LANGUAGE ARTS

Text Box: ACCELERATED ENGLISH I Students must meet the State Department of Education's criteria for academically or intellectually gifted in order to take this course.  Students will study literature, vocabulary, and traditional grammar.  They will develop proficiency in paragraph development and critical thinking. Prerequisite: See Above                                  Credit: 1 Grade: 9                                                        Semesters: 2   ACCELERATED ENGLISH II   This course services the needs of students screened gifted at IAHS meeting the guidelines established by the State Department of Education.  Coursework will emphasize critical thinking and writing skills.  It will also include vocabulary development.  Analysis of literary selections, essays, research, and creative writing opportunities will also be offered in addition to and beyond the regular sophomore curriculum. Prerequisite: Meet State Dept. Criteria         Credit: 1 Grade: 11                                                      Semesters: 2   AP English IV   This course follows the course requirements as set forth in the College Board's AP English Course Description.  This course is designed to teach beginning- college writing through critical and analytical reading of literature, and follows the curricular requirements described in the AP English Course Description.  Upon completion of the course, a test is administered where students can earn college credit for composition 1 and composition 2.   In this class, students will practice in-depth reading of good literature from a variety of genres and periods that will encourage them to examine multiple meanings of the work.  Students will read short works (poems and short stories) from lots of writers while limiting their major works (novels and plays) to one each per 9 weeks.  Through the close reading of literature, students will develop the ability to think critically about a work's themes by considering its structure, the author's style evidenced through the use of literary devices such as figurative language, imagery, and symbolism, and the author's perspective found by analyzing diction and tone.   Admission requirements: Academically or Intellectually Gifted Ruling                           Credits:  1 Grade: Seniors                                              Semesters:2   ENGLISH I This course places much emphasis on grammar, review of the eight parts of speech, capitalization, and punctuation. A variety of writing assignments are included also. The literature study includes short stories, poetry, drama, and novels. Prerequisite: None                                            Credit: 1 Grade: 9                                                        Semesters: 2 ENGLISH II Students will be assigned to different sections of English II according to the reading ability, teacher recommendation, and past achievement. The content of these sections is very similar, with the major difference being in the amount of time spent on the basics (grammar, writing, and literature). Some grammar review and a variety of writing assignments are also studied. The literature includes short stories, poetry, drama, and novels. Prerequisite: None                                            Credit: 1 Grade: 10                                                      Semesters: 2   ENGLISH III Students will be assigned to various sections of English III according to the reading ability, teacher recommendation, and past achievement. The content of these sections is very similar with major difference being in reading selections.  The literature in this course is a chronological study of American literature based on the anthology provided and some other additional work. There is a major emphasis on composition with some study of grammar.  Additionally, students are required to write a research paper, demonstrating their ability to locate and utilize library materials. Prerequisite: None                                            Credit: 1 Grade: 11                                                      Semesters: 2   ENGLISH IV This course will consist of a study of the history of the English language and the literature of England. Students will be exposed to a variety of composition activities including essay writing during the first semester and research paper writing during the second semester. Prerequisite: None                                   Credit: 1 Grade: 12                                        Semesters: 2  AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE This one semester elective draws upon a compilation of genres, themes, styles, and language used by various writers of African-American descent.  The student will recognize and appreciate contributions of selected writers through reading, speaking, viewing, and researching selected works.  Students will also evaluate selected works through writing. Prerequisite:  None, 85 or above                Credit:  1/2                         in English Grades:  10 - 12                                             Semester:  1   CREATIVE WRITING  This course will provide students the opportunity to expand their imaginations through practicing the writing processes by composing poems, essays, short stories, and drama.  Students will critique the work of their classmates through classroom discussions of writing projects presented anonymously by the instructor.  Students will participate in daily journal entries and complete an independent writing project such as a collection of poetry or short stories, a play, a children's book, a novella, or an autobiography for a final grade.  Students will also learn how to submit their works to be considered for publication and will be encouraged to do so. Prerequisite:  None                                      Credit:  1/2 Grades:  10 - 12                                             Semester:  1     AP English Language and Composition               The AP English Language and Composition course is a college-level study of reading, writing, and rhetoric. Its overview and objectives are taken from The College Board's AP English Course Description. Students learn the required skills from close reading, writing, and the composing process, as well as, rhetorical thinking to write in several forms (e.g., narrative, expository, analytical, and argumentative essays) and in formal and informal contexts about a variety of subjects. Also, students learn to analyze visually and reply rhetorically to images and objects that stand alone or are in relation to context. Students learn argumentation and apply its principles to their viewpoint to produce researched argumentative papers. The overall objective of this course is to produce students who "write effectively and confidently in their college courses across the curriculum and in their professional and personal lives." (The College Board, AP English Course Description, May 2007, May 2008, p.6) Prerequisite:   Academically or Intellectually Gifted Ruling                                                                   Credit:  1 Grade:  11                                                      Semesters:  2  

