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CURRICULUM GUIDE

 

 

Composition I

 

Basic Literature I & II Composition II Poetry Communication in Business
American Literature  I & II World/British Lit Applied Reading Strategies Readers Workshop Click on courses in table to view description

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COMPOSITION I:  Back to top 

This course is designed to assist students in developing effective writing skills. Areas to be focused on include: 1) grammar and usage; 2) punctuation and mechanics; 3) research and study skills; 4) sentences, paragraphs, and essays; also, 5) constructed/extended responses and reports. The writing process will be followed when constructing writing samples. A reflective writing after each sample will be completed to evaluate the written work. Final writing assignments will be published through presentations. This course needs to be taken and credit earned before any other English courses offered at Riverview East.  An exception would be if a student had received a C or better in a Basic English course at a previous high school.     

 

BASIC LITERATURE I and BASIC LITERATURE II:   Back to top 

This course is designed to assist students in increasing their reading comprehension skills across various genres. The types of literary forms to be studied include the following: short story, novel, drama, poetry, non-fiction, and technical works. Reading strategies will be introduced and practiced for each literary unit to assist comprehension. Each literary work will be critically evaluated in a response journal written by the student. Presentations follow each unit to demonstrate the acquired knowledge. An appreciation of literature accompanied with the ability to evaluate its meaning is the overall objective. This course is to be taken after Basic Composition, however a student may take the class simultaneously.

 

COMPOSITION II:  Back to top   

This course is designed to assist students in perfecting effective writing skills. