English Course Guide
- Madilyn Brus
- 55 minutes ago
- 7 min read
College dual enrollment courses are marked with a *
This class is 100% worth the work, and I completely recommend it for students who love to read and those who wish to understand the human condition from different unattainable perspectives. - On Lit 101
English I and II/Honors English I and II:
Teachers:
English I: Heather Whan, LeeAnn Webb,
English II: Addie Craig, Sarah Grimesey, Olivia Solbrig
Honors English I: Emily Hintze, Olivia Solbrig
Honors English II: Olivia Solbrig, Emily Hintze
English I and English II are required courses for freshmen and sophomores, with honors courses geared toward students who work more quickly and need less guidance on assignments and deadlines. While it can seem unimportant and easy to disregard, these classes are the foundation for your high school career. They can make or break your lead into composition as well as your understanding of basic essay format and analysis of literature. Even if your interest is not in comp, take these years of Language Arts seriously, as they give you the necessary skills for English courses moving forward.
Literature in Theatre:
Teachers: Emily Hintze
Literature in Theatre is an awesome introduction to watching and analysing plays. This course is offered once every other year and typically taken during one’s junior or senior year. This class is so underrated, and the minimum number of enrolled students is scarcely met every year. This class is typically small, meaning that interpersonal connections are made easily and conversation about the syllabus flows smoothly. A fun part of this course is watching plays and televised productions of plays. The teacher, Mrs Hintze, believes that plays are meant to be watched, and I agree. It is so much easier to understand the dialogue and feelings of the characters when watching it in real time. If you enjoy plays, analyzing literature, synthesizing arguments in a setting of conversation rather than an essay, and a slow start to your morning, Literature in Theatre is the course for you. You do not have to be a “theatre kid” to enjoy it.
Creative Writing:
Teachers: Matthew Kilbane
Creative Writing is such a fun introduction to poetry, short stories, and most importantly, the creative process of writing creative literature. Poetry analysis in this class will help you be successful in the dual credit course Lit 101. Creative writing not only offers itself up to your creativity as a writer but also provides a respectful and introspective look into being a critic of your own writing as well as others. Students are encouraged to ask questions, make suggestions, and wonder about the symbolism and meaning behind the author's choices, all while reading classic masterpieces of poetry and short stories alike. Creative writing is the place to be if you feel weighed down by the expectations and syllabus format of regular English courses. Typically, Creative Writing is taken during a student's senior year, but a special request can be made to take it earlier. Hint: it’s worth it.
*ENG 105 and 106:
Teachers: Jennifer Sambdman and Matthew Kilbane
Composition 105 and 106 are awesome classes for learning how to write a really stellar essay. It’s a great introduction to college courses and provides helpful insight as well as constructive criticism on how to make your writing better. Some things need to be said to make them real to students, and Comp is a great place to start getting rid of your poor writing habits. That being said, there is a required level of essay writing format and synthesis that some high school students may not be ready for. That is OK. Comp is not for everyone, but anyone can do it with hard work and an understanding of the dedication it takes to the betterment of their writing. Teachers for this class are required to have their master's degree and definitely have something to teach you, not only in regards to language arts. Comp is usually taken as either a junior or senior, with honors courses being the usual path into taking it in your junior year. Either option is definitely worth the work it takes to get there, and English III can be a stepping stone into doing well in Comp if you work for it. Comp is also great for anyone looking to diminish the credits they need to take during college. Combined with Public Speaking, it can count as the main general education requirement at some four-year colleges. However, if college is not in your future, then taking Comp may not be worth it for you, and it can be a great opportunity to explore some of the one-semester English courses.
English III
Teachers: Heather Whan, Emily Hintze, Sarah Grimesey, Matthew Kilbane
English III is an alternative option to composition and is the typical path of a junior after taking English I and II. Some Honors English students may find that they prefer the English course format, as it covers more literature standards rather than just writing like Comp. English III is a good option for those who are not interested in the rigor required for Composition and are looking to fulfill their English requirements simply. English III is often a choice of those looking to take Comp in their senior year and use it as another year to prepare their writing skills for Comp. Students who do not choose Comp must take English III but can also choose to participate in other English credit courses, such as Literature in Theatre and The Lance, the school newspaper.
