Course Descriptions
• Art
• Business
• English
• Foreign Language
• Health & PE
• Math
• Music
• Science
• Social Studies
• Study Skills
• Theology

Forms / Guidelines
• Curriculum Guidelines
• Four Year Plan Course Selections
• Student Registration Form
• Freshmen Class Registration Form
• Sophomore Class Registration Form
• Junior Class Registration Form
• Senior Class Registration Form

English Course Descriptions
! Click here for a printable version of this information !

COURSE TITLE ENGLISH IA

COURSE NUMBER 2301

COURSE DESCRIPTION  Vocabulary, note taking, library skills, literary terms and their use as they pertain to short stories, novels, and poetry are emphasized; grammar includes a review of parts of speech, study of verbals, clauses, and sentence patterns. Major works read and analyzed include Romeo and Juliet, The Odyssey, Murder on the Orient Express, Tuesdays with Morrie, and To Kill a Mockingbird, which complement the study of short stories, poetry, and public speaking. Students develop their writing skills through an assortment of assignments including two five-paragraph papers focusing on analysis of literature read with appropriate quotations. Students will be instructed in the MLA process including preparation of note cards, outlines, and works cited to accompany papers with the MLA Handbook as the source text. Students will develop a resume second semester. This class is designed for students who need additional time and individual attention and who benefit from frequent review and practice. The Sadlier vocabulary series will be used in this course.  This course includes a research project.  A summer reading/writing assignment is required.

COURSE TITLE ENGLISH I

COURSE NUMBER 2301

COURSE DESCRIPTION  Vocabulary, note taking, library skills, literary terms and their use as they pertain to short stories, novels, and poetry are discussed.  Grammar is emphasized including review of parts of speech, study of verbals, clauses, and sentence patterns.  Drama is read and analyzed using Romeo and Juliet.  The epic, The Odyssey, and the novels, Murder on the Orient Express, Tuesdays with Morrie, and To Kill a Mockingbird, complement the study of short stories and poetry. Public speaking using a variety of topics is covered throughout the year.  Students develop their writing skills through an assortment of assignments including two or three five-paragraph papers focusing on analysis of literature with quotations.  Students will be introduced to the research process including preparation of note cards, outlines, and works cited to accompany papers.  Students will be instructed in the MLA process with the MLA Handbook as the source text. Students will develop their resume second semester.  The Sadlier vocabulary series will be used in this course. A summer reading/writing assignment is required.

COURSE TITLE ENGLISH I - ACCELERATED

COURSE NUMBER 2301

COURSE DESCRIPTION Vocabulary, note taking, library skills, literary terms and their use as they pertain to short stories, novels, and poetry are discussed.  Grammar is emphasized including a review of parts of speech, study of verbals, clauses, and sentence patterns.  Drama is read and analyzed using Romeo and Juliet.  The epic, The Odyssey, and the novels, Great Expectations and Flowers for Algernon, complement the study of short stories and poetry.  Public speaking using a variety of topics is covered throughout the year.  Students develop their writing skills through an assortment of assignments including four to six five-paragraph papers focusing on analysis of literature with quotations. Students will be introduced to the research process including preparation of note cards, outlines, and works cited to accompany papers.  Students will be instructed in the MLA process with the MLA Handbook as the source text.  Students will develop their resume second semester.   The Sadlier vocabulary series will be used in this course. Optional reading may include the following: Animal Farm.  This course emphasizes writing, in particular analytical essay writing.  A summer reading/writing assignment is required.

COURSE TITLE ENGLISH IIA

COURSE NUMBER 2302

COURSE DESCRIPTION  Students will acquire and demonstrate basic grammatical skills through the use of essay writing.  Also, the elements of the short story, poetry, drama, and the novel are analyzed, beginning with the study of the genres of published authors. Key works include the exploration of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, A Separate Peace, Fahrenheit 451, and Death of a Salesman. Students continue development of the research process utilizing all of the steps in the process to complete two documented research papers; other writing is focused on analytical and persuasive topics. Public speaking using a variety of topics will be incorporated throughout the year. Students will update their resume. This class is designed for students who need additional time and individual attention and who benefit from frequent review and practice. The Sadlier vocabulary series will be used in this course.  A summer reading/writing assignment is required for this course.

COURSE TITLE ENGLISH II

COURSE NUMBER 2302

COURSE DESCRIPTION  Students will acquire and demonstrate basic grammatical skills through the use of essay writing.  Also, the elements of the short story, poetry, drama, and the novel are analyzed, beginning with the study of the genres by published authors.  Key works include the exploration of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar,  A Separate Peace, Fahrenheit 451, and Death of a Salesman.  Students will continue development of the research process utilizing all of the steps in the process to complete two documented research papers; other writing is focused on analytical and persuasive topics based on literature read.  Public speaking using a variety of topics will be incorporated throughout the year.  Students will update their resume. The Sadlier vocabulary series will be used in this course.  A summer reading/writing assignment is required.

