English Electives

DOE: 1098

Credit/s: 1

Semester/s: 1

Prerequisites: Grade 12, Pass Academic 12, Instructor Permission

This course is designed for students wishing to continue the development of their writing skills. The course will focus on both audience and purpose as prerequisites for skillful and successful completion of various writing projects. Students will develop a variety of topics from individual interest areas and will be guided to select appropriate modes of development for their topics.

DOE: 1078

Credit/s: 1

Semester/s: 1

Prerequisite/s: Grades 10-12, Pass Speech I, Instructor Permission required

Advanced speech is an elective course designed to give students experience in competitive speaking: drama, humor, impromptu, extemporaneous speaking, literary interpretation, radio broadcasting, and oratory. Students will be required to compete in a minimum of two speech meets, which are held on Saturdays. (*Eligible for College Credit. Not for repeat)

DOE: 1022

Credit/s: 1

Semester/s: 1

Prerequisite/s: None

Biblical Literature is an academic-level course designed to educate students on the literature of the Bible (both the Hebrew Bible, or Old Testament, and the New Testament) and its impact on culture, including literature, history, religion, politics, science, education, art, music, and cinema. In this course students will read (1) portions of the Bible as a primary text, (2) a textbook about the Bible and its impact, and (3) auxiliary texts including novels, short stories, poems and plays with biblical connections. In addition, students will listen to classical and contemporary/popular music, view art, and be exposed to other cultural expressions with biblical connections.

DOE: 1092

Credit/s: 1

Semester/s: 1

Prerequisite/s: Grades 10-12

Creative Writing is for students who like to write and who want to experiment with a variety of creative writing formats such as poetry, the short story, the personal essay, drama, and others. Students will practice techniques of writing, complete major writing assignments, and may keep a writer’s journal. Models of professional writing and examples of strong student writing will be analyzed.

Students will be expected to share their own writing with the group.

DOE: 1070

Credit/s: 1

Semester/s: 1

Prerequisite/s: Grades 10-12, Pass Speech 10, Instructor Permission

Debate is designed to (1) introduce the fundamentals of argumentation, (2) enhance skills of research and citation, (3) provide students with experience in formal, competitive debate. Students will be required to compete in at least one Saturday debate meet.

DOE: 1028

Credit/s: 1

Semester/s: 1

Prerequisite/s: Grade 10-12, Permission of the Instructor

Students will have the opportunity to study 5-6 of Shakespeare’s greatest plays in depth. Students will read comedies, histories, and tragedies by the Bard. In addition to reading the plays, students can expect to complete writing, research, and project assignments and participate in classroom performances of the works studied.

DOE: 1012

Credit/s: 1-4

Semester/s: 1-4

English as a New Language, an integrated English course based on Indiana's English Language Proficiency (ELP) Standards, is the study of language, literature, composition and oral communication for Limited English Proficient (LEP) students so that they improve proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, writing and comprehension of English. Students study English vocabulary used in fiction and content-area texts, speak and write English to function within a school setting and an English-speaking society, and deliver oral presentations appropriate to their respective levels of English proficiency.

DOE: 1032

Credit/s: 1

Semester/s: 1

Prerequisite/s: English 11

Recommended Grade Level: 12

Fulfills an English/Language Arts requirement for all diplomas

Ethnic Literature, a course based on the Indiana Academic Standards for English/Language Arts, is a study of literature focusing on specific multicultural issues produced by writers representing various ethnic cultures. Students examine works exploring ethnic experiences and ideas as well as the contributions of authors to multicultural themes. Students analyze the expressions of cultural identities within ethnic literature and how problems or issues of interest to a given group relates or interconnects with national issues and history. Course can be offered in conjunction with a composition course, or schools may embed Indiana Academic Standards for English/Language Arts writing standards within curriculum.

DOE: 1060

Credit/s: 1

Semester/s: 1

Prerequisite/s: Grade 10-12

(recommended for college bound students)

Etymology is a one-semester course designed to significantly improve the vocabulary of students through the study of Greek and Latin prefixes, roots and suffixes and words derived from these word elements. Instructional emphasis will include comprehension of new roots and new words, appreciation of good usage and precision in choosing the appropriate word for a specific purpose. In addition, this course provides a study of the connotative and denotative meaning of words in a variety of contexts. This course introduces students to tools and resources for etymological study and encourages them to be curious about the English language. This course is a valuable tool to prepare students for the SAT and for those students who might pursue a medical or legal career.

DOE: 1034

Credit/s: 1

Semester/s: 1

Prerequisite/s: Grades 11-12, Permission of the Instructor

Film Literature explores the history, techniques, and art of filmmaking in order to broaden students’ understanding of American culture and their definition of literacy. Additionally, students will do an in-depth examination and analysis of selected films from the silent era to the contemporary age, the course includes a chronological study of film techniques, technological developments, genres, styles, and eras.

DOE: 1036

Credit/s: 1

Semester/s: 1

This class is designed for all ability levels and grades. The teacher and student together will develop a reading profile. The student will select and read books tailored to his/her interests from a variety of genres. All reading will be directed reading with student input and will be reported on in some manner. Students must read one book from each of the four genres (fiction, drama, bio/autobiography, short story/poetry collection), post a written review for books read, and prepare each of the following at least once: a graphic representation, an oral presentation, and a paper of 500+ words in length.

MHS Only

DOE: 0514

Credit/s: 1

Semester/s: 1

Prerequisite/s: Students need to have completed World History or Geography of the World and English 9 & 10

The Holocaust and Contemporary Genocide Studies class will examine the Holocaust and contemporary genocides in depth. Some of the Holocaust units covered are the steps of genocide, the history of antisemitism, the laws created which allowed the Holocaust to happen, societies' roles in genocide, and various perspectives of the Holocaust. Contemporary genocides in Rwanda, Sudan, and Myanmar will also be examined using primary sources such as diaries, documentaries, survivor testimonies, and the latest resources from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Illinois Holocaust Museum, IWitness, the Shoah Foundation, and various nationwide Holocaust centers. Students will learn how to recognize, examine, and analyze threatening behavior that precedes genocide, in addition to learning preventative action that can be taken. This class will empower students to make positive changes within their own communities.

DOE: 1080

Credit/s: 1

Semester/s: 1

Journalism students will learn the basics of journalistic writing: the 5 W’s and H, the lead paragraph, the key thought, and the inverted pyramid. Students will also study editorial cartoons, feature articles, news analysis, editorializing, interviewing techniques, headlines, and layout. At both Harrison and McCutcheon, students who wish to join the newspaper staff are required to take this journalism course first.

DOE: 1010

Credit/s: 1-8

Semester/s: 1-8

Language Arts Lab is a supplemental course that provides students with individualized or small group instruction designed to support success in completing language arts course work aligned with Indiana's Academic Standards for English/Language Arts in Grades 9 –12. This course is used with students in the Success Center.

DOE: 1084

Credit/s: 1

Semester/s: 1

Prerequisite/s: Pass Speech 10, Instructor Permission

Mass Media is an introduction to the world of news production and broadcasting. Students will learn the terminology and “how to” of the daily operation of a television studio by working at the many jobs available in broadcasting. McCutcheon HS concentrates on television production; Harrison HS approaches mass media from the perspective of radio, newspaper, and print as well as television.