English Department

Fifth grade English is an introduction to an integrated language arts curriculum.

• Literature—Students are introduced to analysis skills. Semester readings of novels and short selections reflect contemporary settings as well as cross-cultural studies. Students are also introduced to the rudiments of poetic technique and the study of folk tales, biography, and autobiography.
• Writing—Students learn to construct clear and correct sentences and paragraphs. Students focus on writing creative fiction, narration, and exposition.
• Grammar, Usage, Mechanics—Students begin instruction in grammar, usage, and mechanics as these skill areas apply to their writing.
• Vocabulary—Students learn roots, multiple meaning words, and the role of context in discerning the meanings of new words.
• Research Skills—Students are introduced to methods of library and electronic research and write a research paragraph.
• Standardized Test Preparation—Students prepare for the Terra Nova, the standardized test taken each year in March.

Sixth grade English is for those students who have mastered the objectives of fifth grade English. English instruction in the sixth grade continues the integrated approach to the language arts.

• Literature—Students continue practice in analysis skills. Semester readings of novels and short selections reflect contemporary settings as well as cross-cultural studies and an extensive study of Greek, Roman, and Egyptian mythologies. Students are also introduced to the rudiments of poetic technique and the study of drama and short nonfiction.
• Writing—Students learn to construct coherent and correct sentences and paragraphs. Students focus on writing narration and exposition.
• Grammar, Usage, Mechanics—Students continue instruction in grammar, usage, and mechanics as these skill areas apply to their writing.
• Vocabulary—Students learn roots, multiple meaning words, and the role of context in discerning the meanings of new words.
• Research Skills—Students continue to practice methods of library and electronic research and write a short research paper.
• Standardized Test Preparation—Students prepare for the Terra Nova, the standardized test taken each year in March.

Seventh grade English is for those students who have mastered the objectives of sixth grade English. English instruction in the seventh grade continues the integrated approach to the language arts.

• Literature—Students continue practice in analysis skills. Semester readings of novels and short selections reflect the study of modern fantasy, science fiction, and an introduction to Shakespeare. Students frequently read and analyze informational nonfiction and oration, focusing on propaganda and persuasion. Students also study techniques of poetry analysis and drama.
• Writing—Students learn to construct clear and correct paragraphs and essays. Students focus on writing narration, exposition, and persuasion.
• Grammar, Usage, Mechanics—Students continue instruction in grammar, usage, and mechanics as these skill areas apply to their writing.
• Vocabulary—Students learn roots, multiple meaning words, and the role of context in discerning the meanings of new words.
• Research Skills—Students continue to practice methods of library and electronic research and write a short research paper.
• Standardized Test Preparation—Students prepare for the Terra Nova, the standardized test taken each year in March.

Seventh grade accelerated English is for those students who have mastered the objectives of sixth grade English and have excelled in that class. They are placed in this class based on their test scores, grades, and teacher recommendation. Accelerated English instruction in the seventh grade continues with the integrated approach to the language arts. Students enrolled in this class should possess superior analysis and writing skills.

• Literature— Students continue practice in analysis skills. Semester readings of novels and short selections reflect the study of modern fantasy, science fiction, and Shakespeare. Students frequently read and analyze informational nonfiction and oration, focusing on propaganda and persuasion. Students also study techniques of poetry analysis and drama. Reading assignments in this course are specially selected for the advanced students.
• Writing—Students learn to construct clear and correct paragraphs and essays. Students focus on writing narration, exposition, and persuasion. Writing assignments in this course are specially selected for the advanced students.
• Grammar, Usage, Mechanics—Students continue instruction in grammar, usage, and mechanics as these skill areas apply to their writing.
• Vocabulary—Students learn roots, multiple meaning words, and the role of context in discerning the meanings of new words.
• Research Skills—Students are introduced to methods of library and electronic research and write a research paper.
• Standardized Test Preparation—Students prepare for the Terra Nova, the standardized test taken each year in March.

English I is for those students who have mastered the objectives of seventh grade English. English I continues the integrated approach to the language arts.

• Literature—Students continue practice in analysis skills. Semester readings of novels and short selections include selections from the American and British traditions, epic poetry, and Shakespeare. Students frequently read and analyze nonfiction selections. Students also study techniques of poetry analysis.
• Writing—Students learn to construct clear and correct paragraphs and essays. Students focus on writing narration, exposition, and persuasion.
• Grammar, Usage, Mechanics—Students continue instruction in grammar, usage, and mechanics as these skill areas apply to their writing.
• Vocabulary—Students learn roots, multiple meaning words, and the role of context in discerning the meanings of new words.
• Research Skills—Students continue to practice methods of library and electronic research and write a research paper.
• Standardized Test Preparation—Students prepare for the Explore, the standardized test taken each year, and for the PSAT, taken in the junior year.

English I Honors is for those students who have mastered the objectives of seventh grade English and have excelled in that class. They are placed in this class based on their test scores, grades, and teacher recommendation. English I Honors continues with the integrated approach to the language arts. Students enrolled in this class should possess superior analysis and writing skills.

