Language Arts – High School Syllabi

Language Arts Sequence

The following Language Arts diagram illustrates the possible course sequences of students as they move from grade 9 to 12.

  • 9th Grade Language Arts / 9th Grade Language Arts Honors
  • 10th Grade Language Arts / 10th Grade Language Arts Honors
  • 11th Grade Language Arts / 11th Grade Language Arts Honors
  • 12th Grade Electives

9th Grade: Emphasis on World Literature, Multicultural and Alaskan Literature

10th Grade: Emphasis on World Literature Mythology

11th Grade: Emphasis on American Literature

English Literature & Composition-12

English Language Arts 12 is a year round course that is divided into two separate courses. The first semester is College Preparatory Language Artsand is designed to prepare students for post-secondary writing, research, and reading experiences. This section of the course will primarily focus on improving the students reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. During the first semester, students will read expository text. The writing portion of the course will cover analytical and work place writing. In addition to reading and writing, the course will focus on research skills, grammar, vocabulary development, spelling, and writing mechanics. The second semester is British Literature. This course is an overview of the literature of England from Anglo-Saxon to contemporary times. During this semester the students will read and analyze a variety of literary works that will encompass all genres of British literature.

The course will be aligned to the Alaska State Standards for English Language Arts.Students will:

  • Write a coherent composition with a thesis statement that is supported with evidence, well-developed paragraphs, transitions, and a conclusion.
  • Demonstrate understanding of elements of discourse (purpose, speaker, audience, form) when completing expressive (creative, narrative, descriptive), persuasive, research-based, informational, or analytic writing assignments.
  • Use the conventions of standard English independently and consistently including grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, spelling, and usage.
  • Cite sources of information using a standard method of documentation.
  • Apply knowledge of syntax, roots, and word origins, and use context clues and references materials to determine the meaning of new words and to comprehend text.
  • Summarize information or ideas from a text and make connections between summarized information or sets of ideas and related topics or information.
  • Identify and assess the validity, accuracy, and adequacy of evidence that supports an author’s main ideas.
  • Critique the power, logic, reasonableness, and audience appeal of arguments advanced in public documents.
  • Read and follow multi-step directions to complete complex tasks.
  • Analyze the rules (conventions) of the four genres of fiction (short story, drama, novel and poetry) and the techniques used in these genres, and evaluate the effects of these conventions and techniques on the audience.
  • Analyze and evaluate how authors use narrative elements and tone in fiction for specific purposes.
  • Express and support assertions, with evidence from the text or experience, about the effectiveness of a text.
  • Analyze and evaluate themes across a variety of texts, using textual and experiential evidence.
  • Analyze the effects cultural and historical influences on texts.

Advanced Placement English

Advanced Placement English is a senior level course designed to engage college-bound students in the careful reading and critical analysis of classic and contemporary literature from the world over. Through active reading of a rigorous selection of works, students will deepen their understanding of the ways writers use language to provide meaning and pleasure for readers. Writing assignments focus on the critical analysis of literature, including expository, analytical, and argumentative essays. Writing is intended to help develop coherence, unity, precision, structure, and stylistic maturity. Additionally, students will prepare for the Advance Placement English exam. It is expected that by the end of this course, student will be able to draw on their reading and writing experienced in order to satisfactorily complete both the multiple-choice and essay portions of the exam. Depending on institutional policies, students who successfully complete the Advanced Placement Exam may earn college credit.

The course will be aligned to the Alaska State Standards for English Language Arts. Students will:

  • Apply knowledge of syntax, roots, and word origins, and use context clues and references materials to determine the meaning of new words and to comprehend text.
  • Summarize information or ideas from a text and make connections between summarized information or sets of ideas and related topics or information.
  • Identify and assess the validity, accuracy, and adequacy of evidence that supports an author’s main ideas.
  • Critique the power, logic, reasonableness, and audience appeal of arguments advanced in public documents.
  • Read and follow multi-step directions to complete complex tasks.
  • Analyze the rules (conventions) of the four genres of fiction (short story, drama, novel and poetry) and the techniques used in these genres, and evaluate the effects of these conventions and techniques on the audience.
  • Analyze and evaluate how authors use narrative elements and tone in fiction for specific purposes.
  • Express and support assertions, with evidence from the text or experience, about the effectiveness of a text.
  • Analyze and evaluate themes across a variety of texts, using textual and experiential evidence.
  • Analyze the effects cultural and historical influences on texts.

