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Language Arts
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| Based on the WI Model Academic Standards, the courses offered by the Language Arts Department help each student attain an understanding of the power of the English language and an appreciation of literature. All provide the student with the opportunity to improve speaking, listening, reading and writing skills and are designed to meet the needs, ability, and interests of the student. |
COURSES REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION FROM THIS DEPARTMENT:
1 credit of English 9.
1 credit of English II.
2 credits (minimum) from the English electives:
112, 115, 118, 121, 123, 125, 128, 130, 132, 134, 138,
140, 145, 149, 150, 152, 154, 158, 159, 160, 180A, 213B. |
ENGLISH II - No. 106
1 Credit Required - Grade 10
This required sophomore course provides instruction and practice in many of the communication skills students will find necessary throughout high school. Students can expect to study short stories, patterns of meaning, analogies, figurative language, mythology, drama and several novels. They may expect to improve their reading comprehension skills, including vocabulary, and their methods of organizing written and spoken presentations through essay questions on tests, full-length compositions and short speeches. |
PUBLICATIONS: YEARBOOK - No. 170
1 Credit Elective - Grades 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite - Permission slip signed by the Publications teacher and the student’s current English teacher.
NOTE: This class is NOT available for English credit.
This full year course publishes the LHS yearbook, The Ahdawagam. Students practice journalistic and visual arts skills including interviewing sources, writing in the journalistic style, layout and design, photography and photo editing, and word processing. Production is web-based, and students are accountable for meeting deadlines. Some out of class work will be expected. |
*AMERICAN LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION
No. 112
1 Credit Elective - Grades 11, 12
Prerequisite - Must have received an A or B in English II and must have received a signed permission slip from the English II instructor. Not open to students who have taken English III or American Dream.
This full year course offers a study of American writers and their works, composition work that centers on research skills and exposition, and language study. Some speech experiences are coordinated with the units in literature, language and writing. This is a highly structured, accelerated course for the students who intend to continue their education after high school as well as students with a high interest in literature. |
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*AMERICAN DREAM - No. 213A, 213B
Grade 11
American Studies: 1 Credit -- American Literature: 1 Credit Prerequisite - Must have received an A or B in English II OR the consent of the English II instructor. At the time of registration, all students need to turn in a permission slip signed by their English II teacher. (Not open to students who have taken English III, American Literature and Composition, American Studies, or AP US History.) Note: If the number of students requesting this class exceeds class limits, students will be selected by a lottery system.
American Dream is an integrated full year course which blends American history with America’s literary tradition. Students will study the issues in our past and will read the literature associated with each period. Much of the learning is discussion based and an emphases is placed on writing essays. The course is team taught by a social studies teacher and a language arts teacher and is a two-hour block. The course fulfills the required credit in American Studies as well as one credit in Language Arts.
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*ENGLISH III - No. 115
1 Credit Elective - Grades 11, 12
Not open to students who have taken American Literature and Composition or American Dream.
This full year course is designed to extend the basic reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills learned in English II. Such themes as war, loneliness, roots, and alienation are explored through the reading of novels, plays, short stories and poems. Class discussions, individual presentations and frequent compositions are expected of all students. There is an emphasis on American literature. |
ENGLISH - No. 180A & READING FOR LIFE - No. 180B
1 Credit English - Grades 10, 11, 12
1 Credit Elective - Grades 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite - The teachers of this class select students based on course selection criteria.
This year-long intensive reading intervention program is designed to meet the needs of students who are reading significantly below grade level. Student individual needs are addressed through adaptive instructional software, high-interest fiction and non-fiction, and direct instruction in reading and writing skills. This program is offered one period for one credit or two periods for two credits. Not NCAA approved. |
*ADVANCED LANGUAGE STRUCTURE AND
COMPOSITION - No. 138
1/2 Credit Elective - Grades 11, 12
Prerequisite - An A or B in English II or Junior English class.
Not open to students who have taken Comprehensive Language Structure and Composition.
