Grade(s): 09

Prerequisite:  Department Recommendation

1/2 Electives credit each semester

This course is designed to accelerate achievement in reading, writing, and communication. Connections are made to literacy skills and curriculum across disciplines. Emphasis is placed on increasing reading and writing stamina, practice within and across genres, engaging in critical and creative thinking and problem solving, and enhancing multiple types of communication.

Grade(s): 09

Prerequisite:  None

1/2 English credit each semester

In this course, students will read and study a variety of genres connected by powerful themes in the world. Genres will include short story, storytelling, poetry, spoken word and other performance literature, novels, and non-fiction. Students will grow their reading stamina and comprehension and analysis skills, and make personal and global connections within and across texts. Students will approach texts as a reader and a writer. As writers, students in this course will strengthen the craft of writing, focusing on meaningful processes of topic and evidence exploration, matching organization structures or forms to audience and purpose. Students will practice effective communication skills in writing, audio composition, speaking, collaborating, and listening.

Grade(s): 09

Prerequisite:  None

1/2 English credit each semester

In this course, students will read and study a variety of genres connected by powerful themes in the world. Genres will include short story, storytelling, poetry, spoken word and other performance literature, novels, and non-fiction. Students will grow their reading stamina and comprehension and analysis skills, and make personal and global connections within and across texts. Students will approach texts as a reader and a writer. As writers, students in this course will strengthen the craft of writing, focusing on meaningful processes of topic and evidence exploration, matching organization structures or forms to audience and purpose. Students will practice effective communication skills in writing, audio composition, speaking, collaborating, and listening. It is designed for the student who has an exceptional interest in language arts, desires an accelerated language arts program, or intends to take advanced placement courses in English. A weighted grade is given.

Grade(s): 10

Prerequisite:  Successful completion of both semesters of English 1

1/2 English credit each semester

In this course, students will read and study literature that represents multiple perspectives. Genres will include memoir, poetry, short story, performance literature, narrative nonfiction, and novels. Goals include broadening the student’s reading life, increasing reading stamina, deepening analysis skills across and within text, and making connections between the world and others. Composition continues to focus on improving the craft of writing, and growing each student’s independent skills as a writer with authentic writing tasks that blend writing modes to best match audience, purpose, and style in creative writing, academic writing, research, and digital composition. The Missouri English 2 End of Course (EOC) Assessment is given at the conclusion of this course.

Grade(s): 10

Prerequisite:  None

1/2 English credit each semester

In this course, students will read and study literature that represents multiple perspectives. Genres will include memoir, poetry, short story, performance literature, narrative nonfiction, and novels. Goals include broadening the student’s reading life, increasing reading stamina, deepening analysis skills across and within text, and making connections between the world and others. Composition continues to focus on improving the craft of writing, and growing each student’s independent skills as a writer with authentic writing tasks that blend writing modes to best match audience, purpose, and style in creative writing, academic writing, research, and digital composition. It is designed for the student who has an exceptional interest in language arts, desires an accelerated language arts program, or intends to take advanced placement courses in English. A weighted grade is given. The Missouri English 2 End of Course (EOC) Assessment is given at the conclusion of this course.

Grade(s): 11

Prerequisite:  Successful completion of both semesters of English 2

1/2 English credit each semester

In this course, students will read and study literature that represents ideologies, institutions, and changes in American identity for different peoples and voices over time. Genres will include humor and satire, the essay, classic fiction, poetry, short story, performance literature, nonfiction, and novels. Students approach texts as readers, researchers, and writers, continuing to increase their stamina as a reader and the complexity of the texts with which they engage. Goals also include making connections between history, culture, institutions, ideologies, and literary movements. As writers, students continue to improve their independent writing craft with authentic writing tasks in creative writing, academic writing, research, and digital composition.

Grade(s): 11 - 12

Prerequisite:  None

1/2 English credit each semester

AP English Literature & Composition offers students a college-level course experience. Literature covered is wide-ranging (classical, contemporary, and worldwide) and is representative of all literary genres, from satire to comedy and from tragedy to the epic. The emphasis in the course is on reading and writing and analytical interpretation; it is presumed that the student is familiar with writing critical essays. This course prepares students for the AP English Literature & Composition exam. Students have the option to earn college credit through the AP exam. A weighted grade is given.

