AHS - English Department

	English Language Arts & Reading

	English I Grades: 9-12 1 credit Prerequisites: None	This course focuses on an integration of writing (grammatical concepts, usage, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling) with literature. It also focuses on reading improvement through drama, short story, poetry, novel, and epic. Students will learn literary forms and terms associated with the selections read. TAKS objectives will be taught in preparation for the TAKS exam.
	PreAP English I Grades 9-12 1 credit Prerequisites: None	Using the study of various literary genres as a base, emphasis is placed on critical thinking skills by discovering meaning in literature through language, imaging, characters, action, argument, strategies, and techniques used. Writing focuses on interpretation, analysis, and creativity. PreAP classes are a sequential program designed to lead to Advanced Placement credit. TAKS objectives will be taught in preparation for the TAKS exam.
	English II Grades 10-12 1 credit Prerequisites: English I	This course includes and integrated program of writing and reading skills. The literature units will include poetry, novels. Shakespearean drama, and short stories. Students will write multi-paragraph compositions. TAKS objectives will be taught in preparation for the TAKS exam.
	PreAP English II Grades 10-12 1 credit Prerequisites: English I	The PreAP English II course is a continuation of PreAP English I. Using World literature as a base, subject matter will be covered in greater depth, and analytical reasoning skills will be further developed. PreAP classes are a sequential program designed to lead to Advanced Placement college credit. TAKS objectives will be taught in preparation for the TAKS exam.
	English III Grades 11-12 1 credit Prerequisites: English I & II	This course will emphasize a chronological study of American literature, literary criticism, and techniques for writing the research paper along with various business forms. A focus on literary forms and terms will continue. TAKS objectives will be taught in preparation for the TAKS exam.
	AP English III Grades 11-12 1 credit Prerequisites: English I & II	Advanced Placement English III, which emphasizes preparation for the AP English Language and Composition test, uses works in American literature to teach techniques of analysis, syntheses, and evaluation applicable to any written, spoken of graphic English composition. In addition, a research project is required. TAKS objectives will be taught in preparation for the TAKS exam.
	AP English III (Dual Enrollment - McMurry University) Grades 11-12 1 credit Prerequisites: English I & II	MCM Course Composition and Rhetoric: ENG 1310 This course provides an intense study and practice of the fundamental principles of exposition leading to the habit of effective writing. AP English IV curriculum will be used. This course is offered the Fall semester on the Cooper High School campus but is open to all AISD juniors and seniors. MCM Course Composition and Literature: ENG 1320 This course acquaints students with the written analysis of literary works including representative examples of poetry, drama, and prose fiction. AP English IV curriculum will be use. This course offered in the Spring semester on the Cooper High School campus but is open to all AISD juniors and seniors. For dual enrollment information, see pages 14-20 in the HS Program Guide.
	English IV Grade 12 1 credit Prerequisites: English I, II, & III	This Course is a survey of British literature and the development of the English language, which gives the college bound student a background in the history and culture of the English-speaking peoples. Reading, grammar, usage, mechanics, and composition skills are integrated into the literature units. Course research projects emphasize literary criticism.
	AP English IV Grade 12 1 credit Prerequisites: English I, II, & III	The Advanced Placement English IV course is a college level course which includes both the study and practice of writing and the chronological study of British literature and world literature by genre. Utilizing world literature as a base, the AP course will concentrate on individual interpretation and response. Preparation for the AP English Literature and Composition Test will be emphasized.
	Independent Study in English Grade 12 1 credit Prerequisites: English I, II, & III	This course provides students and opportunity to do additional advanced work in English. Students will be given opportunities to conduct research, produce original works in prink, and develop and advanced communication-related skill, or do advanced study in a specific area of interest.
	Creative/Imaginative Writing Grades 11-12 1/2 credit Prerequisites: 80 or above in previous English class and teacher approval	The students will explore figurative language and literary devices by incorporating them into a piece of discourse. They will lean how to use proportion, contrast, suspense, rhetorical repetition, and various points of view. The will analyze these devices in literary examples, while at the same time considering their own work as a piece of literature, a literary test. The production of original work will be paramount in this course. This course will satisfy the English IV requirement.
