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CP ENGLISH 9
This course emphasizes critical thinking, critical reading, and analytical writing skills. The selections will include non-fiction, poetry, short stories, and novels. Emphasis will be placed on essay development. Writing conventions such as usage and mechanics will be taught in conjunction with the study of literature and writing. Students can expect a variety of oral and listening activities.
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HONORS ENGLISH 10
This course emphasizes critical thinking, reading, and writing. The focus of the class is close reading and analytical writing about the literature, as well as non-fiction literature. The curriculum is more rigorous than the traditional CP English 10 course; the pace is accelerated and expectations are higher. The course is designated Honors, however, the course is NOT weighted.
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CP ENGLISH 11
This course emphasizes critical thinking, critical reading, and analytical writing skills combined with a study of American literature. The literature selections will include non-fiction writing, poetry, short stories, and novels. Students will write a variety of essay types. Emphasis will be placed on research skills. Students can expect a variety of oral and listening activities. Emphasis will be placed on introduction of skills and presentation of that research.
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AP LANGUAGE & COMPOSITION
This study of rhetoric will foster writing flexibility and skill in a variety of modes, (synthesis, argumentative, and analytical), applicable to subject areas in college and in personal and professional situations. Students will read various complex fictional and nonfictional texts with a focus on comprehension and close analysis and will read such texts additionally as models for their own writing. Much of the reading required for the course is completed at home. Emphasis will be placed on skills necessary to pass the AP English Language and Composition exam. Students are expected to take the AP exam. English Department Recommendation: Grade of B or higher in most recent English course
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IB ENGLISH HL-1, HL-2
The IB English course develops understanding of the techniques involved in literary criticism and promotes the ability to form independent literary judgments. The formal analysis of texts and wide coverage of a variety of literature—both in the language of the subject and in translated texts from other cultural domains—is combined with a study of the way literary conventions shape responses to texts. Students completing this course will have a thorough knowledge of a range of texts and an understanding of other cultural perspectives. They will also have developed skills of analysis and the ability to support an argument in clearly expressed writing, sometimes at significant length. International Baccalaureate courses are open to any Granite Bay High School student. Applicable IB exam and registration fees apply. ALL students enrolled in IB courses are required to complete the entire course and sit for the external exams in May.
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ELD ENGLISH 3
Students in ELD 3 continue to learn and apply a range of high level English language skills, including comprehension and production of highly technical texts. Students leave this class able to communicate effectively with various audiences on a wide range of familiar and new topics to meet academic demands in multiple disciplines.
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COMPETITIVE DEBATE
This class is designed to offer direct instruction in competitive debate. This class will teach students how to express ideas and to defend them under direct challenge, backed by evidence, not by mere conjecture and opinion. Students will learn major philosophical concepts and moral theories and will learn to apply them to the cases they construct and argue. This course is devoted to competition preparation and is structured according to league debate events. Students do extensive research and are required to attend and participate in debates held outside of school hours.
English Department Recommendation: For 10th – 12th graders who have taken a basic speaking course or have successfully completed Competitive Forensics. -
YEARBOOK
Students produce the national award-winning school yearbook Ursus. Students will learn the basics of journalistic writing, graphic design, photography, and the business of publications. Students will become adept at using computer programs such as Adobe InDesign and Photoshop CS6.
English Department Recommendation: Students are encouraged to sign up for both terms, but students who only sign up for one term MUST enroll in Fall. -
ADVANCED JOURNALISM
Designed for general and college preparatory students to produce the school newspaper and school news website. Students write stories, edit copy and headlines, design pages and graphics, take photographs, and sell ads. All students are required to make sales calls in an effort to generate revenue to support the printing of the newspaper and other expenses. Enrollment is limited.
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CP ENGLISH 10
This course emphasizes critical thinking, reading, and writing. The texts include non-fiction and literature. In conjunction with reading, grammar usage and mechanics will be taught to improve writing. Students write a variety of essays, both in class and at home. Research skills are developed in context with writing. Students can also expect a variety of oral and listening activities.
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HONORS ENGLISH 10
Blocked with Advanced Placement European History, this course emphasizes critical thinking, reading, and writing, combined with a study of European literature and history. The focus of the class is close reading and analytical writing of the literature, as well as non-fiction historical literature. This course follows the scope and sequence of the Advanced Placement European History curriculum. Because the curriculum is more rigorous than the traditional CP English 10 course, the pace is accelerated and expectations are higher. The course is designated Honors, however, the course is NOT weighted.
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CP ENGLISH 12
The course focuses on active listening, critical reading, writing, and thinking. It is expected that students have mastered basic reading and writing skills, introduced and reinforced in English 9, 10 and 11. This course will prepare seniors for college level reading and writing.
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AP LITERATURE & COMPOSITION
This is a college-level course in which students will read and write with maturity. Emphasis will be placed on the skills necessary to read and write at the college level as well as to pass the AP Literature and Composition exam. This course requires a high level of motivation due to the reading and writing requirements. Novels, poems, and plays will be required reading for the course.
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ELD ENGLISH 1
Students in ELD 1 learn to use English for immediate needs and begin to understand and use academic vocabulary and other features of academic language. Students enter this class with limited English skills and exit with basic communication skills in social and academic content.
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SDAIE ENGLISH 9-12
SDAIE English is designed for students who require support in developing English language skills. The course previews and reviews content and skills taught in the college-prep English curriculum. Students are provided with additional instruction in English language and learning strategies that will support their success in all courses.
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COMPETITIVE FORENSICS
This class is designed to offer direct instruction in competitive speech and/or drama events. Students who take Competitive Forensics enjoy performing. This course is devoted to competition preparation and is structured according to speaking events officially recognized by the National Forensic League. Students do extensive research and are required to and participate in events held outside of school hours. Placement Recommendation: This course is offered to freshmen through seniors, after successful completion a Basic Speech/Debate course or approval of the instructor.
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JOURNALISM
Introductory course designed to prepare students to work as part of a publication’s staff. The course focuses on the fundamentals of news, feature, sports, and opinion writing, as well as photography, layout/design, and advertising sales/design. There is an emphasis on news gathering and journalistic accuracy. The course is a prerequisite for being on a school publication staff.
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SPEECH AND DEBATE
Designed for college preparatory students with an interest in public speaking, this general survey course includes training in public speaking, debate, communicating more effectively, critical analysis, and constructively evaluating oral communication. Students learn to do effective research, evaluate fact/opinion, and learn to construct speeches that are informative, persuasive and/or entertaining. Students are required to perform for the class as part of their assessments. Placement Recommendation: This course is required of all students who plan to join the Speech/Debate team in the fall. Parent participation required. Course must be taken for entire term for credit.
