English Courses
Students need to pass 40 credits of English to graduate. Students who plan to attend U.C./C.S.U. need 40 units of U.C./C.S.U accepted English courses.
English courses are designed to offer students experience with the various genres of literature, extensive instruction in writing, conventions, and reading comprehension. Students read literature, poetry, and plays from a variety of time periods and cultures both as a class and independently. Courses recognize and use essential assignments, common assessments, and specific novels for each grade level. Instructors use standards-based curriculum to improve reading, writing, and language proficiency.
9th Grade Courses
Transition To English
Year (5 credits English) (5 credits elective)
Transition to English 9 provides students with an academic foundation of competences in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and critical thinking to prepare them for effective personal communication. Students read short stories, novels, poetry, informational materials, non-fiction, and drama. The goal of this class is to practice grade-level skills in reading, writing, and comprehension, preparing students for transition into English 9/Strategic English9, and to prepare for CAHSEE.
English 9
Year (10 credits)
English 9 is a standards-based, college-prep course. Students gain skills for analyzing literature, writing essays, and comprehending grammar and punctuation. Students prepare for state tests, including the CAHSEE. Students write essays in the various genres with emphasis in analysis/exposition. Students complete essential assignments mandated by the district and aligned to the standards. Students read short stories, novels, poetry, informational materials, non-fiction, and drama. This course prepares students for English 10.
English 9 Advanced
Year (10 credits)
Prerequisite: Teacher and parent approval and completion of application. Advanced English 9 is an accelerated course that offers extensive practice in analyzing literature, writing, grammar, and usage. The faster pace of this course meets the needs of students performing at the highest CST level. Students prepare for state tests, including the CAHSEE. Students read short stories, novels, poems, informational materials, nonfiction, and drama. Students write essays in the various genres with emphasis on analysis/ exposition. Students complete essential assignments mandated by the district and aligned to the standards. Students read at least one out-ofclass novel each semester. All students must complete a summer assignment, due the first day of the school year. This course prepares students for English 10 or Advanced English 10.
English 9 Puente
Year (10 credits)
English 9 Puente is a college prep English class designed to help students achieve their goal of attending a 4-year university immediately after graduating high school. This rigorous class is designed to challenge students so they are more than prepared for AP English their junior year. Students will write daily, read independently, and complete course readings. English 9 Puente is a lot of hard work, but it is also a lot of fun. Students will go on regular field trips to universities and participate in many different community service opportunities. To be eligible for this class, students must be interviewed by the Puente teacher and counselor. Students should contact their counselor to start the interview process.
10th Grade Courses
English 10
Year (10 credits)
Prerequisite: Passing grade in English 9. English 10 is a standards-based, college-prep course. Students gain skills for analyzing literature, writing essays, and comprehending grammar and punctuation. Students prepare for state tests, including the CAHSEE. Students write essays in the various genres with emphasis in analysis/exposition. Students complete essential assignments mandated by the district and aligned to the standards. Students read short stories, poetry, novels, informational materials, non-fiction, and drama. This course prepares students for Junior Literature and Composition or AP Language and Composition.
English 10 Advanced
|Year (10 credits)
Prerequisite: Teacher and parent approval and completion of application. Advanced English 10 students are in an accelerated course that offers extensive practice in analyzing literature, writing, grammar, and usage. The faster pace of this course meets the needs of students performing at the highest CST level. Students prepare for state tests, including the CAHSEE. Students read short stories, novels, poetry, informational materials, non-fiction, and drama. Students write essays in the various genres with emphasis on analysis/exposition. Students complete essential assignments mandated by the district and aligned to the standards. Students read at least one out-of-class novel each semester. All students must complete a summer assignment, due the first day of the school year. This course prepares students for Junior Literature and Composition or AP Language and Composition.
English 10 Puente
Year (10 Credits)
English 10 Puente is a college prep English class designed to help students achieve their goal of attending a 4-year university immediately after graduating high school. This rigorous class is designed to challenge students so they are more than prepared for AP English their junior year. Students will write daily, read independently, and complete course readings. English 10 Puente is a lot of hard work, but it is also a lot of fun. Students will go on regular field trips to universities and participate in many different community service opportunities. To be eligible for this class, students must have completed Puente 9, occasionally there may be availability and a student may enter class as a sophomore. Please contact your counselor to see if there is room in English 10 Puente as a new student.
11th Grade Courses
Junior Literature and Composition
Year (10 credits)
Prerequisite: Passing grade in English 10 or English 10 Advanced.