COURSE TITLE ENGLISH II - ACCELERATED

COURSE NUMBER 2302

COURSE DESCRIPTION  Students will acquire and demonstrate basic grammatical skills through the use of essay writing.  Also, the elements of the short story, poetry, drama, and the novel are analyzed, beginning with the study of the genres by published authors.  Key works include the exploration of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, A Separate Peace, and Grapes of Wrath.  Students will continue development of the research process utilizing all of the steps in the process to complete two documented research papers; other writing is focused on analytical and persuasive topics based on literature read.  Public speaking using a variety of topics will be incorporated throughout the year.  Students will update their resume. The Sadlier vocabulary series will be used in this course.  Optional reading may include The Awakening, Nectar in a Sieve, Lord of the Flies, and Fahrenheit 451.  A summer reading/writing assignment is required for this course.

COURSE TITLE ENGLISH IIIA

COURSE NUMBER 2303

COURSE DESCRIPTION   American Literature is studied including the American Colonial Period, the New England writers, the Romantic Period, the Transcendental Period, The Realist Period, and the Modernist Period to include the 20th century writers. Students are instructed in developmental writing culminating in two major research papers on literary topics; other writing is focused on analytical and persuasive topics based on literature read.   Students will update their resume.  Public speaking using a variety of topics will be incorporated throughout the year. Major literary works studied include Red Badge of Courage, Of Mice and Men, The Crucible, The Great Gatsby, and A Streetcar Named Desire. This class is designed for students who need additional time and individual attention and who benefit from frequent review and practice.  Basic grammar and punctuation skills will be reinforced.  The Sadlier vocabulary series will be used in this course.  A summer reading/writing assignment is required.

COURSE TITLE ENGLISH III

COURSE NUMBER 2303

COURSE DESCRIPTION  American Literature is studied including the American Colonial Period, the New England writers, the Romantic Period, the Transcendental Period, the Realist Period, and the Modernist Period to include the 20th century writers.  Students are instructed in developmental writing culminating in two major research papers on a literary topic; other writing is focused on analytical and persuasive topics based on literature read.  Students will update their resume.  Public speaking using a variety of topics will be incorporated throughout the year.  Major literary works studied include The Scarlet Letter, The Crucible and The Great Gatsby.  Additional novels will be read from the following: Red Badge of Courage and Of Mice and Men. Basic grammar and punctuation skills will be reinforced. The Sadlier vocabulary series will be used in this course. A summer reading/writing assignment is required.

COURSE TITLE ENGLISH III - ACCELERATED

COURSE NUMBER 2303

COURSE DESCRIPTION  American Literature is studied including the American Colonial Period, the New England writers, the Romantic Period, the Transcendental Period, the Realist Period, and the Modernist Period to include the 20th century writers.  Students are instructed in developmental writing culminating in two major research papers on a literary topic; other writing is focused on analytical and persuasive topics based on literature read.  Students will update their resume.  Public speaking using a variety of topics will be incorporated throughout the year. Major literary works studied include The Scarlet Letter, Red Badge of Courage, Huck Finn, The Chosen, The Glass Menagerie, A Raisin’ in the Sun, The Crucible, The Great Gatsby, and Billy Budd.  Basic grammar and punctuation skills will be reinforced. The Sadlier vocabulary series will be used in this course. A summer reading/writing assignment is required.

COURSE TITLE ENGLISH IVA

COURSE NUMBER 2308

COURSE DESCRIPTION  British and Western World Literature is studied including a core curriculum of English Literature from the Anglo/Saxon through the Modern periods. Reading comprehension and standard writing skills are emphasized as students interact with the ideas, values, and concepts contained in the literature.  Public speaking using a variety of topics will be incorporated throughout the year. Students will update their resume in the first semester. Two research papers are assigned, stressing topics contained in the literature read; other writing is focused on analytical and persuasive topics. Major works studied include Beowulf, The Canterbury Tales, The Tragedy of Macbeth, Night, and All Quiet on the Western Front. This class is designed for students who need additional time and individual attention and who benefit from frequent review and practice. Basic grammar and punctuation skills will be reinforced.  The Sadlier vocabulary series will be used in this course. A summer reading/writing assignment is required.

