media. A strong background in grammar and mechanics is essential. Keeping a news journal is required.
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JOURNALISM II
Course: 142 Credit: 1 Grade: 10, 11, 12 |
This course is advanced work for students who have completed the first course in journalism and who wish to be on The Broadcaster Online staff. Students in this class will deepen their journalistic writing skills by learning to write for the web as staff members of The Broadcaster Online website. In addition to growing their writing skills, Journalism II students will learn the basics of web design, photojournalism, and managing the digital workflow of articles.
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Prerequisites: Completion of Journalism I; minimum 80% final grade average in Journalism I; and recommendation of Journalism teacher.
JOURNALISM III
Course: 143 Credit: 1 Grade: 11, 12 |
This course is advanced work for those students who have been selected for the leadership staff of The Broadcaster Online staff. These students are responsible for the completion of all writing, editing, production, advertising, and bookkeeping aspects involved in publishing The Broadcaster Online. Students also explore the legal and ethical issues that apply to journalism.
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Prerequisites: Completion of Journalism I and II; minimum 80% final grade average in Journalism II; and recommendation of Journalism teacher.
JOURNALISM IV
Course: 144 Credit: 1 Grade: 12 |
Journalism IV is for the advanced journalism student. Students will work on long-term projects–magazine feature stories and documentaries, for example–in a workshop style environment. Self-starters and driven, deadline conscious reporters wanted! Students interested in pursuing journalism as a career are highly encouraged to sign up for this course. However, the skills fostered in this course -- planning and organization, data interpretation, interview techniques, videography, longform writing–are applicable to many other career paths.
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Prerequisites: Completion of Journalism I, II and III; minimum 80% final grade average in Journalism III; and recommendation of Journalism teacher.
ACADEMIC LITERACY
Course: 145 Credit: .5 Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12 |
Students need to learn specific strategies to succeed in a competitive academic culture and in life in the 21st century. To support that critical developmental need, this course provides explicit instruction in communication, self-advocacy, and executive functioning skills. Through reflective thinking, students will develop an awareness of how they learn so that they can build upon their strengths to become lifelong learners.
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HUMANITIES I: ANCIENT GREECE THROUGH THE MIDDLE AGES
Course: 150 Credit: .5 Grade: 10, 11, 12 |
Through the study of painting, philosophy, sculpture, architecture, music, literature, and dance, this semester-long elective course examines the ways that human beings express being human. Historical periods such as the Golden Age of Greece, the Roman Republic and Empire, and both the Early and Late Medieval periods provide a historical and cultural framework and a perspective for evaluating people's attitudes, values, and aesthetics through the ages. In this course students will learn the language and skills needed to "read" multiple types of texts, including paintings, sculptures, and architecture.
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This course may be taken independent of or in conjunction with Humanities II
HUMANITIES II: RENAISSANCE THROUGH THE MODERNITY
Course: 151 Credit: .5 Grade: 10, 11, 12 |
Through the study of painting, philosophy, sculpture, architecture, music, literature, and dance, this semester-long elective course examines the ways that human beings express being human. Historical periods such as the Renaissance, the Baroque, the Enlightenment, and the early Modern period provide a historical framework and a perspective for evaluating people's attitudes, values, and aesthetics through the ages.
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This course may be taken independent of or in conjunction with Humanities I
*Humanities I & II are semester-long courses with a college-level textbook. Traditionally, these courses have been reserved for upperclassmen due to some of the subject matter of the approved curriculum, such as (but not limited to) artworks that depict nudity and the Greek. tragedy Oedipus Rex. This content has been selected for its contribution to the development of different disciplines that have shaped Western Civilization. Students who take this course must be mature enough to handle both the content and the flexible approach to learning that this class offers. While we are excited to expand elective opportunities to underclassmen, our rising sophomores should understand the nature of the course for which they have registered.