Junior Literature and Comprehension is a standardsbased, college-prep course in American Literature. Students gain skills for analyzing literature, writing essays, and using grammar and mechanics effectively. Students read short stories, poetry, novels, informational materials, non-fiction, and drama. Students write essays of various genres with emphasis in analysis/exposition, preparing them for college level composition. This course prepares students for Senior Literature and Composition and AP Senior Literature and Composition.
English Language and Composition AP
Year (10 credits)
Prerequisite: English 10 or English Advanced. Students must follow guidelines provided by the College Board for admission to advanced placement courses.
Note: Honors/AP application required.
In AP Language and Composition, students read and write in a variety of rhetorical modes and prepare for the AP Language exam. Students read fiction, short stories, and drama; however, this course emphasizes reading and analysis of nonfiction essays in particular, which develop students’ skills at rhetorical analysis. Students also write multiple essays, including timed writing. All students must complete a summer assignment, due the first day of the school year, and take the AP Language exam at the end of the year.
12th Grade Courses
Senior Literature and Composition
Year (10 credits)
Prerequisite: Passing grade in Junior Literature and Composition or Language and Composition Advanced Placement.
Senior Literature and Composition is a standards based, college-prep course in World Literature. Students gain skills for analyzing literature, writing essays, and using grammar and mechanics effectively. Students read short stories, poetry, novels, informational materials, non-fiction, and drama. Students write essays of various genres with emphasis in analysis/exposition, preparing them for college level composition. This course prepares students for college English courses.
English Literature and Composition AP
Year (10 credits)
Prerequisite: Teacher and parent approval. Must have a grade of “A” or “B” in previous English class. Admission is by application and must follow district guidelines for admission to AP courses.
Note: Honors/AP application required.
In AP English Literature and Composition, students read and analyze college-level literature and prepare for the AP literature exam. Required reading includes novels, short stories, plays, and poetry from a variety of time periods and cultures. In addition, the course provides students with knowledge of the literary terminology and vocabulary necessary to write clear and sophisticated analytical papers. Written work consists of a variety of short-term and long-term projects, such as essays, research papers, and timed essays. Students are required to take the AP examination.
Electives
Yearbook
Year (10 credits)
Prerequisite: 1. Teacher permission. First consideration will be given to students who have a proven writing ability, earned “A” or “B” in English or Journalism 1, 2. A willingness to put in after school time to produce the best publications possible.
The purpose of this journalism course is to produce a modern, high quality yearbook. Students will study concepts of yearbook design and layout, reporting and writing, and page preparation. All students will design pages, write stories, captions, and headlines, and participate in selling advertising in order to finance the yearbook publication. Responsibility and personal commitment are important to succeed in this class.
English Language Development
The English Language Development (ELD) Departments provide an opportunity for students to achieve mastery in English. ELD Students will receive a maximum of 10 credits of English per year.
9th – 12th Grade Courses
English 1
Year (5 credits English) (5 credits elective)
Prerequisite: CELDT level 1 or 2
This course is designed for students who have little to no English background, or show less than reasonable English fluency as measured by the California English Language Development Test (CELDT). Students receive intense instruction designed to increase English language proficiency and comprehension. Students work on communication, vocabulary development and English reading and writing skills. At the end of this course, students will complete sentences in multiple tenses as well as a basic paragraph.
English 2
Year (5 credits English) (5 credits elective)
Prerequisite: CELDT level 2 or 3
This course is designed for students who have completed English 1, have a limited English background, or show less than reasonable English fluency as measured by the California English Language Development Test (CELDT). Students receive intense instruction designed to increase English comprehension and language fluency. Students work on developing syntax and language forms of oral communication as well as reading and writing in English. At the end of this course, students will identify main ideas in reading samples and write a three-paragraph narrative.
English 3
Year (5 credits English) (5 credits elective)
Prerequisite: High CELDT level 3 or low CELDT level 4 and/or scores on selected assessments.
This course is designed for students who have completed English 2, have some background in the English language, or show basic reasonable fluency as measured by the California English Language Development Test (CELDT). Students receive intense instruction designed to elevate students’ comprehension and communication skills in English. Students learn to prepare and deliver presentations, answer factual comprehension questions, and express ideas using detailed sentences. At the end of this course, students will write five-paragraph expository essays.
English 4
Year (5 credits English) (5 credits elective)
Prerequisite: CELDT level 4 and/or scores on selected assessments.
This course is designed for students who have completed English 3, have a working background in the English language, or show reasonable fluency as measured by the California English Language Development Test (CELDT). Students receive intense instruction designed to elevate students’ comprehension and communication skills in English. Students learn to identify, analyze, and apply a variety of rhetorical styles and read complex narrative and expository texts with assistance. At the end of this course, students will write at a level suitable for entrance into mainstream English.
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