The Lance:
Teachers: Matthew Kilbane
The Lance is a student-run newspaper where students are given creative autonomy with the topics they choose to report on. Students learn how to write with a deadline and the workings of a newspaper with roles such as editor. Students also learn multimedia reporting by managing The Lance’s social media. Students are encouraged to write about all topics from world news, local news, art and literature, reviewing, culture, and opinion pieces that make people think. The Lance is a great class for the creative, as well as people looking for experience handling a strict deadline consistently. Students who take this class are usually juniors or seniors, with sophomores able to request an interview for admission into the course.
*Public Speaking:
Teachers: Emily Hintze
Public Speaking is a dual enrollment course with a syllabus entirely surrounding the art of speaking in public, as well as the writing of speeches intended to be given in a professional setting. Combined with ENG 105 and 106, this course can be considered applicable to replace a language arts general education credential in some four-year colleges. Public speaking is a class that will definitely help you prepare for college and is always taken by seniors. Usually, in moderate class sizes, students learn how to overcome stage fright and the curse of procrastination by learning tactics to aid in fluency of speech as well as formatting of speeches to produce successful presentations and results.
Modern Literature:
Teachers: Jennifer Sambdman
Modern Lit is a class I have never gotten the chance to take due to not enough people signing up to take it. However, below is the description of the course per the North Scott High School website that contains information about all courses offered at the high school. The description is, “Young Adult and Modern Literature are the stories that shape generations. This course will explore contemporary voices and themes found in young adult and modern fiction, examining how these works reflect identity, relationships, and the challenges of growing up in today’s world. Students will read and discuss a range of novels and short stories from diverse authors and perspectives. Class writing may include, but is not limited to, literary analysis, personal reflections connecting to the texts, and research into modern social or cultural issues. This course will also include opportunities for creative projects and active discussion.” It sounds like a great introduction to literature without the rigour that LIT 101 contains. Please consider signing up for this course; the course is usually taken by seniors, but could be requested to be taken by juniors.
Hero's Journey:
Teachers: Jennifer Sambdman
Hero's Journey is a look into the classic hero character and provides a place for students to analyze fictional modern and classic texts, nonfiction, as well as watching examples of heroic stories. Hero’s Journey is a great class for juniors or seniors to explore analyzing literature in a low-pressure setting while exercising the skill of critical thinking. Students enjoy the movies watched as well as the casual feel that the Hero’s Journey provides.
*Lit 101: Introduction to Literature
Teachers: Jennifer Sambdman
Lit 101 is an awesome class for students to learn how to analyze social constructs within the context of fictional literature. Lit 101 is a college-level course and does take some effort and understanding of deadlines, as well as upper-level thinking skills. Students are given one semester to master the analysis of short form literature, poetry, and 3 long form literature units. Students must complete a lot of work outside class.
However, the discussion that stems from students all committed to reading the required assignment is completely worth it. Students learn to make connections between the literature and their real-life experiences or lack thereof. This class teaches students to look into the window of perspective that literature provides. This class is 100% worth the work, and I completely recommend it for students who love to read and those who wish to understand the human condition from different unattainable perspectives.
English IV
Teachers: Jennifer Sambdman, Sarah Grimesey
English IV is an alternative to taking two semester-length courses or Composition in your senior year. It is a great choice for students who are not looking for rigorous work and whose values lie in completing their credits. Not everyone is interested in the level of commitment that Comp requires, and English IV is an option for those who do not have an interest in some upper-level courses. Students are still preparing for college and learning the writing processes that will help with their continued education. Students are still required to write essays, and an emphasis on the process and format of formal MLA essays is taught. Do not think you have to take Comp to further your understanding of the writing process. English IV is a great option that will prepare you as well, without the pressure that comes with dual enrollment and increased expectations.
