ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
The English curriculum is a blend of breadth and depth in language arts. Required full year courses in the 9th and 10th grades survey the essential elements of specific literary genres, composition and skill development. Included in these courses are special thematic units offered at age- and ability- appropriate levels. Capitalizing on student interest areas, these special units will challenge students to look deeply into a subject from many perspectives, thereby increasing critical thinking skills.
In the 11th and 12th grade years students will study the traditional language arts elements first semester and will choose a second semester course from among several popular and timely Focused Selections. Regardless of the specific subject addressed, each Focused Selection will be composed of all elements of a sound language arts program: composition, grammar, critical reading, oral expression, fiction and non-fiction literature, technology, research, and standardized test preparation. This curriculum affords students several advantages over a more traditional program. It offers flexibility and easy movement among difficulty levels as well as increased involvement of parents and students in the scheduling process. A student, for example, may opt to occasionally reach for a more challenging course in a subject area of interest. In addition, this arrangement of topics encourages integration with courses in other departments, fostering transfer and enrichment of concepts and skills across the entire school curriculum.
For students for whom language arts are a special interest and gift, Mercy offers a four-year program of accelerated study. For these students each course is a full-year curriculum featuring a more challenging reading list, more intense emphasis on critical thinking in reading and writing, and a more analytical approach to literary criticism. Research skills, technology, and oral facility are included. Special aspects of the Focused Selection Courses are woven into the advanced curriculum at the appropriate challenge level.
REQUIRED COURSES:
FRESHMAN ENGLISH: LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION
Levels: 811—College Prep 1 812—College Prep 2,
Grade 9 Required Full year 1 credit
Placement based on records
This required year of Freshman English is a skills-based course intended to give students the fundamental skills necessary to succeed in high school. The curriculum covers composition (essay styles and writing development), grammar (mechanics and usage), reading skills (vocabulary development, comprehension, critical analysis), oral language skills, technology applications, and varied genres of literature. Special in-depth academic units included: 811—Pop Fiction; 812—Mystery / Science Fiction and Dramatic Literature; 813—Myths & Legends and Women in Literature.
FRESHMAN ENGLISH: LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION
Level: 813—Honors 1 814 – Honors 2
Grade 9 Required Full year 1 credit
Placement based on records.
These levels will introduce students to advanced-level high school work and can lead to Advanced Placement courses in subsequent years at Mercy. The thrust of the course is analyzing the component parts of fiction, nonfiction, drama, poetry, composition, research, oral language and technology in order to improve critical language skills. Special in-depth academic units included: Dramatic Literature and Women In Literature, re-formatted for them at a level appropriate for advanced study.
SOPHOMORE ENGLISH: AMERICAN LIT. AND COMPOSITION
Levels: 821—College Prep 1, 822—College Prep 2, 823—Honors
Grade 10 Required Full year 1 credit
Placement determined jointly by faculty and student
The American experience has been rich and varied. In this course students trace the literature of America’s earliest people to those in the present. Historical events, societal issues and philosophical thoughts all influence the writing of the people. These will be examined chronologically, tracing the development of American thought and dreams. In response, students will interact with the literature to analyze thoughts, mimic style, and deepen their own understanding of what it means to be an American. A research paper, refining technology skills, will be required and vocabulary building and the use of grammar in writing will be stressed. Evaluations will include both written and oral response, individual as well as group projects, as well as tests and quizzes. Appropriate texts and assessments will be used for the different levels of the course. Special in- depth academic units included: 821—Adventures in Literature; 822—Journeys; 823 Dramatic Literature.
ADVANCED SOPHOMORE ENGLISH: BRITISH LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION
Level: 824—Advanced (2 weight)
Grade 10 Required Full Year 1 credit
Placement determined by faculty recommendation.
This course will explore the rich heritage of culture and literature from the British Isles, beginning with their roots in the Medieval Period, working chronologically through the Renaissance, Romantic and Victorian eras, and culminating with contemporary selections. Students will hone their skills in critical thinking and analysis through expository and persuasive essays, some of which will involve research. Students enrolling in this course will be expected to complete summer assignments, including two novels, an essay response, some informal responses on Blackboard, and some vocabulary study. One of the novels may be replaced by the “One Book, One Community” selection. Specific assignments will be given prior to the end of the school year.