Fiction

Fiction is a semester course which will teach a variety of styles of fiction. Students will analyze and respond to the literature.

The course will be aligned to the Alaska State Standards for English Language Arts

  • A student should be able to speak and write well for a variety of purposes and audiences.
  • A student should be a competent and thoughtful reader, listener, and viewer of literature, technical materials, and a variety of other information.
  • A student should be able to identify and select from multiple strategies in order to complete projects independently and cooperatively.
  • A student should be able to think logically and reflectively ion order to present and explain positions based on relevant and reliable information.
  • A student should understand and respect the perspectives of others in order to communicate effectively.

Students will:

  • Critically read literature.
  • Understand the basic techniques of the various genres.
  • Understand the importance of characterizations.
  • Explore authors’ styles.
  • Understand literary elements.
  • Improve vocabulary skills.
  • Write literary analysis or response journals.
  • Respond orally to literature.
  • Complete projects related to the literature.

Creative Writing

Creative writing is a semester course which will expose students to numerous examples of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction in order to prepare students to write in these forms. This course encourages experimentation which will lead to students’ refining and revising their work for publication.

The course will be aligned to the Alaska State Standards for English Language Arts.

  • A student should be able to speak and write well for a variety of purposes and audiences.
  • A student should be a competent and thoughtful reader, listener, and viewer of literature, technical materials, and a variety of other information.
  • A student should be able to identify and select from multiple strategies in order to complete projects independently and cooperatively.
  • A student should be able to think logically and reflectively ion order to present and explain positions based on relevant and reliable information.
  • A student should understand and respect the perspectives of others in order to communicate effectively.

Students will:

  • Write within a wide range of genres.
  • Create numerous drafts of each piece in order to engage in the writing process.
  • Understand elements of evaluation within each genre.
  • Critique writing.
  • Participate in writer’s workshops in order to improve writing.
  • Read texts to understand how a writer writes.

Language Arts 11th Grade

English Language Arts 11 is a year long course with am emphasis on American Literature. This course is a survey of American writers from the colonial period to the present. It will examine American culture and character through prose, poetry, and drama. It will continue the development of critical thinking, research skills, and will expand upon the skills learned in Language Arts 10.

The course will be aligned to the Alaska State Standards for English Language Arts.Students will:

  • Write a coherent composition with a thesis statement that is supported with evidence, well-developed paragraphs, transitions, and a conclusion.
  • Demonstrate understanding of elements of discourse (purpose, speaker, audience, form) when completing expressive (creative, narrative, descriptive), persuasive, research-based, informational, or analytic writing assignments.
  • Use the conventions of standard English independently and consistently including grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, spelling, and usage.
  • Revise writing to improve style, word choice, sentence variety, and subtlety of meaning in relation to the purpose and audience.
  • Apply knowledge of syntax, roots, and word origins, and use context clues and references materials to determine the meaning of new words and to comprehend text.
  • Summarize information or ideas from a text and make connections between summarized information or sets of ideas and related topics or information.
  • Identify and assess the validity, accuracy, and adequacy of evidence that supports an author’s main ideas.
  • Critique the power, logic, reasonableness, and audience appeal of arguments advanced in public documents.
  • Read and follow multi-step directions to complete complex tasks.
  • Analyze the rules (conventions) of the four genres of fiction (short story, drama, novel and poetry) and the techniques used in these genres, and evaluate the effects of these conventions and techniques on the audience.
  • Analyze and evaluate how authors use narrative elements and tone in fiction for specific purposes.
  • Express and support assertions, with evidence from the text or experience, about the effectiveness of a text.
  • Analyze and evaluate themes across a variety of texts, using textual and experiential evidence.
  • Analyze the effects cultural and historical influences on texts.

Language Arts 11 Honors

This American Literature class is preparatory for Advanced Placement English, and is for college bound students with superior work habits and a willingness to be intellectually challenged. This course incorporates the study of literature in relation to American History. It also incorporates speech, research, critical thinking, and diverse writing situations including, general and specific themes, timed-essays, critical analysis and a research project. Further, this course involves an in-depth study of short story, novel, drama, and poetry. Students write short essays in relation to the literature studied and pass objectives and essay exams.

The course will be aligned to the Alaska State Standards for English Language Arts. 

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