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English Course Descriptions
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ENGLISH 9
Grade 9 - Full Year
- one credit
This course lays the groundwork for students’ high
school English studies by surveying the major
literary genres in detail. Students explore the epic
form (selections from The Odyssey), plays (Romeo and
Juliet and The Glass Menagerie), the novel (The
Giver), poetry, essays, and a variety of short
stories. Extensive vocabulary enrichment is included
with each literary work studied, and grammar and
spelling skills are reviewed through daily oral
language exercises. A major focus of the course is
mastery of effective paragraph format and the
multi-paragraph essay. The narrative essay format is
stressed throughout the freshman year. Formal
research techniques and the research paper format
are also taught, as well as listening, reading
comprehension, and oral presentation skills.
WORLD LITERATURE
Grade 10 - Full
Year - One credit
World Literature is
a chronological survey of literary works from around
the world. The course begins with the earliest known
writings from the Fertile Crescent, then travels
around the world and through the ages to cover
ancient Hebrew, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman
literature. In addition, students study writings
from the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the
Americas. The year concludes with selections from
European literature. Students read excerpts from The
Epic of Gilgamesh, The Iliad, The Aeneid, The Song
of Roland, and The Inferno. Major works covered in
their entirety include Oedipus Rex and The Doll’s
House. Another major focus of the course is
research, with students creating two formal research
papers during the year. Persuasive and expository
essay writing is stressed during the sophomore year.
Throughout the year, grammar, vocabulary, spelling,
and oral and written presentation skills are
practiced and refined.
AMERICAN
LITERATURE
Grade 11 - Full
Year - One credit
Students explore the
development of American literature, beginning with
Native American myths and tales, then continuing
with a study of Colonial writings, and culminating
with contemporary American literature. Significant
literary movements examined include Romanticism,
Transcendentalism, women’s literature, and the
Harlem Renaissance. Major readings include The Great
Gatsby, MacBeth, and The Crucible. Students read,
interpret, question, analyze, and synthesize
writings related to the works studied. In
preparation for the English Regents exam, students
hone skills in listening comprehension, analysis of
technical reading, and recognition and application
of literary devices. Students’ writing in their
junior year concentrates primarily on
compare/contrast and persuasive essays.
ENGLISH 12
Grade 12 - Full
Year - One credit
English 12 includes
much of the same content as British Literature but
at a less demanding pace. Major works studied are
Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, Beowulf, and Hamlet.
Lessons in composition, vocabulary, and grammar are
also studied. Improvement of writing skills is
emphasized. Projects of different sorts are assigned
during the year. Students are required each quarter
to read novels selected from approved reading lists,
and a major research paper is required. As in
British Literature, writing focuses on descriptive
techniques.
ADVANCED
PLACEMENT ENGLISH
Grade 12 - Full
Year - One credit
Advanced Placement
English is a course designed to challenge students’
abilities to analyze literature. Works of recognized
literary merit are examined not only to discover
what an author is saying, but also how he or she
uses literary elements and devices to convey themes.
Among the titles studied are Death of a Salesman,
Heart of Darkness, The Awakening, and Rhinoceros.
Written assignments include in-class and take-home
essays, a major research paper, and oral
presentations. The class is also designed to prepare
students to take the AP exam in May. Students
scoring well enough on the exam may be eligible for
college credit. Check with the Guidance Department
for further information.
BRITISH
LITERATURE
Grade 12 - Full
Year - One credit
A course for the
college-bound senior, British Literature is designed
to expose students to the major literary periods of
English literature, from the Anglo-Saxon era to the
Modern Age. Major readings include Hamlet, Brave New
World, 1984, and excerpts from The Canterbury Tales,
Beowulf, Frankenstein, Gulliver’s Travels, and the
King Arthur legends. Students are required to read,
interpret, analyze, research, and write about the
readings. Discussion focuses on the understanding of
the people and their influence on the literature and
culture of their times. A formal research paper is
required, as are writings throughout the course. A
major focus of the writing component in the senior
year is on descriptive essays.
HONORS COURSES
IN ENGLISH
Grades 9-11 - Full
Year - One credit
Interested and
qualified students are encouraged to challenge
themselves academically by taking honors level
courses in English. In each grade level, these
classes follow the general format of the courses
described above, but offer a greatly enriched
content. Students will read more selections and
delve deeper into the readings in order to gain
greater insights into the works themselves and the
times and cultures that produced them. Writing
instruction moves beyond mere mastery of skills to
the effective application of advanced skills to
create more powerful, descriptive, and persuasive
prose. Oral presentation skills are also emphasized
in the honors level classes.
SUNY ORANGE
FRESHMAN ENGLISH I and FRESHMAN ENGLISH II
For qualifying Juniors
and Seniors; 3 college credits per course
Students pay $30.00
per credit for these college-level courses
(2006-2007). Upon successful completion of each
course, students receive three SUNY Orange credits,
which are transferable to all SUNY schools and most
four-year colleges nationwide. Courses are taught in
evening sessions at Goshen High School. Interested
students should consult the Guidance Office or the
English Department Chairperson for eligibility
requirements.
