A Slightly Closer Look at Some of the Language Arts Course Offerings

1
A Slightly Closer Look at Some of the Language
Arts Course Offerings
2
                                                 
       
 
English 9 (10 English credits)
English 9 or Pre-AP/Honors English 9 (10
English credits)
English 9(10 English credits)
Language Arts Skills Seminar (For students with
9th grade in-progress/low basic scores on
district levels tests. Students with high basic
scores and above enroll directly in World
Lit/Composition. Students needing this course
are notified in April or May.) (10 English
credits)
World Literature/Composition (10 English
credits)
World Literature/Composition or Pre-AP World
Literature/Composition (10 English credits)
World Literature/ Composition (10 English credits)
US Lit//Humanities (5 US Lit. credits) (5 Hum.
credits)
US Lit/Humanities or Pre-AP US Lit/Humanities (5
US Lit. credits) (5 Hum. credits)
US Lit/ Humanities (5 US Lit. credits) (5
Hum. credits)
Junior/Senior Level Classes A student needs 5-15
credits, depending on whether or not he or she
has taken Skills Seminar.
Junior/Senior Level Classes A student needs from
5-15 credits, depending on whether or not he or
she has taken Skills Seminar.  
British Literature/Composition (10 English
credits)
(5 English credits) British Literature Great
Books 1 and 2 College Prep/ Composition Creative
Writing Drama/Short Story Creative Writing
Poetry Reading/Study Skills Technical Writing
(5 English credits) Short Fiction Reading/Study
Skills Media Analysis/Composition  
Advanced Placement Literature and Composition
(10 English credits)
Students who have lower skills on levels tests,
but who are seriously motivated, can be
successful in the junior/senior level classes in
the middle column.   Television Production may
also be taken for English credits and is
considered a non-college preparatory class.    
(10 English credits) Journalism 1 and
2 Pacesetters British Literature/Composition Weste
rn or World Humanities
Any of the classes from the middle column are
recommended as additional English electives for
these students.
3
Course Descriptions!

• Basic Speech

4
Introduction

• For many people in todays society, public
  speaking is one of the scariest things
  imaginable. This course is designed to help
  alleviate some of that fear and anxiety by giving
  you a chance to practice speaking in front of an
  audience for a variety of purposes.

5
Speeches Covered

• The different types of speeches covered in
  the class includes, but is not limited to, the
  following
• Persuasive
• Oral Interpretation
• How-To/Informative
• Impromptu
• Mock Interview

6
Additional Skills

• The following skills will also be covered
• Organization (webs, outlines, notecards, etc.)
• Use of visual aids
• Use of facial expression
• Use of body language and hand gestures
• Use of eye contact
• Understanding of the dynamics in a group
  discussion
• Critique and evaluate others speeches
• Research
• How to impact an audience

7
Course Descriptions!

• Theatre

8
Theatre Foundations

• If youre interested in theatre but dont
  know where to start, this is the place for you.
  Theatre foundations focuses on the basics of
  theatre. Youll get everything you wanted to
  know (or at least the start of it) about the
  history of theatre, the nitty-gritty of acting,
  and an intro to the technical side. This is a
  one-term class any beginning thespian will love.

9
Advanced Acting and Production

• So, you fell in love with the theatre
  through Theatre Foundations, or its just in your
  blood and you want to go one step further in your
  training. Advanced Acting is right up your
  alley. This one-term class offers a more
  in-depth look at the fundamentals of performance
  such as auditioning, directing, and stage-craft.
  The culminating project for this class is an
  on-the-road childrens theatre that allows you to
  show off everything you learned. Youll leave
  Advanced Acting ready for Broadway (or at least
  Openstage!).

10
Musical Theatre Production

• The only musical Rocky produces is in this
  very class. During first term, fourth hour
  youll spend an hour and a half rehearsing for
  musicals such as The Music Man, Oklahoma!, Kiss
  Me Kate, or Brigadoon. You can also get in on
  the tech side if behind-the-scenes is more your
  forte. You just have to make sure you register
  for this class the year before. Auditions are
  held in May and production starts the first day
  of school in August. An intense 9 weeks, but in
  the end, its well worth the effort!