JUNIOR ENGLISH: BRITISH LITERATURE & COMPOSITION
Levels: 832—College Prep , 833—Honors
Grade 11 Required First Semester 1/2 credit
Placement determined jointly by faculty and student
This required semester of British Literature will explore the rich heritage of culture and literature written in English, beginning with their roots in the Medieval Period, working chronologically through the Renaissance, Romantic and Victorian eras, and culminating with contemporary selections. The course will include responsible research, college essay and test preparation, and critical analysis. Students will choose a Focused Selection to study second semester.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT ENGLISH LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION (American Studies)
Levels: 835 AP (Scheduled with AP US History 935 - 4 weight)
Grade 11 Required Year 1 credit
Placement determined by faculty recommendation
This course is an advanced placement option for those students planning on taking the AP English Language and Composition test and the AP U.S. History test. This two-semester, two-block option integrates the study of American literature and history into one course, revealing how literature is both a product of the historical time period and a factor which shapes history. We begin the course with Native American literature and the literature of the early colonists and end by surveying the broad range of modern American fiction, poetry and drama. Because this is an advanced placement course, a great deal of emphasis will be placed on analysis and research. Students will be expected to respond both orally and in writing to the literature they have read and to draw upon both the work itself and their knowledge of the historical time period to support their response. Students enrolling in this course will be expected to complete summer assignments, including three novels, and brief written work associated with the novels. One of the novels will be the “One Book, One Community” selection. Specific assignments will be given prior to the end of the school year. This course culminates with the AP Literature and Composition exam.
SENIOR ENGLISH SEMINAR
Levels: 842—College Prep, 843—Honors
Grade 12 Required First semester 1/2 credit
Placement determined jointly by faculty and student
This course will polish the language skills of former English courses and prepare students for post-Mercy life and learning. Featured are blended literary and nonfiction thematic units based on today’s issues: poverty, capital punishment, literacy, racism, politics, and social justice. Students will explore how the language arts have depicted these issues and will use the filtering lens of Catholic Social Teaching and the Mercy values to discuss and shape informed views on today’s world. Toward this end, students will draw upon their experience and knowledge of these issues in senior Religion and Social Studies courses. The course will also guide students through the college application and entrance test process. Students will choose a Focused Selection to study second semester.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT ENGLISH LITERATURE & COMPOSITION (World Literature)
Level: 845 AP (4 weight)
Grade 12 Required Full Year 1 credit
Placement determined by faculty recommendation
This course represents the final challenging step in the Advanced English curriculum. It will begin with ancient Greek and Roman traditions and work through orally-derived literature from Africa and the Near East, culminating in a survey of the European continental traditions from the Medieval and Renaissance periods. After highlighting the European continental traditions from the Enlightenment and the 19th century, we will explore the literary heritage of the Americas and Asia. Students will hone their skills in literary criticism and analysis through writing and research. Students enrolling in this course will be expected to complete summer assignments, including three novels, two essay responses, discussions on Blackboard, and some vocabulary study. One of the novels may be replaced by the “One Book, One Community” selection. Specific assignments will be given prior to the end of the school year.
Students are expected to earn college credit either through Dual Enrollment at Thomas More College or through the Advanced Placement Test in English Composition and Literature.
The AP Literature and Composition exam will be offered. Beginning with the 2014-15 school year this course will offer the AP Language and Composition exam.
SUMMARY OF FOCUSED SELECTIONS BY GRADE AND LEVEL
Grades 9 & 10—Worked into full-year courses as noted in course descriptions
Grades 11 & 12—Schedule of Offerings
Offered every year: Open level—Literature & Media
Honors level—HerStory/Women’s Studies
Offered in alternating years:
Open level— Contemporary Literature (2014-15) Children’s Literature (2013-14)
Honors level—Shakespeare (2014-15) Classics New and Old (2013-14)
All levels—Creative Writing (2014-15) Public Speaking (2013-14)
FOCUSED SELECTIONS FOR GRADES 11-12
PUBLIC SPEAKING AND MEDIA STUDY
Course 850
Level: Open Grades 10, 11,12 Second semester 1/2 credit
Placement determined jointly by faculty and student
Public Speaking explores the essentials of communication as well as various types of speaking presentations. The course includes study of how the media shape and affect our cultural views and will be offered in 2014-2015.
CHILDREN’S LITERATURE
Course 852
Level: Open Grades 10, 11,12 Second semester 1/2 credit
Placement determined jointly by faculty and student
An examination of Children’s Literature includes the development of the child and the evolution of literature itself. This survey course begins with picture books, progresses through nursery rhymes, fables, and fairy tales. Students will also examine fantasy and non-fiction, culminating with selections from Young Adult fiction. Elements of story-telling will be stressed, as well as student assessment of age-appropriate literature. Famous authors will be researched and contacted. A final book creation, along with tests and projects, will be the basis of course evaluation. Offered 2014-2015.
CLASSICS—NEW AND OLD
Course 848H
Level: Honors Grades 11, 12 Second semester 1/2 credit
Placement determined jointly by faculty and student
Titles for this challenging course are selected from fiction and non-fiction which transcend time periods to speak to the universal truths about the world and the human condition. As well, they exhibit exemplary writing style. These are the “must reads” for educated, discerning young women. Offered 2014-2015.