• Literature—Students continue practice in analysis skills. Semester readings of novels and short selections include selections from the American and British traditions, epic poetry, and Shakespeare. Students frequently read and analyze nonfiction selections. Students also study techniques of poetry analysis. Reading assignments in this course are specially selected for the advanced students.
• Writing—Students learn to construct clear and correct paragraphs and essays. Students focus on writing narration, exposition, and persuasion. Writing assignments in this course are specially selected for the advanced students.
• Grammar, Usage, Mechanics—Students continue instruction in grammar, usage, and mechanics as these skill areas apply to their writing.
• Vocabulary—Students learn roots, multiple meaning words, and the role of context in discerning the meanings of new words.
• Research Skills—Students continue to practice methods of library and electronic research and write a research paper.
• Standardized Test Preparation—Students prepare for the Explore, the standardized test taken each year, and for the PSAT, taken in the junior year.

English II is for those students who have mastered the objectives of English I. English II continues the integrated approach to the language arts.

• Literature—Students continue practice in analysis skills. Semester readings of novels and short selections include selections from the American and British traditions and Shakespeare. Students frequently read and analyze nonfiction selections. Students also study techniques of poetry analysis.
• Writing—Students learn to construct clear and correct paragraphs and essays. Students focus on writing narration, exposition, and persuasion.
• Grammar, Usage, Mechanics—Students continue instruction in grammar, usage, and mechanics as these skill areas apply to their writing.
• Vocabulary—Students learn roots, multiple meaning words, and the role of context in discerning the meanings of new words.
• Research Skills—Students continue to practice methods of library and electronic research and write a research paper.
• Standardized Test Preparation—Students prepare for the Explore, the standardized test taken each year, and for the PSAT, taken in the junior year.

English II Honors is for those students who have mastered the objectives of English I and have excelled in that class. They are placed in this class based on their test scores, grades, and teacher recommendation. English II Honors continues with the integrated approach to the language arts. Students enrolled in this class should possess superior analysis and writing skills.

• Literature—Students continue practice in analysis skills. Semester readings of novels and short selections include selections from the American and British traditions and Shakespeare. Students frequently read and analyze nonfiction selections. Students also study techniques of poetry analysis. Reading assignments in this course are specially selected for the advanced students.
• Writing—Students learn to construct clear and correct paragraphs and essays. Students focus on writing narration, exposition, and persuasion. Writing assignments in this course are specially selected for the advanced students.
• Grammar, Usage, Mechanics—Students continue instruction in grammar, usage, and mechanics as these skill areas apply to their writing.
• Vocabulary—Students learn roots, multiple meaning words, and the role of context in discerning the meanings of new words.
• Research Skills—Students continue to practice methods of library and electronic research and write a research paper.
• Standardized Test Preparation—Students prepare for the Explore, the standardized test taken each year, and for the PSAT, taken in the junior year.

English III is for those students who have mastered the objectives of English II. English III continues the integrated approach to the language arts.

• Literature—Students continue practice in analysis skills. This course is a survey of American literature and includes writings from the colonial period through the present. Works include early letters and sermons; the country’s founding documents, short stories, poetry, novels, and plays. Writers studied include Mather, Jefferson, Franklin, Hawthorne, Emerson, Poe, Whitman, Twain, O’Neil, Miller, Williams, Steinbeck, Hemingway, and the American poets.
• Writing—Students learn to construct clear and correct essays. Students focus on writing narration, exposition, and persuasion.
• Grammar, Usage, Mechanics—Students continue instruction in grammar, usage, and mechanics as these skill areas apply to their writing.
• Vocabulary—Students learn roots, multiple meaning words, and the role of context in discerning the meanings of new words.
• Research Skills—Students continue to practice methods of library and electronic research and write a research paper.
• Standardized Test Preparation—Students prepare for the Plan test and the PSAT.

English III Honors is for those students who have successfully mastered the objectives of English II and have excelled in that class. They are placed in this class based on their test scores, grades, and teacher recommendation. English III Honors continues with the integrated approach to the language arts. Students enrolled in this class should possess superior analysis and writing skills.

• Literature—Students continue practice in analysis skills. This course is a survey of American literature. It includes writings from the colonial period through the present. Works include early letters and sermons, the country’s founding documents, short stories, poetry, novels, and plays. Writers studied include Mather, Jefferson, Franklin, Hawthorne, Emerson, Poe, Whitman, Twain, O’Neil, Miller, Williams, Steinbeck, Hemingway, and the American poets. Reading assignments in this course are specially selected for the advanced students.
• Writing—Students learn to construct clear and correct essays. Students focus on writing narration, exposition, and persuasion. Writing assignments in this course are specially selected for the advanced students.
• Grammar, Usage, Mechanics—Students continue instruction in grammar, usage, and mechanics as these skill areas apply to their writing.
• Vocabulary—Students learn roots, multiple meaning words, and the role of context in discerning the meanings of new words.
• Research Skills—Students continue to practice methods of library and electronic research and write a research paper.
• Standardized Test Preparation—Students prepare for the Plan test and the PSAT.