11
Extra Curricular Theatre

• Throughout the year there are numerous
  opportunities to get on stage outside of class.
  Theres always the student directed Winter One
  Act Festival, the Spring Show in April, as well
  as Shakespeare Under the Stars, Variety Shows,
  and a number of other performances. Just keep an
  eye out for auditions and information!

12
Course Descriptions!

• Great Books

13
Introduction

• Do you need five more credits of English?
  Do you love to read? Do you wish you had read
  more of the classics? If you answered yes to
  any of these, Great Books could be the class for
  you!

14
Reading Lists
Here at Rocky, we offer two classes of Great
Books, alternating each year, so you could
actually take the class once this year and once
next year and read completely different books.
The list of possible titles for each class is as
follows

• The Great Books I
• Catcher in the Rye
• Crime and Punishment
• Giants in the Earth
• The Mirror
• The Time Machine
• Dandelion Wine
• Travels with Charlie
• Invisible Man
• Too Late the Phalarope

• The Great Books II
• The Sun Also Rises
• The Grapes of Wrath
• The Chosen
• 2001 A Space Odyssey
• Darkness At Noon
• Fathers and Sons
• Davitas Harp
• Cry, the Beloved Country

15
Course Descriptions!

• World Literature And Composition

16
Introduction

• As it is a requirement for all 10th-grade
  students, this course is designed to prepare you
  for the other English courses you will take at
  Rocky Mountain High School. The course is
  challenging and stimulating for students of all
  levels, and it will build on the knowledge you
  gained in junior high in the areas of reading and
  writing.

17
Literature

• You will understand the use of literary
  devices as you study poetry, non-fiction and
  short stories from the textbook. In addition, at
  least two novels will be read during the
  semester, chosen from the following list
• The Good Earth
• Nervous Conditions
• The Old Man and the Sea
• A Place Where the Sea Remembers
• I Am the Clay

• Girl With a Pearl Earring
• Candide
• A Wizard of Earthsea
• Cyrano de Bergerac
• Power of One
• East of Eden

18
Drama

• Drama is also covered in the class, with one
  of the following plays by Shakespeare read in its
  entirety
• Julius Caesar
• Merchant of Venice

19
Composition

• The second main component of the class is
  composition. You will complete four multi-draft
  writing assignments in the following genres
• Expository/Narrative
• Persuasive
• Research
• Literary Analysis

20
Course Descriptions!

• Pre-AP World Literature And Composition

21
Introduction

• This course is designed for sophomores who
  wish to begin preparing for the Advanced
  Placement Literature and Composition course.
  Passing this course is required for graduation.
  This class is also a prerequisite for U. S.
  Literature and Humanities (students may elect to
  take Pre A.P. U. S. and Humanities).
• Pre AP World Literature and Composition is
  intended to introduce students to a survey of
  world literature beginning with the Classical Age
  and ending with the Modern Era. Literature is
  presented within the larger context of the
  history, culture and philosophy of each time
  period in order to expose students to the various
  influences that shaped the styles, themes and
  genres of great literature throughout the world.
  Students are expected to be able to work
  independently, to think critically and
  analytically and to have solid reading and
  writing skills. Throughout the course, students
  will study excerpts of works such as the Iliad,
  The Song of Roland, Don Quixote, Gulliver's
  Travels, Romantic poetry (including Hugo and
  Wordsworth), Realist short stories (such as
  Tolstoy and De Maupassant) and contemporary short
  stories (such as Allende and Tan). In addition
  to textual excerpts, students will also read 2
  dramas such as Antigone and Julius Caesar or
  Merchant of Venice, as well as The Old Man and
  the Sea, Candide and East of Eden.

22
Student Responsibilities

• In addition to literary study, students will
  complete a minimum of four processed writing
  assignments. Composition work focuses on
  literary analysis and expository and persuasive
  writing techniques. The capstone writing
  assignment is a research paper.
• 1. Readings
• a. 5 assigned novels/dramas
• b. Textual excerpts
•  
• 2. Papers/ Projects
• a. Essays 4 processed essays
• b. Timed in class essays
• c. Literary Terms portfolio
• d. Group project research and group
  discussion
•  
• 3. Exams
• a. "Time Period" tests
• b. Assigned novel/drama tests
• c. Cumulative final exam

