High School Planning Worksheet

9th Grade

English (1 year)

Eng 9 or Eng 9 Fund. or

Hon Eng 9

10th Grade

English (1 year)

Eng 10 or Hon Eng 10

Math (1 year) Math (1 year)

Science (1 year)

Conceptual Physics or Hon Conceptual Physics or AP Physics 1

Religion 9 (1 year)

World Cultures: Humanity, Revelations and the World

PE/Health (1 year)

PE 9 and Health

Science (1 year)

Biology or Honors Biology

Religion 10 (1 year)

The Mission of Jesus

11th Grade 12th Grade

English (1 year)

Eng 11 or AP Eng Lang or

AP Eng Lit

Math (1 year)

Science (1 year)

Chemistry or Honors Chemistry

Religion 11 (1 year)

Life in Christ or

Life in Christ - CML emphasis

English (1 year) Eng 12 or AP Eng Lang or AP Eng Lit

Math (1 year)

Science (1 year)

Elective (1 year)

Religion 12 (1 year)

Soc Jus Pub Policy or Intro to Catholic Social Teaching and Religious Studies elective

World Language or Elective

Elective

Social Studies (1 year)

World History or AP World History

Elective

Social Studies (1 year)

US History or AP US History

Elective

Social Studies (1 year)

AP Amer Gov or Soc Jus Pub Policy or Amer Gov and elective

Elective

Elective

Elective

Elective

In addition to the subject areas shown in the grid, students are required to take the following courses:

• 2 semesters of PE elective taken any time in grades 10, 11 or 12; EC offers a PE alternate pathway to meet the PE requirement. Please see your counselor for eligibility requirements and additional information.

• 2 years of a World Language (must be earned in the same language)

• 2 years of art (minimum of 1 year of visual and/or performing arts) taken any time during high school

High school students can choose from a variety of English offerings at Eastside Catholic. The purpose of the Eastside Catholic English Department is to refine critical reading/thinking, promote global awareness and foster personal growth through challenging and innovative strategies. We emphasize the importance of the written and verbal communication skills required for success in and beyond education. College-prep and honors courses are available for 9th and 10th grade; in 11th and 12th grade, students may select between college-prep and Advanced Placement courses, with teacher recommendation and guidance. Unless otherwise specified, classes do not require summer reading.

GRADES 9 - 12

English 9

Grade level(s): 9

Length/credit: full year/two English credits

Prerequisite(s): none

Other information: about 1-2 hours of homework/reading per week

English 9 provides an academic foundation in writing and critical thinking that prepares students for other subjects and future endeavors. In this course, students read, analyze, discuss and write about literature from various genres focusing on the theme of the individual in relation to society. English 9 develops and extends students’ writing skills, from composing effective sentences and paragraphs to organizing and focusing essays.

English 9 Fundamentals

Grade level(s): 9

Length/credit: full year/two English credits

Prerequisite(s): placement by teacher recommendation

Other information: about 1 hour of homework/reading per week

English 9 Fundamentals provides an academic foundation in writing and critical thinking that prepares students for success in future high school and college English courses. This course is designed to give students more personal attention and support to develop their reading and writing skills. The course will teach, review, and revisit fundamental reading and writing strategies as well as comprehension skills while also working on grade-level standards and preparing students for success in English 10. Ultimately, students who take this course recognize an academic need for additional time and assistance with reading, writing, and conversing about literature.

Honors English 9

Grade level(s): 9

Length/credit: full year/two English credits

Prerequisite(s): none

Other information: about 2-3 hours of homework/reading per week

Honors English 9 provides an academic foundation in writing and critical thinking that prepares students for other subjects and future endeavors. In this course, students read, analyze, discuss and write about literature from various genres focusing on the theme of the individual in relation to society. Honors English 9 develops and extends students’ writing skills, from composing effective sentences and paragraphs to organizing and focusing essays. Students who take the honors level course will read in greater depth which will assist in writing more sophisticated and nuanced essays. Students will be expected to work independently more often and to take responsibility for their own academic success. For these reasons, students who demonstrate a genuine commitment to learning and appreciation for literature will benefit from this advanced program of study.

