English / Language Arts Academic Courses
English / Language Arts Academic Courses
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4 credits are required for graduation
Grade 9 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12 1 credit 1 credit 1 credit 1 credit English 9 English 10 English 11 English 12 Honors English 9 Honors English 10 Honors English 11 Honors Seminar in Grade 12 English 10: AP Seminar English Introduction to Academic Writing – UConn ECE Seminar and Studio in Academic Writing and Multimodal Composition – UConn ECE AP English Language and Composition AP English Literature and Composition Seminar in American Studies – UConn ECE -
English 9 (EN110), Honors English 9* (EN111) (1 credit)
(NCAA Approved Course) See Section XV for Honors/Advanced Level Selection Criteria
The English 9 curriculum is CT Core State Standards-based and aligned with an emphasis on analytical reading and writing across genres. Students will explore four conceptually based units of study to develop their analytic and critical thinking skills and strengthen their voices as speakers and writers.
By the end of the course, students should be able to effectively engage with and respond to the multi-modal text by interpreting, connecting with, and critically evaluating diverse works by supporting their positions with relevant textual evidence and elaborate explanations.
An emphasis on argumentation will require students to evaluate academic sources, synthesize information, and properly cite these sources using MLA standards.
English 10 (EN210), Honors English 10* (EN211) (1 credit)
(NCAA Approved Course) See Section XV for Honors/Advanced Level Selection Criteria
The English 10 curriculum is CT Core State Standards-based and aligned with an emphasis on analytical reading and writing across genres. Students will explore four conceptually based units of study to develop their analytic and critical thinking skills and strengthen their voices as speakers and writers.
The course will require students to evaluate academic sources, synthesize information, and properly cite these sources using MLA standards.
By the end of the course, students will be able to effectively engage with and respond to a range of multi-modal texts by interpreting, connecting with, and critically evaluating diverse works. They will also be able to support their positions with relevant textual evidence and increasingly sophisticated explanations.
Students will be encouraged to develop their own ideas, draw their own conclusions, and express their viewpoints using their own unique voices.
English 10: AP Seminar (EN250) (1 credit)
(NCAA Approved Course)
This English course is taught in the AP Seminar style. English 10: AP Seminar builds foundational writing, collaboration, research, and presentation skills for future success in high school, college, and career.
The project-based learning model builds relevant skills including investigating topics, conducting research, and presenting. Students will work in teams to investigate a real-world or academic problem and present an argument for their proposed solution.
English 11 (EN310), Honors English 11* (EN311) (1 credit)
(NCAA Approved Course) See Section XV for Honors/Advanced Level Selection Criteria
The English 11 curriculum is CT Core State Standards-based and aligned with an emphasis on analytical reading and writing across genres. Students will explore four conceptually based units of study to develop their analytic and critical thinking skills and strengthen their voices as speakers and writers.
By the end of the course, students will be able to effectively engage with and respond to a range of multi-modal texts by interpreting, connecting with, and critically evaluating diverse works, as well as supporting their positions with relevant textual evidence and elaborate explanations with a high level of sophistication.
Students will also acquire the habits of reading independently and closely, which are essential to their future success in college, career, and life.
The course will require students to evaluate academic sources, synthesize information, and properly cite these sources using MLA standards.
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Senior Seminars provide 12th-grade students with an in-depth experience with a topic of their choosing in the field of English/Language Arts.
Schools may offer up to six of the following courses for students to choose from in making their Senior Seminar selection.
Seniors who are enrolled in a UConn ECE English course or a College-Career Pathways Community College English course do not have to take a Senior Seminar.
Seminar in Grade 12 English (EN440) (1 credit)
(NCAA Approved Course)
This seminar prepares students for college and career readiness in the setting of a workshop classroom through the development of creative intellectual inquiries through engagement with texts, ideas, and problems.
Development of the ability to interpret the meaning of fiction and nonfiction works by using different critical and analytic techniques will be a focus of this course.
Students will explore American literary topics in greater depth and participate in a rich variety of project-based activities directed toward improving written and oral communication skills.
Honors Seminar in Grade 12 English (EN441) (1 credit)
(NCAA Approved Course) See Section XV for Honors/Advanced Level Selection Criteria
Honors Seminar in Grade 12 English is an accelerated course for independently motivated readers and writers who have clearly demonstrated strong language arts ability.