 

Text Box:  PUBLIC SPEAKING   The purpose of this course is to help students develop the skills of effective oral communication. Public speaking covers units on the process of communication, ways of becoming a more effective listener, and the fundamentals of public speaking. Much time will be spent in the research, organization, and presentation of speeches. Speeches covered include: informative, persuasive, demonstrative, and impromptu. Prerequisite: None                                        Credit:  1/2 Grades: 11, 12                                               Semesters: 1   JOURNALISM LAB   This course is designed to teach responsible work habits while producing the yearbook or maintain the school website Ihigh, which are historical written and pictorial references which chronicle the events of the school year.  It also allows a young journalist the opportunity to learn and grow through hands-on process.  Students learn to manage time, become self-starters, delegate responsibility, demonstrate knowledge, share resources, manage money and receipts, and motivate co-workers much like the business world. Yearbook Prerequisite:  C or better in English      Credit:  1 total                         Must pre-register, complete                             application, and interview Grades: 9 - 12                                               Semesters:  2 Ihigh Prerequisite:  Desktop I, A or B in              Credit:  1/2                         English, Passage of State English                         Tests, Requires Signature of English                          Teacher on Pre-registration Form Grade:  10-12                                                  Semester:  2   JOURNALISM I (Introduction to Journalism)   This course is designed to enhance students' skills as communicators and as informed users of the communications media.  It is a prerequisite for Journalism II, which produces Channel I.  Students will develop an awareness of the history and role of journalism in our society, develop skills in evaluating journalistic reports, develop journalistic writing and editing skills, and understand and demonstrate the roles of advertising and photography for communications media.  Hand-on activities in this class include production of Serendipity, the literary magazine of IAHS, and also a weekly school newsletter. Prerequisite: C or better in English                 Credit: 1 Grades: 10, 11, 12                                          Semesters: 2 Application should be filled out and students must meet with teacher for interview.   JOURNALISM II (Channel I)   This course provides the student with academic instruction in television/video production by providing training in equipment operation, reporting, and scriptwriting, as well as planning, directing, and producing video projects.  This class produces Channel I and the video annual.  Some after school work is expected. Prerequisite: C or better in English                 Credit: 1                        Journalism I with Teacher Approval Grades: 11, 12                                                Semesters: 2     SPANISH I   This course is an introduction to language learning. Spanish I seeks to give students knowledge of the culture of Latin American countries, and understanding of differences in culture, and knowledge of the grammatical structure of the language. A satisfactory recommendation from the English department is needed. Prerequisite: C or better in English*              Credit: 1 *It is strongly recommended that students who enroll in a foreign language class are proficient in English grammar.  Students who have earned at least a "B" in English are likely to experience success in this class. Grades: 10, 11, 12                                        Semesters: 2               9th Graders with A in English 8   SPANISH II   This course continues with the study of grammar and vocabulary, and increases conversational and translational abilities. Prerequisite: C or better in English                Credit: 1 Grades: 10, 11, 12                                         Semesters: 2    FRENCH I   This course is an introduction to language learning. Students will study the culture, grammar, and structure of the French language. Prerequisite: C or better in English*               Credit: 1 *It is strongly recommended that students who enroll in a foreign language class are proficient in English grammar.  Students who have earned at least a "B" in English are likely to experience success in this class. Grades: 10, 11, 12                                        Semesters: 2               9th with A in English 8               Signature of English Teacher verifying               student has at least a "C" average in English   FRENCH II   This course mainly focuses on more in-depth grammar and communication skills.  There are small units on the Impressionistic Period, the story of "Les Miserables" by Victor Hugo, and the beautiful city of Paris and its monuments. Prerequisite:  Successful completion of       Credit:  1                          French I and Teacher                                                         Recommendation Grades:  10 - 12                                            Semesters:  2   FRENCH III                                                                                                  This course mainly focuses on very in-depth grammar skills combined with expressing oneself adequately through written and verbal communication.  There are small units on famous French people (Ex. Napoleon or Joan of Arc), and French history (Ex. French Revolution). Prerequisite:   Very successful completion  Credit:  1                          of French I, II, and Teacher                                              Recommendation Grades:  11 - 12                                            Semesters:  2 This course is not offered each year.  Check with school to see if course is offered.