This course focuses on the structure of the English language. Through the semester, students will complete an extensive study of the parts of speech, sentence patterns, verbals, clauses, and punctuation usage. Strong writing models, such as poetry and essays, will be read and discussed to improve students' writing. A highly-polished composition focusing on description, reflection, and personal experience will be assigned. Students may submit this writing to Bloodstone, LHS's literary journal. This course helps students refine their grammar knowledge before taking the ACT. |
Comprehensive LANGUAGE STRUCTURE AND
COMPOSITION - No. 125
1 Credit Elective - Grades 11, 12
Not open to students who have taken Advanced Language Structure and Composition.
This course is for anyone wishing to improve language skills through an increased understanding of writing, grammar and vocabulary. It will include extensive study in vocabulary, parts of speech, sentence combining, punctuation use, and reading of good writing models such as essays and poetry to improve student writing. Compositions will include practice in areas such as exposition, description, and personal experience. Students should expect daily assignments to practice lesson concepts. Students also complete a reading workshop log each quarter which culminates in semester project presentations. Class participation is required. Students are expected to purchase a 1 1/2" binder. |
INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE - No. 132
1/2 Credit Elective - Grades 10, 11, 12
Reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills are the focus of this class, with an emphasis on the subject of theatre. Students will be expected to read and analyze several plays and write a series of papers on various aspects of drama. Some projects will require performance in front of the class. |
ADVANCED DRAMA - No. 134
1/2 Credit Elective - Grades 11, 12
Advanced Drama is for the serious drama student. The course will cover areas of theatre that are too complicated or that require more skills and ability than Introduction to Theatre. The course will include reading and analyzing plays, reporting on aspects of theatre orally and in written papers. A major research project will also be assigned. |
Theatre Technology - No. 136
1/2 Credit Elective - Grades 10, 11, 12
Note: This class is Not available for English credit.
This course will offer hands-on instruction in theatre safety; stage rigging; stage scenery design and construction; lighting design and implementation; and make up design and application. Students will be required to log 20 hours of service learning time and to work as technicians at three (3) PAC events outside of normal school hours. |
*SPEECH COMMUNICATIONS I - No. 152
1/2 Credit Elective - Grades 10, 11, 12
This course offers the student the opportunity to develop research skills, speech construction skills, oral composition skills, technique skills, and critical analysis skills. There is an emphasis on research reading, speech writing, critical listening, and the development of poise and confidence through platform speaking. The five purposes of speech making are covered. Speech is required in many colleges and universities, so this course would be especially helpful to those students going on to college after high school graduation. There is also a study of effects of language on communication and the use of supporting material to communicate. |
*SPEECH COMMUNICATIONS II - No. 154
1/2 Credit Elective - Grades 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite - Speech Communications I or consent of instructor.
This course offers the student the opportunity to sharpen skills in research reading, critical and analytical writing, specialized listening skills as a contributing individual in small group situations, and oral speaking occasions, group and conference presentations, public argumentation, movie and television critiques, and news broadcasting. There is an emphasis on reading historical and contemporary speeches and the evaluation of them. There is an added emphasis on adapting the speech structure to the audience with the use of voice, audio-visual aids, and alternative patterns of organization. |
*INTERPRETATION OF LITERATURE - No. 160
1/2 Credit Elective - Grades 10, 11, 12 (1st semester only)
The purpose of this course is to analyze, research, and orally present forms of literature: children’s literature, fairy tales, myths from around the world, classics and contemporary adult prose, poetry, non-fiction, and drama. There is an emphasis on developing the reading skills of expression. Group interpretation and drama interests are also explored. A must for future elementary teachers, child care workers, parents, budding actors, and students who may want to join the LHS forensics team. Oral presentations are required. |
CREATIVE WRITING - No. 140
1/2 Credit Elective - Grades 11, 12
This course is designed to broaden the students’ writing experiences and to equip them to write vigorously, colorfully, and correctly. Emphasis is given to practice in observing and describing things — leading to writing projects such as short stories, poetry, children’s stories, essays and short prose. Ample opportunity is given for creative self-expression, both orally and in writing. Students will read and analyze good writing models in order to improve their own writing. |