English 10

Grade level(s): 10

Length/credit: full year/two English credits

Prerequisite(s): none

Other information: about 1-2 hours of homework/reading per week

In this course, 10th grade students will continue to develop critical reading, effective writing and persuasive argumentation skills. Students will examine a variety of texts and media from multiple cultures around the world and study universal themes. Course expectations include understanding diversity of “voice,” participating in thoughtful analysis and demonstrating respect for alternate perspectives. Students will also read complex texts, research cultural and historical context and evaluate authors’ use of stylistic devices to affect reader emotion and understanding. Multiple assignments of informal, semiformal and formal writing with MLA (Modern Language Association) citation of evidence are covered in this course.

Honors English 10

Grade level(s): 10

Length/credit: full year/two English credits

Prerequisite(s): none

Other information: about 2-3 hours of homework/reading per week

In this course, 10th grade students will continue to develop critical reading, effective writing, and persuasive argumentation skills. Students will examine various texts and media from multiple cultures worldwide and study universal themes. Course expectations include understanding the diversity of “voice,” participating in thoughtful analysis and demonstrating respect for alternate perspectives. Students will also read complex texts, research cultural and historical context and evaluate authors’ use of stylistic devices to affect reader emotion and understanding. Multiple assignments of informal, semiformal and formal writing with MLA (Modern Language Association) citation of evidence are covered in this course. Students who take the honors level course will read more deeply and discuss in greater depth which will assist in writing more sophisticated and nuanced essays. Students will be expected to work independently more often and take responsibility for their academic success. For these reasons, students who demonstrate a genuine commitment to learning and appreciation for literature will benefit from this advanced program of study.

English 11

Grade level(s): 11

Length/credit: full year/two English credits

Prerequisite(s): none

Other information: this course is required for students not taking AP Literature and Composition or AP Language and Composition; about 1-2 hours of homework/reading per week

Students will study and analyze diverse literature of the United States ranging from early representations of stories to communication through contemporary media. In this course, students address the question: What is the relationship between the ideals of a culture and the lived experience of its members?

The themes, ideas and challenges of the American experience are reflected through the fiction, nonfiction, essays, poetry and drama of varied U.S. authors from differing backgrounds. In addition to writing analytical expository and persuasive essays, students research, present and write creatively. Reflective reading, interpreting stylistic devices and structure, analyzing bias and propaganda and using effective argumentation are significant to this course.

English 12

Grade level(s): 12

Length/credit: full year/two English credits

Prerequisite(s): none

Other information: this course is required for students not taking AP Literature and Composition or AP Language and Composition; approximately 1-2 hours of homework/reading per week

In this year-long course, students prepare for the expectations of college-level writing, reading and literary analysis. Students will practice analytical reading strategies and write a variety of essays in multiple genres. Time will be spent examining successful models of varied writing styles and students will practice the writing process and work to enhance skills in self- and peer-editing.

AP English Language and Composition

Grade level(s): 11, 12; grade 10 with teacher recommendation and application

Length/credit: full year/two English credits

Prerequisite(s): none

Other information: this course has summer reading assignments; about 2-5 hours of homework/reading per week; AP exam required

This writing course for juniors and seniors replicates an introductory first-year college composition class. Its purpose is to enable students to read complex texts with understanding and write prose of sufficient richness and complexity to communicate effectively with mature and sophisticated readers. The course reflects the goals stated in the College Board course description for AP English Language and Composition: to engage students in becoming skilled readers of prose in a variety of rhetorical contexts and in becoming skilled writers who compose for a variety of purposes. The reading and writing activities in AP Language and Composition intend to make students aware of the interactions among a writer’s intentions, audience expectations and subjects, and how genre conventions and language resources contribute to effectiveness in writing.

Most texts in this course will be nonfiction: essays, newspaper articles and editorials, primary source documents, political cartoons and memoirs. Students who enroll in this course are expected to take the AP English Language and Composition exam in the spring.

AP English Literature and Composition

Grade level(s): 11, 12; grade 10 with teacher recommendation and application

Length/credit: full year/two English credits

Prerequisite(s): none

Other information: this course has summer reading assignments; approximately 4-5 hours of homework/reading per week; AP exam required

This year-long course allows students to participate in a college freshman-level English course within the high school. Reading selections are sophisticated and include novels, essays, poetry and drama from British and American literature. Students will further develop their ability to analyze written text, identify authors’ literary techniques and their effect on the reader, and construct an analytical response to a text within a short time.

This course prepares students for the multiple-choice and essay components of the mandatory AP English Literature and Composition exam in the spring. Students who enroll in this course should know basic grammar and anticipate the need for substantial independent reading.