Grade(s): 11 - 12

Prerequisite:  None

1/2 English credit each semester

AP English Language & Composition offers students a college-level course experience. It helps students strengthen the effectiveness of their writing through close reading and frequent practice at applying nuances of style and rhetorical strategies in a variety of modes. American Literature and a variety of non-fiction texts provide models of rhetorical strategies, opportunities for synthesis and analysis, and additional preparation for success in the senior year college-level AP English Literature & Composition course. This course prepares students for the AP English Language & Composition exam. Students have the option to earn college credit through the AP examination. A weighted grade is given.

Grade(s): 11 - 12

Prerequisite:  none

1/2 English credit each semester

African American Literature traces the history and development of the Black writer in America from the beginning of slavery to the present day. The course is recommended for students interested in becoming familiar with the origins, content, and techniques of African American authors. The range of study stretches from the origins in ancient Africa to the transformation into the American idiom and the development and establishment of African American literature as a distinct yet integral component of the American experience.

Grade(s): 12

Prerequisite: None

1/2 English credit each semester

This is a college level writing course that focuses on the choices that informed writers make when discovering, developing, and revising academic papers appropriate for the given topic. Students will engage in analytical reading, critical thinking, and research.

Grade(s): 10 - 12

Prerequisite:  None

1/2 English credit each semester

Students will explore and examine the myths of many cultures from around the world. Through analysis and comparison, students will gain an understanding and appreciation of the importance of myths throughout various places and times.

Grade(s): 11 - 12

Prerequisite:  None. May not be a substitute for English 1, 2, or 3.

1/2 English credit each semester

The goal of this course is to encourage and nurture the student's innate creativity. Students will study techniques used by professional writers and will be motivated with enticing writing activities designed to help them improve their skills while experiencing the pleasure of success. Writing may include plays, short stories, poetry, personal narratives, and various other creative modes.

Grade(s): 11 - 12

Prerequisite:  Creative Writing 1. May not be a substitute for English 1, 2, or 3.

1/2 English credit each semester

A continuation of the techniques of Creative Writing I, this course is supplemented by attention to the style and interest of individual students. Special attention is paid by each student to particular literary models that will aid development.

Grade(s): 09 - 12

Prerequisite:  none

1/2 English credit each semester

Debate is designed to introduce the student with the procedures involved in a researched, structured verbal argument. The course centers on the current controversial issues. Organizational skills, as well as public speaking skills, are reinforced during the semester. In class debates put these skills into practice. This course may be taken for .5 English credit, but may not replace English 1, 2, or 3.

Grade(s): 09 - 12

Prerequisite:  One of the following: Debate, Oral Interpretation, Public Speaking, or Actors Studio 1

1/2 Electives credit each semester

Competitive Speech & Debate is an in-depth study of presentation techniques, particularly those used in competitive speech and debate. Students will focus on a particular competitive aspect: Public Speaking, Debate, or Oral Interpretation. Close study of that event will hone competitive skills. Students will also be introduced to other arenas of debate competition to prepare for the Advanced Competitive Speech & Debate course. Speech and Debate team participation is a requirement of this course.

Grade(s): 10 - 12

Prerequisite:  Competitive Speech & Debate

1/2 Electives credit each semester

Advanced Competitive Speech & Debate is an in-depth study of presentation techniques, particularly those used in competitive speech and debate. Students will focus on both a Debate and an Event (either Public Speaking or Oral Interpretation). They will study those events closely, hone their competitive skills, and work to share their knowledge with beginning members. This course can be taken more than once. Speech and Debate team participation is a requirement of this course. A weighted grade is given.

Grade(s): 11 - 12

Prerequisite:  none

1/2 English credit each semester

Students will be introduced to the history of film and the rhetoric of cinematography. As students read, study, and develop an aesthetic appreciation for outstanding literary and visual (film) texts, they will compare the books to the corresponding films using concepts such as theme, characterization, conflict, satire and irony. The semester will conclude with an exit project focused on film.

