PTHS Curriculum Guide 2021-2022

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ENGLISH

ENGLISH ESSENTIALS (160, 161) Class Level: 9

Credit: 1 Prerequisite: Departmental Placement Reading skills are the emphasis of this course through a focus on six comprehension strategies: predicting, summarizing, connecting, questioning, inferring, and imaging. Students will apply these techniques to fiction as well as nonfiction texts. Acknowledging the inherent connection between reading and writing, this course also focuses on basic components of the English language, providing students with opportunities to practice and improve writing skills through a variety of modes. ENGLISH I (100, 101) Class Level: 9 Credit: 1 Prerequisite: None This course is an integrated study of literature and composition. Emphasis will be given to the basic literary forms: short story, novel, drama, poetry, and non-fiction. This course, while emphasizing literary vocabulary and analysis of form and content, ultimately seeks to integrate composition activities into the course. Students will complete several themes and other writing assignments based on the literature studied. RHETORIC I (HONORS) (106, 107) Class Level: 9 Credit: 1 Prerequisite: Departmental Placement This freshman honors composition course introduces the students to the special techniques of writing introductions and conclusions, moving quickly into the drafting of the body of expository papers. Emphasis is placed on theme organization with stress upon unity and coherence in the structure. The course also clarifies and completes rudimentary and secondary aspects of English grammar. This course is also a survey of the various genres of literature: short story, drama, essay, poetry, and the novel. Although students will be expected to give knowledgeable explications of the literature, the major emphasis will be placed upon acquiring and utilizing a sound literary vocabulary in analyzing literary works. ENGLISH II (102, 103) Writing Intensive Course Class Level: 10 Credit: 1 Prerequisite: English I This course is the second year of integrated English studies and continues to provide students with instruction in using strategies and developing necessary skills to become successful readers and critics of literature. In addition, emphasis is placed on writing themes of narration, exposition, and persuasion. Whenever possible, these writing assignments will be completed in conjunction with the literature studied. An introduction to research skills is also included. RHETORIC II (HONORS) (108, 109) Writing Intensive Course Class Level: 10 Credit: 1 Prerequisite: Rhet I (H) This second honors composition course concentrates on theme writing with emphasis on organization, form, and logic. The course is designed to help the student develop clear communication so that his ideas are accurately and logically presented. Vocabulary, expression, style, and clarity are also incorporated as time permits. A detailed analysis of the research process and writing a research paper are also included. Besides surveying American Literature from 1800 through the Modern Period, this course provides an in-depth analysis of the development of the literary tradition. Through the study of the writings and the historical background of each period, students gain an understanding of the intellectual trends and history which lie behind the American literary heritage.

ENGLISH III (116, 117)

Writing Intensive Course

Class Level: 11 Prerequisite: English II This is an intensive course in writing with emphasis on themes, their organization, form, and logic. The course is designed to help students develop clear communication so that their ideas are accurately and precisely presented. A detailed analysis of the research process and writing a research paper are included. Also included in this course is a survey of American literature from 1800 through the modern period. Emphasis is placed on the literature as a product of the culture and time in which it was written. Credit: 1

10