Students will develop their creative intellectual inquiry through engagement with fiction and nonfiction texts, ideas, and problems.
Improvement of effective critical and analytic techniques will be a focus of this course.
Students will explore American literary topics in greater depth and participate in a rich variety of project-based activities directed toward improving written and oral communication skills.
Creative and Nonfiction Writing (EN450) (1 credit)
(NCAA Approved Course)
This seminar will provide a multi-genre introduction to the craft of creative and nonfiction writing.
In the setting of a writing workshop classroom, students will examine literary conventions, as well as the writing techniques and tools essential to effective writing, editing, and communication.
Students will read and write across genres.
Communication skills will be a key component of the course, as sharing work and responding to the work of other students is essential to the workshop process.
Students will complete the course by compiling a portfolio with a minimum of four major pieces of finished writing, including a fictional short story, a personal narrative/memoir, an interview-based narrative, and a creative project.
Honors Creative and Nonfiction Writing (EN451) (1 credit)
(NCAA Approved Course) See Section XV for Honors/Advanced Level Selection Criteria
Honors Creative and Nonfiction Writing is an accelerated course for independently motivated readers and writers who have clearly demonstrated strong language arts ability.
Students who select this class must be able to employ accurate grammatical conventions, logical organization, and a sophisticated vocabulary in their writing.
The focus of the course is to help students write effectively in different forms (narrative, descriptive, expository, analytical, and argumentative), for different purposes and audiences.
Students will improve and incorporate rhetorical strategies into their own writing.
The course will require students to evaluate academic sources, synthesize information, and properly cite these sources using MLA standards.
Mythology, Science Fiction, and Fantasy Literature (EN454) (1 credit)
(NCAA Approved Course)
This seminar will explore the themes central to the creative literary subgenres of myth, legend, science fiction, fantasy, and gothic.
Students will read various classics and modern works.
Critical thinking, essay writing, researching, and speaking skills will be emphasized.
Honors Mythology, Science Fiction, and Fantasy Literature (EN455) (1 credit)
(NCAA Approved Course) See Section XV for Honors/Advanced Level Selection Criteria
Honors Mythology, Science Fiction, and Fantasy Literature is an accelerated course for independently motivated readers and writers who have clearly demonstrated strong language arts ability.
Students will read various pieces of literature that explore the realms of mythology, science fiction, and fantasy; these will include classics and modern works.
Students will question the characteristics of the genre and address concerns, themes, and motifs that arise from reading the texts.
The course will ultimately answer the question, "How are mythology, science fiction, and fantasy writing distinctive?"
The literature will allow students to understand the appeal of this genre and to become better problem solvers by stretching the mind to new possibilities.
By the end of the course, students will be encouraged to create a publishable work of mythology, science fiction, fantasy, or gothic.
Critical thinking, essay writing, researching, and speaking skills will be emphasized.
Advanced Composition, News and Media (EN458) (1 credit)
(NCAA Approved Course)
This seminar introduces students to the fundamentals of advertising, marketing, journalism, and the 24-hour news cycle.
Students will learn about the tools and media used to communicate with the public; the role of newspapers, magazines, movies, radio, internet, social media, and television; how advertisements do more than entertain and sell more than just products; and the importance of persuasive communication in a rapidly evolving media environment.
Students will write original stories and reports and learn how to use digital tools for storytelling and reporting.
Students will also engage in critical, cultural, and historical analysis of a wide variety of media, including advertisements and news stories.
Close reading, critical thinking, essay writing, researching, and speaking skills will be emphasized.
Honors Advanced Composition, News and Media (EN459) (1 credit)
(NCAA Approved Course) See Section XV for Honors/Advanced Level Selection Criteria
Honors Advanced Composition, News and Media advances student knowledge of advertising, marketing, journalism, and the 24-hour news cycle.
Students will analyze and evaluate tools and media used to communicate with the public; the role of newspapers, magazines, movies, radio, internet, social media, and television; how advertisements do more than entertain and sell more than just products; and the importance of persuasive communication in a rapidly evolving media environment.
Students will write original stories and reports and learn how to use digital tools for storytelling and reporting.
Students will also engage in critical, cultural, and historical analysis of a wide variety of media, including advertisements and news stories.
Students will produce and curate original stories and reports and use digital tools to create a school-based production.
Close reading, critical thinking, essay writing, researching, and listening/speaking skills will be emphasized.