SUNY ORANGE FRESHMAN ENGLISH
One semester - 1/2
credit This
first course in OCCC’s Freshman English sequence
introduces college-level writing and revision,
construction of expository essays, and research
skills. Class discussion centers on the formal and
informal essay. Several short readings (including
“Harrison Bergeron”, “The Story of an Hour”, “The
Revolt of Mother”, and others) are used to
supplement instruction in various essay formats. A
research essay is required.
SUNY ORANGE FRESHMAN ENGLISH II
One semester - 1/2
credit In
this second course, students learn to read
critically, to organize supporting details, and to
develop coherent oral and written arguments.
Fiction, drama, and poetry are used as common texts.
Among the titles studied are Othello, The Glass
Menagerie, and “Bartleby the Scrivener”. An
analytical research paper is required.
ENGLISH ELECTIVES
COLLEGE
SKILLS/SAT PREP
Grade 11 - One
semester - 1/2 credit
This course is for
students who wish to refine their study skills, time
management, and language use. Approximately one
third of the course is devoted to specific drills on
tasks found on the SAT Verbal tests. The balance of
the course presents reading, writing, and library
skills needed for college success in all
disciplines. There are regular assignments in
reading, writing, and vocabulary building.
JOURNALISM I and
II
Grades 10-12 - One
semester - 1/2 credit
The Journalism
courses constitute a survey of newspaper journalism
with a focus on writing news, sports, feature, and
opinion articles. The overall objectives of the
courses are to develop an appreciation of the power
of the written word, and improve research, writing,
and editing skills. These courses are designed to be
hands-on workshops in which students are actively
involved in the process of researching and writing
stories for the GHS Spectrum, Goshen High School’s
on-line newspaper.
SONG WRITING AND
SONG LYRICS
Grades 10-12 - One
semester - 1/2 credit
This course is
designed to appeal to students who enjoy the study
of poetic forms and styles as well as the writing of
original songs and poems of their own. Students will
review standard poetic devices and techniques and
learn a variety of poetic forms. The class will
analyze and discuss popular song lyrics as poetry
and create song/poem parodies and folk songs.
PUBLIC SPEAKING
Grades 10-12 - One
semester - 1/2 credit
Public Speaking is
a half-year course designed for students to learn
and practice techniques necessary to become
confident and impressive public speakers. The class
requires regular participation and a variety of
presentations. Students will develop the skills to
plan, write, and effectively deliver their own
speeches as the course progresses. Students are
expected to be in front of the class to deliver at
least ten speeches in the course, as well as to
participate in a variety of oral exercises, games,
and activities. Active participation and willingness
to experiment with voice, body language, gestures,
and technique are necessary for success in this
interactive and dynamic course.
SATIRE, PARODY
AND HUMOR
Grades 10-12 - One
semester - 1/2 credit
This course is
designed to sharpen students’ written and oral
communication skills through the powerful force of
humor. The class examines famous satirists and
humorists (Jonathan Swift, Mark Twain, Will Rogers,
Dave Barry), as well as humorous short stories,
plays, and folktales. Students broaden their
knowledge of current events by reading satirical
pieces in newspapers and magazines. They learn to
critique famous works of literature by reading and
writing parodies of these works. Public speaking
skills are enhanced through telling jokes and tall
tales. Students also try their hand at writing humor
by producing satirical essays, stand-up comedic
dialogues, and their own original tall tales.
SCIENCE FICTION
and FANTASY
Grades 10-12 - One
Semester - 1/2 credit
This course is a
survey of classic science fiction and fantasy
concentrating on the short story collections of Ray
Bradbury’s The Illustrated Man and Kurt Vonnegut’s
Welcome to The Monkey House. Students will be
required to read one outside novel and present an
oral report to the class. Topics such as time
travel, space travel, fantastic creatures, and other
worlds will be explored. Films viewed in class will
include War of the Worlds, The Time Machine, Logan’s
Run, Somewhere in Time, and Labyrinth.
SPORTS IN
LITERATURE
Grades 10-12 - Full
Semester - 1/2 credit
This course is
designed to explore the role of sports in literature
and in our lives. The primary focus is on sports
fiction, but naturally the impact of sports and the
athletes we have watched or heard about will blend
into coursework as an important component. Reading
in this course is designed to be pleasurable and
provocative. Writing will be descriptive, critical,
and entertaining. Through the use of sports
literature and other media forms, the primary
objective is to appreciate, examine, and respond to
the world of sport and its relationship to the past
as well as our contemporary society.
THEATER
Grades 10-12
- One semester - 1/2 credit
The focus of this
class is to introduce the student to theater. The
following central questions are addressed: What is
theater? Why did it start and where? How has theater
evolved from its beginnings to the present? How does
theater fit into our lives? How does one understand
and enjoy theater? How is theater made today? The
course also includes insights into the world of
theater acting, directing, and producing. To
reinforce class discussion on this area, students
produce, direct, and act in a one-act play.
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