Welcome to English

English I (1 unit credit) Course 111. Heavily stressed are basic sentence construction; compound sentence parts; compound sentences using co-ordinate conjunctions, conjunctive adverbs, and correlative conjunctions; complex sentences using subordinate conjunctions; verbals and dependent clauses. Library instruction is interspersed throughout the school year as needed in biology and general business as well as in English. In literature, the students reinforce their writing and reading skills by writing analytically about the basic aspects of the short story and poetry: theme, setting, characterization, plot and conflict. Basic paragraph skills are reviewed. Remediation for those who fail the state proficiency test is provided via individual computer programs.

English II (1 unit credit) Course 211. This course consists of a general study of the fundamental of grammar and comprehension of literature. Additional time is spent in the study of vocabulary and utilization of grammar skills in writing situations. Reading skills are emphasized each day. (Pre-requisite ENG I.)

English III (1 unit credit) Course 311. (Pre-requisite ENG. II.) The major concentration in this course is learning to read and write effectively and critically, becoming familiar with authors and their works, and analyzing literary elements from the four main genres (novel, drama, short story, and poetry). The reading selections are from American Literature which includes short stories, poetry, essays, and dramas from Colonial America to the Modern Era. Novels such as To Kill A Mockingbird, Mythology, and The Scarlet Letter will be read and discussed. Also, video adaptations of different well known novels and dramas will be viewed and studied. The formal research paper and the essay are key elements in this course. Reading, writing, and discussion are the key elements in this course.

English IV (1 unit credit) Course 411. This course covers the Anglo-Saxon, Medieval, Renaissance, the Restoration and Enlightenment, the Romantic and Victorian periods and the Twentieth century. Since the course is a survey, the students study certain authors and their works from each of the above periods. "Macbeth" is studied in-depth as is "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" and "Pygmalion". There is ample opportunity for many types of writing, and the students do write in this course. Study guides, reading guides, check tests and selections tests help the student to an understanding of the various works. Movies, where appropriate, are also used. At the beginning of each of the time periods is an overview showing the relationship between history and literature, as well as an overview showing how the English language developed. This course is open to those students who do not wish to take college prep English or are not planning on going to college.

College Prep. English (1 unit credit) Course 412. This course is focused upon preparing students for college English. The first part is handled like a typical survey class. Students will study both the literature and the history of selected time periods. Stressed in this part are note taking and outlining skills. The second part of the course is focused upon critical and analytical writing. Included therein are several basic theme types as well as developmental techniques. Grammar is taught within the framework of writing.

Basic Speech & Communications (1/2 credit) Course 313. A one semester course where the students learn basic communication situations -one on one communication and when speaking to a group. Students work to improve critical and effective listening skills as well. Students learn to use group discussion as a problem solving method and role play several interview situations. Through a variety of speaking situations, the students conquer their fear of speaking before a group, learn to adapt their message to their listeners, and develop verbal and nonverbal skills for delivering a speech. Students will develop skills needed for and participate in reader's theater, story telling, and interpretative reading. Everyone finds themselves in situations where they need to effectively present someone else's message, reading aloud to children, presenting the company's annual reports, leading a study group or committee, or acting in a theatrical production. The skills developed in this course will enable the student to do these things well. This class is responsible for morning announcements, and the WDOH radio show "Cat scratch Fever."

Media Production  (1 unit credit) Course 310. This class plans and produces the weekly radio show CAT SCRATCH FEVER on WDOH. Students will learn to research and write stories for the radio show and will learn how to use an oral style to communicate ideas. Students will use the computer program SOUND FORGE to produce the radio show. Students in this class will also produces videos- for both in-school broadcast and possible broadcast television. The students will learn to plan, shoot the footage using video cameras and then edit their story using the computer program DAZZLE MOVIE STAR. Students will learn about a variety of things including the use of different camera angles, lighting, sound, special effects, and communicating on camera. this class is for juniors and seniors only, and students must have prior approval from the teacher. This is a split-block class for the entire year.

Applied Communications (1 unit credit) Course 315. This course is for juniors and seniors and requires the approval of the instructor. This course focuses on developing reporting skills and yearbook organization. This course will produce The Prowler and students will be required to write articles for this newspaper and become familiar with the Page Maker Program. The students will develop skills in news writing techniques, sports writing, feature writing, and other types of newspaper writing.

This course will also produce the school yearbook. This course requires meeting important deadlines, working well with others, and using the Josten's program to create yearbook pages. Students will be required to plan and discuss a yearbook, know the yearbook and photography components, understand the business of a yearbook (income and expenses) and the role of advertising, recognize and plan page layouts of body copy, students in this class will be The Delphi Staff.

Creative Writing (1 unit credit) Course 212. The course will emphasize specific aspects of good writing and try to incorporate them into original pieces. Selections will be entered in various contests. Areas of concentration are poetry writing, including song writing, short story writing, writing short drama, and writing personal essays. Course is open to anyone grades 9 - 12.