ELA Courses
All students must successfully complete English I, English II, English III, and English IV to fulfill graduation requirements. These courses must be taken in sequence and in succession. All required courses include differentiated programs based upon achievement and performance. All courses are designed to meet State Standards for Language Arts and grade level expectations. In addition to the required courses, students may also enrich their language arts experience by enrolling in elective and Advanced Placement courses. Wm Penn High School also offers enrichment courses for those students whose native language is not English.
Required Courses:
English I/English I Honors
9th Grade; 1 Credit
English I is designed to enhance reading comprehension and improve writing skills. The courses focuses on various genres of literature: short story, poetry, drama, non-fiction, and the novel through use of the Holt Elements of Literature 3rd Course. Students will learn specific strategies that will augment their reading skills and help them become more critical readers. Students will develop critical writing skills as they examine and compose persuasive, expository, narrative, and expressive essays. Each unit is based on the Delaware State Standards and all learning objectives come from the Grade Level Expectations.
Through this course, students will obtain the skills necessary to succeed on the DSTP Reading and Writing test, as well as in their entire academic careers and beyond.
Students in English I Honors will be required to complete rigorous summer reading assignments.
English II/English II Honors
10th Grade; 1 Credit
English II is a study of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry using the Holt Elements of Literature 4th Course. The course focuses on reading skills and strategies needed for the DSTP. Composition studies will include persuasive, informative, and expressive pieces. The course also focuses on improving text-based writing skills in preparation of the DSTP. Research components may be incorporated.
Students in English II Honors will be required to complete summer reading assignments.
English III
11th grade; 1 Credit
English III is a study of American literature and its relationship to American History. Students will closely read literary works and analyze the structure imbedded with them. They will examine the historical, social, and political contexts that influenced American literature through the course of time. The central piece of instruction will be the Holt Series-5th Course, supplemented by various novels, plays, poems and essays that are district approved.
English IV
12th grade; 1 Credit
This course focuses on developing a working mastery of basic language competencies, vocabulary, and grade-level writing. Students will trace the changes in attitudes, ideas and styles that have occurred over the past centuries in British and World Literature. Students will develop skills in recalling, interpreting, extending, analyzing, and responding creatively, and logically. Students will engage in a variety of learning tasks such as discussions, role-plays, individual and group presentations, independent research, creative writing, as well as written assignments for various purposes. The central piece of instruction will be the Holt Series Elements of Literature 6th Course, supplemented by various novels, plays, poems and essays that are district approved.
Advanced Placement Courses
Advanced Placement English Language and Composition
11th grade; 1 Credit
This course is comparable to a college level course in Rhetoric and Composition and will prepare students for the Advanced Placement Examination in English Language and Composition. Extensive analyses of predominantly essays and non-fiction pieces, as well as writing numerous essays in various writing modes will be required. An independent project that includes multiple rhetorical analyses and research will be required and will comprise a major portion of the student’s fourth marking period grade. Students are required to complete summer reading assignments that will make up a significant percentage of the 1st marking period grade. Students are required to take the A.P. exam in May.
Prerequisites: English II and teacher recommendation based on performance and portfolio.
Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition
12th grade; 1 Credit
This course is comparable to a college level course in World Literature and will prepare students for the Advanced Placement Examination in English Literature and Composition. Rigorous and extensive analyses of literature and of writing styles will be required. An independent project that includes multiple literary analyses and research will be required and will comprise a major portion of the student’s fourth marking period grade. Students are required to complete summer reading assignments that will make up a significant percentage of the 1st marking period grade.
Prerequisites: English III and teacher recommendation based on performance and portfolio
English Language Learners
English 9A
9th grade;
1 Credit
This course (2 periods) is for ELL students who have high English skills, but do not have Access scores of “3” or better. They are still bridging into regular 9th Grade English. At the beginning of the school year students will be using the Holt Series Adapted Reader, and then switching to use of the regular 9th Grade English text. Students will receive more scaffolding of the text, vocabulary and grammar enrichment, as well as a greater number of writing assignments necessary to help English Language Learners bridge to a 10th grade mainstream English class. Prerequisite: Teacher recommendation and Access Test Scores
English gr 9 for English Language Learners
9th grade;
1 Credit
This course is for English Language learners who have Access scores of two or lower. They do not have the proficiency to mainstream into regular English classes. The text used is the Shining Star Introductory Level, and Shining Star A Level curriculum approved for ELLs by the Colonial School District.