Grade(s): 12

Prerequisite: Recommendation Only

1/2 English credit each semester

This course prepares students for writing beyond high school. Students will continue their study of different styles of writing – argument, research-based explanatory writing, and personal narratives will all be studied.

Grade(s): 09 - 12

Prerequisite:  None

1/2 English credit each semester

Performance Literature allows students to select their own pieces of literature and find personal connection to it through performance. Self-selection, written analysis, and performance increases understanding and appreciation for the many forms of literature in the world. This course can be a fine arts, English, or elective credit. It may not replace English 1, 2, or 3. This class would serve as a prerequisite for Competitive Speech and Debate.

Grade(s): 09 - 12

Prerequisite:  None

1/2 Electives credit each semester

Public Speaking builds confidence and poise. Students present a wide variety of speeches in an informal classroom atmosphere. Self-expression through speaking, listening, and critical thinking is emphasized. Evaluation is based on performance, criticism and reflection. College credit may be available for this course. Check with your instructor. This class is a prerequisite option for Competitive Speech and Debate.

Grade(s): 10 - 11

Prerequisite:  none

1/2 English credit each semester

This course provides all students the opportunity to read, enjoy, and share ideas about books of their choice. Students will choose books for their reading level and complete post-reading comprehension questionnaires. A student's reading comprehension will be tracked throughout the semester. Sixty percent of class time will be reserved for individual reading; the remaining 40% will be used for enrichment writing and discussion of ideas in the works, whereby students can practice written response skills as well as small group discussion skills. The vision for this course is to develop the confidence and desire to make reading a life-long habit.

Grade(s): 10 - 12

Prerequisite:  None

1/2 English credit each semester

Speculative fiction — umbrella term for the genres of science fiction and fantasy —  has had an immense impact on today’s popular culture, but it also has a rich literary history. By reading literature and analyzing pop culture (film, television, art, games, etc.) students will consider how creators who use their imagination to construct new worlds can be keen observers of the world we live in. We will challenge ourselves to, as Ursula K. Le Guin once suggested, “see alternatives to how we live now” and open our minds to “a larger reality.” Students may read about future technology, space exploration, time travel, artificial intelligence, alternate realities, dystopias, magic, supernatural creatures, and/or superheroes. Students will write analytical essays, engage in discussions, and collaborate on presentations. The course will culminate in a creative writing project where students write their own speculative fiction.

Grade(s): 10 - 12

Prerequisite:  None

1/2 English credit each semester

Sports Literature is an English Language Arts class that will examine the unique relationship between sports and society through literature by contemporary authors, columnists and other media. Students will read high-interest and thought-provoking texts including informational text, poetry, biographies, and commentary. Students will write a weekly sports column and research the history of how sports and social issues connect.

Grade(s): 11 - 12

Prerequisite:  None

1/2 English credit each semester

Professor Adam Bradley once said “every rap song is a poem waiting to be performed.”  The Poetics of Hip-Hop, a semester-long English elective class, will investigate this quote.  Throughout the course, students will approach rap/hip-hop music through the lens of an English scholar, exploring rhyme, meter, rhythm, storytelling, and various other tools that fuel classical literature studies.  Students in this class will also read traditional texts such as essays and poetry to better fuel our understanding of contemporary lyrics.  Not a class for students who simply “like rap music,” this course will continue the rigor and skills learned in previous English classes such as close reading, critical thinking, literary analysis, research, essay / digital compositions, and more.  NOTE: given the nature of the course materials, students will be studying texts that have been labeled as “parental advisory” by the RIAA.

Grade(s): 10 - 12

Prerequisite:  None

1/2 English credit each semester

Books that have been challenged or banned play an important role in our society’s history and present day. Every day our country, schools, and individuals struggle with the understanding and philosophies surrounding free speech. In this semester-long course, “Words on Fire: Books that Challenge Society,” students will consider the role banning books plays in American culture, how the practice developed, and its significance in society. Students will investigate many sides of the issue by studying current and historical context, nonfiction essays, and the books themselves.   They will write analytical essays/digital compositions, and engage in discussion, critical thinking, and collaborative presentations.