POETRY - No. 150
1/2 Credit Elective - Grades 11, 12
This course is a study of the art of writing poetry based on the criteria set forth in the text and models from works chosen by the students and teacher. Assignments include writing and rewriting poetry; analyzing and evaluating classmates’ poems and published works; and doing writing, speaking, and research exercises to familiarize the student with figurative language, observation of detail, and poetic structure. Poetry devices are emphasized in this course. Students are expected to keep a file of their work and do an analysis of the work of a poet. Individual help is given to each student. Original poetry will be submitted to the LHS literary journal, Bloodstone. |
SEARCH FOR IDENTITY - No. 130
1/2 Credit Elective - Grades 11, 12
Stories of horror, mystery, crime and conspiracy are the content of this course. The course will include the reading of short stories and non-fiction articles. Drills in basic language structure and usage, and frequent writing. Oral work includes one or two brief class presentations and class discussions. |
LITERARY MEDIA STUDIES - No. 149
1/2 Credit Elective - Grades 11, 12
Students participating in this course will study literature as presented through the media. Students will read, listen to, watch, and discuss the print and broadcast media as well as write critiques. There will be emphasis on studying media forms: informational, persuasive, and entertainment. Students are expected to arrive at an understanding of the impact of the media on the individual and society. Frequent papers will be required. |
CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE - No. 128
1/2 Credit Elective - Grades 11, 12
This course emphasizes individual reading and writing. The structure is the grade contract with students choosing the readings that will not only interest them, but also broaden their knowledge of themselves, human behavior and society. Evaluation is based on written book evaluations and conferences with the instructor. |
*BRITISH LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION - No. 118
1 Credit Elective - Grade 12
This course is designed for students who intend to continue developing the reading and composition skills necessary for education after high school. The reading selection includes a study of major British literature including selections from Beowulf, Chaucer, Milton, Shakespeare, and Tolkien. The composition component of the course offers work aimed at developing writing skills including literary analysis, content, organization, and grammar. Students are expected to purchase a book at a cost of $5.00. Students may choose to purchase additional books. |
*HONORS ENGLISH
No. 123
1 Credit Elective - Grade 12
Prerequisite - An A, B, OR C in AP English Literature and Composition or an A or B in Junior English course. At the time of registration, ALL STUDENTS must turn in to the Honors instructor a permission slip signed by their Junior English instructor.
This course is designed for students who are prepared and motivated to do advanced work aimed at enhancing reading and composition skills. Students who take this course should be passionate about literature and frequently read quality literature on their own. The British literature includes a chronological study of major literary periods interspersed with several challenging novels assigned as independent reading. The composition component of the course stresses advanced literary analysis, content, organization, and grammar. Students are expected to purchase books costing approximately $10.00. Students may choose to purchase additional books. |
LITERATURE OF THE OUTDOORS - No. 145
1/2 Credit Elective - Grade 12
This course focuses on literature related to man’s relationship to his outdoor environment. Subject areas may include issues related to endangered species, sportsman’s ethics, survival, and ecological relationships. Reading novels, poems, short stories, and non-fiction articles in magazines and newspapers will meet these goals. Students will write clearly developed paragraphs and themes and participate in class discussions. |
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ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSE
*AP ENGLISH LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION
- No. 121
1 Credit Elective - Grades 11, 12
This course is designed for students who intend to take the College Board AP English Literature & Composition Exam in May. Students who take this course should be prepared to read challenging literature to potentially test out of an entry level college English course(s). The world literature selection ranges from masterpieces to contemporary classics originally written in or translated into English. The composition component of the course focuses on advanced literary analysis, content, organization, and grammar. There is a summer reading assignment for this course. Students are expected to purchase a book at a cost of $15.00. Students may choose to purchase additional books.
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Click to view Language Arts course chart |
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