English Language Arts | Communication
Communications
1/2 credit required
CONTENT: Students will identify, analyze, develop and evaluate communication skills needed for success. The course will focus on relationships in interpersonal and intrapersonal communication, small groups, and public speaking. Students will learn to employ appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication. Units on group dynamics and listening skills will give students the skills to participate in classes, larger audiences, on teams and in small groups. Students apply skills presenting speeches, working in groups and completing projects during the semester.
SKILLS: Students will learn to work in small groups, write and present speeches, listen actively and interact effectively in a variety of social and professional situations
PREREQUISITES: None
LENGTH OF COURSE: One semester
Speech and Competitive Speaking
1/2 credit required Sophomore, Junior and Senior
CONTENT: Speech II is designed to help students improve communication skills and prepare students for competitions. Students will focus on oration, poetry and prose interpretation, humorous and dramatic interpretation, impromptu and extemporaneous speaking and debate.
The course will also provide training in interviewing, group discussion and parliamentary procedures.
SKILLS: Emphasis on effective public speaking skills will continue with this course.
PREREQUISITES: Speech I
LENGTH OF COURSE: One semester
Journalism I
1 credit elective Sophomore, Junior and Senior
CONTENT: Journalism is a creative and useful course for students interested in expanding their range of writing skills. It teaches the students how to observe and interpret events in their world and communicate those interpretations in direct, concise and interesting prose. This course presents the knowledge and skills needed to publish The Cougar News, the school’s newspaper and to prepare students for further study of traditional journalism and creative non-fiction. The course discusses theory and teaches the four primary types of journalism: news, editorials, features, and sports.
SKILLS: This class builds writing and reporting skills used in traditional journalism, as well as public relations, advertising, and marketing. Students learn the concepts of layout and graphic design and learn to use Microsoft
Publisher to assemble the newspaper. A staff photographer will have the opportunity to use and improve her/his photocomposition skills.
PREREQUISITES: Approval of Journalism instructor(s)
LENGTH OF COURSE: One year
Journalism II
1 credit elective Junior, Senior
CONTENT: Upperclassmen/women enrolling in this course will hold leadership positions and be responsible for publishing and the school newspaper. Students will continue the study of the four types of journalism and their best use in a high school publication.
SKILLS: The staff refines their journalistic writing, design, and desktop publishing skills. The Journalism II students will find themselves challenged in the areas of creativity, organization, task fulfillment, marketing, leadership and responsibility.
PREREQUISITES: Journalism I; Must have approval of Journalism instructor
LENGTH OF COURSE: One Year
Reading and Writing Development I
1 credit
CONTENT: This course is for the student who needs to focus on improvement of reading and writing skills. Attainment of these skills permits the student to be moved out of the reading/writing development program. The course will address reading selected short novels and reading in the content areas along with offering practice in writing sentences and paragraphs. In addition, the students will practice grammar, addressing such concepts as clauses, phrases, parts of speech, types of sentences, and usage.
SKILLS: Students will improve reading and writing skills through practice, and focus their writing on the literature read during the class. Students will increase their ability to construct topic sentences, commentary, concrete details and summary sentences. They will build phonemic awareness and comprehension.
PREREQUISITES: Based on Exit Exam scores, prior grades, and teacher recommendations.
LENGTH OF COURSE: One year
Reading and Writing Development I
CONTENT: This course is for the student who needs to focus on improvement of reading and writing skills. Attainment of these skills permits the student to be moved out of the reading/writing development program. The course will address reading selected short novels and reading in the content areas along with offering practice in writing sentences and paragraphs. In addition, the students will practice grammar, addressing such concepts as clauses, phrases, parts of speech, types of sentences, and usage.
SKILLS: Students will improve reading and writing skills through practice, and focus their writing on the literature read during the class. Students will increase their ability to construct topic sentences, commentary, concrete details and summary sentences. They will build phonemic awareness and comprehension.
PREREQUISITES: Based on Exit Exam scores, prior grades, and teacher recommendations.
LENGTH OF COURSE: One year
Reading and Writing Development II
1 credit – Sophomore
CONTENT: This course is developed for the student who is below grade level in reading and writing skills. Students learn reading techniques and read interesting modern works to build comprehension and reading fluency to prepare them to move to the English III program. Students will also continue to work on reading in the content areas learning to read and understand textbooks in other curricular areas.
SKILLS: Students will be able to distinguish between fact and opinion and understand the cause-effect relationship. Students will be able to draw conclusions, make inferences and identify main ideas, specific facts and details. Students will improve vocabulary and will be able to write a five-paragraph essay.
PREREQUISITES: Students who have tested and qualify, or Reading I
LENGTH OF COURSE: One year