	Practical Writing Skills Grades 11-12 1 credit Prerequisites: English I, II, & III	The study of writing allows high school students to earn credit while developing skills necessary for composing business letters and request for information, as well as for completing job applications and resumes. This course emphasizes skills in the use of conventions and mechanics of written English grammar, and the effective use of vocabulary. This course will also cover the ELA objectives on the Exit level TAKS for those students who have not mastered the exam.
	Literary Genres Grades 11-12 1/2 credit Prerequisites: 80 or above in previous English class and teacher approval	Students will explore various literary genres found in the literature of the world.
	Journalism Grades 9-12 1 credit Prerequisites: 80 or above in previous English class and teacher approval	This preparatory class for either the newspaper of the yearbook includes a study of the purpose and function of the media, basic features of journalism, current trends in format, techniques and typography, study of graphics, design, layout and the printing process, preparation of press-ready materials, all the study of copy writing and editing. This course will satisfy the English IV requirement.
	Advanced Journalism: Yearbook I Advanced Journalism: Literary Magazine I Advanced Journalism: Newspaper I Grades 9-12 1 credit Prerequisites: Teacher approval	Staffers produce a quality product while working within time constraints and budget limitations, developing financial responsibility in producing the product, planning and implementing and advertising and circulation campaign, cutting and cropping photographs, writing and editing copy, producing graphic art, writing headlines and outlines, and editing and proofreading copy, pages, and proof pages.
	Advanced Journalism: Yearbook II Advanced Journalism: Literary Magazine II Advanced Journalism: Newspaper II Grades 10-12 1 credit Prerequisites: Advanced Journalism I and teacher approval	This is a continuation of Advanced Journalism I with emphasis on refining and enhancing journalistic skills.
	Advanced Journalism: Yearbook III Advanced Journalism: Literary Magazine III Advanced Journalism: Newspaper III Grades 11-12 1 credit Prerequisites: Advanced Journalism II and teacher approval	This is a continuation of Advanced Journalism II with emphasis on refining and enhancing journalistic skills.
	English I for Speakers of Other Languages Grades 9-10 English II for Speakers of Other Languages Grades 9-12 1 credit Prerequisites: Designated Limited English Proficiency	The goal of these classes is to increase the English proficiency of the students enrolled in these classes. The courses may be substituted for English I and II for immigrant students with limited English proficiency.
	Reading I Grades 9-10 Reading II Grades 10-11 Reading III Grades 11-12 1 credit Prerequisites: Non-mastery of 8th grade TAKS readings; non-mastery of 10th or 11th grade TAKS reading and filed one semester of English I or English 2 or teacher recommendations	Reading I, II and III offers students instruction in word recognition, comprehension strategies, and vocabulary to ensure that high school students have an opportunity to read with competence, confidence, and understanding. Students are given opportunities to locate information in various texts are organized and how authors choose language for effect. All of these strategies are applied in texts that cross the subject fields.
	Analysis of Visual Media Grades 9-12 1 credit Prerequisites: None	This course involves students in the principles and techniques of the visual media as an artistic an informative medium. The students identify the purposes of visual media, analyze techniques used in visual media, recognize associated terminology, develop and use standards for analyzing visual media, recognize the origin and development of visual media, compare with other art forms, explore the emotional and intellectual effects of visual media on viewers, analyze the content and values of visual media, and the study the relationship between subject matter and choice of media for presenting that subject matter. The students create projects outside of class.
	Humanities Grades 11-12 1 credit Prerequisites: None	Humanities is a rigorous, interdisciplinary course in which the students will respond to the aesthetic elements in literature and other art forms. Through composition, discussions oral interpretations, and dramatizations students demonstrate and understanding and appreciation of readings and creative achievements throughout history.