English IV is for those students who have mastered the objectives of English III. English IV continues the integrated approach to the language arts.

• Literature—Students continue practice in analysis skills. This course is a survey of British literature. It includes writings from the Anglo-Saxon Period through the present. Works include short stories, poetry, novels, and plays. Writers studied include Chaucer, Shakespeare, Donne, Milton, Swift, Wordsworth, Byron, Keats, Tennyson, Dickens, Bronte, Austen, Eliot, Yeats, Joyce, and Woolf, among others.
• Writing—Students learn to construct clear and correct essays. Students focus on writing narration, exposition, and persuasion.
• Grammar, Usage, Mechanics—Students continue instruction in grammar, usage, and mechanics as these skill areas apply to their writing.
• Vocabulary—Students learn roots, multiple meaning words, and the role of context in discerning the meanings of new words.
• Research Skills—Students continue to practice methods of library and electronic research and write a research paper.
• Standardized Test Preparation—Students prepare for the ACT and the PSAT.

English IV Honors is for those students who have successfully mastered the objectives of English III and have excelled in that class. They are placed in this class based on their test scores, grades, and teacher recommendation. English IV Honors continues with the integrated approach to the language arts. Students enrolled in this class should possess superior analysis and writing skills.

• Literature—Students continue practice in analysis skills. This course is a survey of British literature. It includes writings from the Anglo-Saxon Period through the present. Works include short stories, poetry, novels, and plays. Writers studied include Chaucer, Shakespeare, Donne, Milton, Swift, Wordsworth, Byron, Keats, Tennyson, Dickens, Bronte, Austen, Eliot, Yeats, Joyce, and Woolf, among others. Reading assignments in this course are specially selected for the advanced students.
• Writing—Students learn to construct clear and correct essays. Students focus on writing narration, exposition, and persuasion. Writing assignments in this course are specially selected for the advanced students.
• Grammar, Usage, Mechanics—Students continue instruction in grammar, usage, and mechanics as these skill areas apply to their writing.
• Vocabulary—Students learn roots, multiple meaning words, and the role of context in discerning the meanings of new words.
• Research Skills—Students continue to practice methods of library and electronic research and write a research paper.
• Standardized Test Preparation—Students prepare for the ACT and the PSAT.

English IV Advanced Placement is for students who have mastered and excelled in the objectives of English III Honors. It consists of both a survey of British literature and the Advanced Placement Language and Composition course. Students are invited to join this class based on their test scores, grades, teacher recommendation, and interest in the study of college level English. At the end of the course, students take the Advanced Placement test and, depending on their scores, may receive college credit in freshman introduction to writing classes.

• Literature—Students continue practice in analysis skills. This course is a survey of British literature. It includes writings from the Anglo-Saxon Period through the present. Works include short stories, poetry, novels, and plays. Writers studied include Chaucer, Shakespeare, Donne, Milton, Swift, Wordsworth, Byron, Keats, Tennyson, Dickens, Bronte, Austen, Eliot, Yeats, Joyce, and Woolf, among others. Readings and assignments in this course are specially selected for the advanced students. Because of the rhetorical focus of the class, British non-fiction writing is stressed.
• Advanced Placement—The AP Language and Composition component of the class focuses on the analysis and interpretation of samples of good writing, identifying and explaining an author’s use of rhetorical strategies and techniques, and analyzing images as text.
• Writing—In this class, writing focuses on the rhetorical analysis and argument essays. Students apply effective strategies and techniques in their own writing and create and sustain arguments based on readings, research and/or personal experience. They produce expository, analytical, and argumentative compositions that introduce a complex central idea and develop it with appropriate evidence drawn from primary and/or secondary sources. They evaluate and incorporate reference documents into researched papers.
• Vocabulary—Students learn roots, multiple meaning words, and the role of context in discerning the meanings of new words.
• Research Skills—Students continue to practice methods of library and electronic research and write a research paper. Research is used in analysis and argument essays as well.
• Standardized Test Preparation—Students prepare for the ACT and the PSAT.

English V Honors is for those students who have mastered the objectives of English IV Honors and have excelled in that class. English V Honors is a college composition course that contains components of world literature. Students who complete this course earn credit for English 1001 from the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

• Literature—Students continue practice in analysis skills. Students read short fiction drawn from world literature. Students also read essays to recognize genres of writing and sharpen critical reading and thinking skills. They respond both orally and in writing to assigned readings.
• Writing—Students focus on writing expository, analytical, and argumentative compositions that introduce a complex central idea and develop it with appropriate evidence drawn from primary and/or secondary sources. They evaluate and incorporate reference documents into researched papers.
• Standardized Test Preparation—Students prepare for the ACT.

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the principles and skills of effective public speaking. Speaking opportunities are examined in a variety of contexts. This course provides students practice in a wide array of individual speaking assignments. The fundamentals of extemporaneous speaking, methods of investigation and support, and presentation techniques will be presented.