Grade(s): 09 - 12

Prerequisite:  none

1/2 CTE credit each semester

Learn the roles and responsibilities journalists have when working in a multimedia newsroom. Student journalists will practice storytelling, photography, and design. See the program description for more information. Program description: Producing news across emerging and existing media platforms...social media, photography, broadcast, print, online. As a member of the production team, journalists will produce the student newspaper, yearbook, and other student news media. Being a student journalist gives students a voice and allows them to exercise their constitutional right of free speech. Students journalists learn critical thinking, researching, interviewing, writing, editing, and creating visuals while collaborating with other staffers to produce media for an audience. Student journalists learn how a free and responsible press can improve their school communities by informing, entertaining, and influencing their audience. These courses will offer a competitive edge to students pursuing any career as it enhances communication, confidence, leadership and global awareness. Students have the opportunity to travel to local, state, and national conferences. Coursework includes individual and group projects, guests speakers, field trips, leadership activities and community involvement.

Grade(s): 10 - 12

Prerequisite:  Convergence Journalism 1, Beginning Journalism, Photography 2, Digital Design, Broadcast & Production, or Sports Production experience

1/2 CTE credit each semester

Journalists produce content for all student media platforms. This could include photography, posting on social media, telling stories, revising, and graphic design for the school publications. With exceptional work, journalists could step into a leadership role. See the program description for more information.Program description:Producing news across emerging and existing media platforms...social media, photography, broadcast, print, online. As a member of the production team, journalists will produce the student newspaper, yearbook, and other student news media. Being a student journalist gives students a voice and allows them to exercise their constitutional right of free speech. Students journalists learn critical thinking, researching, interviewing, writing, editing, and creating visuals while collaborating with other staffers to produce media for an audience. Student journalists learn how a free and responsible press can improve their school communities by informing, entertaining, and influencing their audience. These courses will offer a competitive edge to students pursuing any career as it enhances communication, confidence, leadership and global awareness. Students have the opportunity to travel to local, state, and national conferences. Coursework includes individual and group projects, guests speakers, field trips, leadership activities and community involvement.

Grade(s): 11 - 12

Prerequisite:  Convergence Journalism 2

1/2 CTE credit each semester

Take your experiences from Course Level 2 to new heights! Develop leadership skills while contributing to the creation of student publications. Journalists can choose to earn an Honors Option with teacher approval. See the program description for more information. Students may contract to earn an honors option for this course.Program description:Producing news across emerging and existing media platforms...social media, photography, broadcast, print, online. As a member of the production team, journalists will produce the student newspaper, yearbook, and other student news media. Being a student journalist gives students a voice and allows them to exercise their constitutional right of free speech. Students journalists learn critical thinking, researching, interviewing, writing, editing, and creating visuals while collaborating with other staffers to produce media for an audience. Student journalists learn how a free and responsible press can improve their school communities by informing, entertaining, and influencing their audience. These courses will offer a competitive edge to students pursuing any career as it enhances communication, confidence, leadership and global awareness. Students have the opportunity to travel to local, state, and national conferences. Coursework includes individual and group projects, guests speakers, field trips, leadership activities and community involvement.

Grade(s): 12

Prerequisite:  One of the following: Convergence Journalism 3, Yearbook 3, Newspaper 3

1/2 CTE credit each semester

At this level you have the skills to lead and coach your peers through the process. You are a big part of this program's success because of your strong commitment to the program over the course of the years. You drive the creative concepts and every day production. See the program description for more information. Students may contract to earn an honors option for this course.Program description:Producing news across emerging and existing media platforms...social media, photography, broadcast, print, online. As a member of the production team, journalists will produce the student newspaper, yearbook, and other student news media. Being a student journalist gives students a voice and allows them to exercise their constitutional right of free speech. Students journalists learn critical thinking, researching, interviewing, writing, editing, and creating visuals while collaborating with other staffers to produce media for an audience. Student journalists learn how a free and responsible press can improve their school communities by informing, entertaining, and influencing their audience. These courses will offer a competitive edge to students pursuing any career as it enhances communication, confidence, leadership and global awareness. Students have the opportunity to travel to local, state, and national conferences. Coursework includes individual and group projects, guests speakers, field trips, leadership activities and community involvement.