LITERATURE AND MEDIA
Course 851
Level: Open Grades 10, 11, 12 Second semester 1/2 credit
Placement determined jointly by faculty and student
This course is designed to introduce students to the art of film-making, various genre of film, the influence of media upon culture and how literature is transformed into media. Students will participate in a number of diverse activities allowing them to, among other things, develop an awareness of how the film industry affects our perception of “the story”, how race and gender are perceived in film, how the film industry has changed during its history, and how literature is adapted and presented. Critical analysis, research and formulating viewpoints are crucial to this course. This course is offered every year.
HERSTORY/WOMEN’S STUDIES
Course 846H
Level: Honors Grades 11, 12 Second semester 1/2 credit
Placement determined jointly by faculty and student
HerStory is a semester-long course that deals with current issues, topics, and concerns facing women of today, here in the United States as well as worldwide. The goals of the course include: critically reflecting on viewpoints of current issues, communicating your thoughts effectively, familiarizing you with the accomplishments of influential women, and most importantly, developing your own voice as a woman in today's society. Activities include daily class discussions, presentations, Pro-Activism projects, interviews, and a culminating autobiography project. HerStory is college-level course with a dual-credit option (3 hours) in conjunction with The College of Mount Saint Joseph. This course is offered every year.
CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE
Course 853
Level: Open Grade 10, 11,12 Second semester 1/2 credit
This course will explore the literary highlights of the 20th and 21st centuries, including some hot-off-the-presses pieces. The students will be encouraged to discover how current literature, both fiction and non-fiction, is portraying modern society. Also included will be extensive critical writing, research, and college-test preparation. Offered 2013-2014.
CREATIVE WRITING
Course 847
Level: Open Grades 10, 11, 12 Second semester 1/2 credit
Placement determined jointly by faculty and student
This course is designed to introduce students to the craft of short fiction and poetry writing. Through extensive analysis of current writers, students will discern the elements of short fiction (narrative voice, plot, characterization) and poetic forms (diction, imagery, sound) and begin incorporating those elements into their own original writings. Students will complete two short pieces of short fiction and multiple works of poetry throughout the semester. In addition to creative pieces, each student will also complete a research paper and a power point presentation on a current writer and his/her work. Vocabulary building and the mechanics of poetry/fiction writing including grammar and punctuation will also be emphasized. Offered in 2013-14
SHAKESPEARE
Course 849H
Level: Honors Grade 11, 12 Second semester 1/2 credit
Placement determined jointly by faculty and student.
This course will involve an in-depth study of several of Shakespeare’s plays, which may include Hamlet, Merchant of Venice, and Richard III, as well as one or more plays of the student’s choosing. Students will be expected to actively participate in discussions and performance, engage in research, and write critical reflections. Offered 2013-2014.
ENGLISH ELECTIVE COURSES
Elective courses may be selected for enrichment but will not count as required English graduation credit. In addition to the publication courses listed below, Focused Selection courses beyond the minimum number may be taken as elective credit with the understanding that the requirements for the course are the same as when taken for required credit.
YEARBOOK
Course 860
Grades 10, 11, 12 Elective credit Full year 1 credit
Prerequisite: Acceptance of submitted application to English Department
This class prepares and publishes the yearbook, which records the school year in pictures and words. Students will work with advanced desktop publishing software as they learn principles of layout and design. Students will also learn some principles of photography, picture cropping, and photo editing skills on the computer. Other elements of the course include journalistic writing, copy-editing, financial management, and marketing. Accuracy and dependability, initiative, and computer skills are essential qualities of yearbook students. Class size is limited. The course may be repeated for credit. This course is offered every year.
DIGITAL JOURNALISM
Course 862 Full Year 1 credit
Course 862S Semester ½ credit
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12 Elective credit
Freshmen in English 813 and 814 may register for Digital Journalism
Get involved in the new journalism class and have fun with a flip camera filming game highlights, student council minutes, rehearsals, and more. Develop your footage into a package and post it on Etcetera online. Keep up with current events in the world, nation, community and Mercy and delve into issues that concern you and other students with your in-depth articles that will be published in the print version of the Etcetera. Do interviews, take pictures, create layouts, write, and learn about this exciting and evolving communication field. This course offers flexible scheduling options: it may be taken multiple years and semesters and even for independent study. This course is offered every year.
READING SUPPORT
Course 870
Open to Grades 9, 10, 11, 12 Time to be arranged.
Student placement in this class is based on recommendation and test data. The course has been established to provide remediation in the necessary skills of reading. It is a practical and individualized program based on the specific needs of each student.