23
Course Descriptions!

• British Literature And Composition

24
Introduction

• This course is designed for college bound
  juniors and seniors. It is also a recommended
  course for students working on the AP track in
  English.
• British Literature and Composition is
  intended to introduce students to a survey of
  literature beginning with the Middle Ages and
  ending with the Modern era. Literature is
  presented within the larger context of the
  history, culture, and philosophy of each time
  period in order to expose students to the various
  influences which shaped the styles, themes and
  genres of great British literature. Students
  will study excerpts of works such as Beowulf, The
  Canterbury Tales, Renaissance sonnets (including
  Shakespeare, Spenser, and Donne), The Rape of the
  Lock, Romantic poetry (including Wordsworth,
  Coleridge, and Keats), The Lady of Shallot and
  Dubliners. In addition to textual excerpts,
  students will also read 4 full length works such
  as Macbeth, Frankenstein, A Tale of Two Cities
  and 1984.

25
Student Responsibilities

• In addition to literary study, students will
  complete a minimum of four writing assignments.
  Composition work focuses on literary analysis and
  expository and persuasive writing techniques.
• 1. Readings
• a. 4 assigned novels/dramas
• b. Textual excerpts
• 2. Papers/Projects
• a. Essays 2-3 literary analysis
• b. Essays 1-2 persuasive
• c. Group project introducing a novel and
  leading a group discussion
• d. Literary Terms Portfolio
•  
• 3. Exams
• a. "Time Period" tests
• b. Assigned novel/drama tests
• c. Cumulative final exam

26
Course Descriptions!

• Technical Reading And Writing

27
Introduction

• Technical Reading and Writing is a nine week
  course that allows students to practice the
  specialized writing that will be required in
  various trade and technical positions.
• Students will learn the basic requirements
  for the most common documents, such as procedure
  and reference manuals, proposals, and reports.
• The textbook used in this course is
  Successful Technical Writing Documentation for
  Business and Industry by Bill Wesley Brown

28
Tasks And Applications

• List Of Tasks
• Declaration of Specialization
• Create A Corporate Image
• Textbook Evaluation
• Literature Search and Rescue
• Glossary Task
• Field Study
• Proposal Task
• Descriptive Owner's Manual Task
• Feasibility Study
• Final Resume

• List Of Applications
• Kodak Imaging
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Publisher
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Internet Explorer
• BlockCAD
• PSD Library Catalog System
• Simeon

29
Course Descriptions!

• Forensics

30
Are you

• ü      Smart?
• ü      Funny?
• ü      Charismatic? ü      Witty?
• ü      Articulate?
• ü      Dramatic?
• ü      Opinionated?
• Intellectual?

(No dead bodies, we promise!!!)
31
If you answered yes to any or all of the above

• then you are a likely candidate for the RMHS
  Forensics (Speech and Debate) Program. At Rocky,
  our Forensics Program has two different elements
  The team and the classes. You may take a class
  without joining the team and vice versa.

32
Here are the options

• The Team
• Argumentation and Debate
• Advanced Speech

33
The Team

• There has never been a more exciting time to be
  part of the RMHS Forensics Team! We have
  experienced unprecedented success both as
  individuals and as a team during the 2004-05
  season- and were still going strong! The team
  travels to tournaments on Saturdays to compete
  against other high schools from all over the
  state (and sometimes beyond) in Policy Debate,
  Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Public Forum Debate,
  Original Oratory, Student Congress,
  Extemporaneous Speaking and Oral Interpretation
  (Humor, Duo, Drama, and Poetry). Practices are
  scheduled after school.
•  

34
Argumentation and Debate

• During this course, different types of
  argumentation will be discussed as they apply to
  various persuasive situations. Policy,
  Lincoln-Douglas, and legislative debate
  techniques will be introduced and skills in
  analysis, organization, and refutation will be
  stressed. This class is recommended for any
  student interested in consistently winning
  arguments with parents/teachers/friends/siblings/t
  hat annoying next-door neighboretc. Its
  offered first term only. Strongly recommended
  for prospective debaters!

35
Advanced Speech

• This course is a continuation of Basic Speech
  (prerequisite) with emphasis on persuasion, oral
  interpretation, oratory, and interpersonal
  communication skills. Thespians will love this
  class! This class is offered 2nd term only.
  Strongly recommended for prospective eventers!

36
Questions??? Contact Paul DeMaret (coach and
teacher) at pdemaret_at_psdschools.org
37
Course Descriptions!

• For more information about Pacesetter English