Prerequisite: ELL Status in Middle School and Access Test Scores
English gr10 for English Language Learners
10th grade;
2 credits and double period
This SIOP designed, college prep class is for students who have completed 9th grade Advanced or Beginner English for ELLs. Students in this class will have ACCESS scores that may range from 2.5 to 4.5 overall composite scores. While the students in this class may have the oral English fluency, they may lack comparable reading and writing skills. All assignments will be based on the DE English Standards and all work will be maintained in a portfolio to prove academic proficiency. The course will use the 10th grade HOLT Adapted Reader as the class text and will emphasize reading and writing skills. At the mid point and end of the course, students will present their portfolio of work as evidence to determine placement in the next level. Students in this class could be mainstreamed to regular English classes if eligible at the midpoint of the year based on teacher recommendation and strength of student portfolio.
English grs 11/12 for English Language Learners
11th& 12th grades;
2 credits and double period
This SIOP designed, college prep class is for students who have completed 10th or 11th grade English for ELLs. Students in this class will have ACCESS scores that may range from 3.0 to 4.5 overall composite scores. The students in this class should have strong oral fluency in English, but may lack comparable reading and/or writing skills. All assignments will be based on the DE English Standards and all work will be maintained in a portfolio to prove academic proficiency. The course will use the 11th grade HOLT Adapted Reader as the class text and will emphasize reading and writing skills. At the mid point and end of the course, students will present their portfolio of work as evidence to determine placement in the next level. Students in this class could be mainstreamed to regular English classes if eligible at the midpoint of the year based on teacher recommendation and strength of student portfolio.
Elective Courses:
Academic Strategies
Available to students in grades
9, 10, 11, 12 1 Credit
This course is designed to support the academic needs of students in their classes. Students will work on refining skills in order to be successful in their program of studies.
Prerequisite: Counselor recommendation.
Creative Writing I
Available to students in grades 9, 10, 11, ½ Credit
This introductory course is designed to help students develop skills in writing various elements of literary forms including poetry, dramatic skits, essays and short stories. Students will complete daily journal entries and work within a structured workshop atmosphere providing and accepting critiques of their own work as well as their peers. Students will produce a portfolio of completed writings, including drafts and revisions, which will form the primary basis for evaluation of their work. Students must be willing to work with classmates and share their writing orally.
Creative Writing II
Available to students in grades 11, 12 ½ Credit
This course will be organized as a workshop for students with an interest in further developing their personal writing skills. Students must be willing to work with classmates and share their writing orally.
Prerequisite: Creative Writing I
Creative Writing III
Available to students in grades 11, 12 ½ Credit
This course will be organized as a workshop for students who are motivated writers interested in
continued growth in the areas of personal writing, form, voice and style. Emphasis will be placed on students as writers, editors, and publishers. Students must be willing to work with classmates and share their writing orally. Peer evaluation is a substantial portion of this class. Students may be expected to enter literary contests as well as submit work to literary magazines, including William Penn’s Spectrum.
Prerequisite: Creative Writing II
Photojournalism/Yearbook I
Available to students in grades 9, 10, 11 1 Credit
This year-long course is a prerequisite course for all Yearbook Staff candidates. The course must be completed with a “C” or better average for the year and prospective staff members must apply and be accepted by the Yearbook advisor for a position on the staff. The purposed of this course is to provide the fundamental knowledge of journalism skills necessary to work on the Penn Quill and to prepare staff members for the high expectations involved in project completion and meeting deadlines. Students will be taught basic and some advanced skills in the following areas: Writing/Journalism, Photojournalism, Yearbook Publishing Fundamentals and Legal/Ethical Issues of Journalism.
Yearbook II, III, IV
Available to students in grades 10, 11, 12 (IV only) 1 Credit
The Students enrolled in the intermediate and advanced levels of Yearbook have successfully met the requirements of Yearbook I. Students will contribute to the production and publication process of the annual school yearbook. Students will be expected to elicit strong writing and time management skills, self-assessment and improvement and a high level of independence. Assignments will be given with expected deadlines for completion that will consist of layouts, photography, and journalism for the yearbook. In addition, the students will be responsible for advertising sales and administrative tasks associated with running a business.
Newspaper Journalism I
Available to students in grades 9, 10, 11 1 Credit
As an introduction to Journalism, Newspaper Journalism I will emphasize the media, reporting
interviewing, writing different types of articles in newspaper style, and proofreading. Students will contribute to the production of the school newspaper, The Penn Crier.
Newspaper Journalism II
Available to students in grades 10, 11, 12 1 Credit
This course, a continuation of Journalism I, will emphasize copy reading, layout headlining, make-up design, photography, cartoons, and artwork. Students will contribute to the production of the school newspaper, The Penn Crier.
Prerequisite: Newspaper Journalism I and teacher recommendation.
Newspaper Journalism III
Available to students in grades 11, 12 1 Credit
This course will allow students to extend their knowledge of journalism to specialize in one or more of the following: advanced news writing, photography, artwork, cartoons and editing. Students will become familiar with a computer layout program. Students will contribute to the production of the school newspaper, The Penn Crier.
Prerequisite: Newspaper Journalism II and teacher recommendation.
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