COURSE TITLE ENGLISH IV

COURSE NUMBER 2304

COURSE DESCRIPTION  British and Western World Literature is studied including a core curriculum of English Literature from the Anglo/Saxon through Modern periods.  Informed responses to ideas, values, and concepts contained in this literature are required, both through oral and written forms including literary analysis papers.  Public speaking using a variety of topics will be incorporated throughout the year. Students will update their resume during the first semester.  Two research papers are assigned, stressing topics contained in the literature that is read; other writing is focused on analytical and persuasive topics based on literature read. Major literary works studied include Beowulf, The Canterbury Tales, All Quiet on the Western Front, and The Tragedy of Macbeth. Optional reading may include Lord of the Flies, Night, and Brave New World. Basic grammar and punctuation skills will be reinforced.  The Sadlier vocabulary series will be used in this course. A summer reading /writing assignment is required

COURSE TITLE AP ENGLISH

COURSE NUMBER 2308

COURSE DESCRIPTION  British and Western World Literature is studied including a core curriculum of English Literature from the Anglo/Saxon through Modern periods.  There will be a brief review of some of the most significant American writers and their works in preparation for the AP exam. Informed responses to ideas, values, and concepts contained in this literature are required, both through oral interpretation and analytical essays.  Public speaking using a variety of topics will be incorporated throughout the year.  Students will update their resume during the first semester. Two literary, analytical research papers are assigned, both stressing topics contained in the literature that is read.  All writing is analytical and persuasive in format.  Major literary works studied include Beowulf, The Canterbury Tales, Othello, and The Tragedy of Macbeth.  Optional reading may include Cry, the Beloved Country,  A Doll’s House, Hedda Gabler,  As I Lay Dying, Night, Siddartha, Things Fall Apart, Heart of Darkness, Wuthering Heights, and Their Eyes Were Watching God.  The Sadlier vocabulary series will be used in this course.  A summer reading/writing assignment is required.  In addition, students will write a variety of timed essays to prepare for the AP exam.

COURSE TITLE SPEECH/COMMUNICATIONS

COURSE NUMBER 2331

COURSE TITLE DRAMA I

COURSE NUMBER 2351

COURSE DESCRIPTION  Drama class is open to all students who are interested in the performing and dramatic arts.  Students will study the development of drama from its origins in Greece, through the middle ages, and up to the time of Shakespeare where students are required to read one Shakespearean play.  Students will also study pantomime, oral interpretation, storytelling, performing a monologue, developing a character, acting, directing, technical theater, and musical theater.  Students will be expected to perform various skills in front of their classmates.  Drama students are also required to audition for one of the SHDHS plays, however they do not have to participate in the play itself if they chose not to.

COURSE TITLE DRAMA II

COURSE NUMBER 2351A

COURSE DESCRIPTION  Drama II will continue to cover the history of theatre with an emphasis on the history of American Theatre with the movements of Realism and Anti-realism.  There will be a concentration on acting through the study of Constantine Stanislavski's internal and external aspects of acting.  There will be a more specific study of various acting skills that will allow students to create distinguishable characters during their performances of monologues.  There will be an emphasis on the seven steps to performing a monologue and students will be required to create, prepare, and perform one monologue each quarter.  Drama II will also have a more concentrated focus on the audition process.  Students in Drama II are required to audition for both plays and must participate in some way and attend BOTH shows.  (Participation includes acting, student directing, heading a crew, running the light board, etc.)

COURSE TITLE: DRAMA III

SUGGESTED GRADE LEVEL 12

PREREQUISITES DRAMA I AND DRAMA II

NEED TEACHER RECOMMENDATION? YES

REQUIRED FOR GRADUATION? NO

COURSE DESCRIPTION Drama III will continue the study of acting. It will look at the importance of working with a partner and how to perform while taking your partner's needs into consideration. Students will perform a number of duo scenes. Drama III will also study the areas of technical theater and directing. The students will concentrate on all the technical aspects needed to produce a play. Students will study the different styles of directing, the terminology of directors, and look in-depth at the importance of blocking. Students will be expected to direct various duo scenes in each semester. Students in Drama III are required to audition for both plays and must participate in some way and attend BOTH shows. (Participation includes acting, student directing, heading a crew, running the light board, etc.)

COURSE TITLE JOURNALISM

COURSE NUMBER 2321

COURSE DESCRIPTION  This course introduces students to the concepts and characteristics of journalistic expression. Students write, edit, revise, and proofread editorials, features, news articles, sports articles, and magazine articles.  This course will also produce the quarterly school newspaper.  Use of word processing and instruction in layout will be integrated throughout the course.  Students study the historical and cultural impact of journalism.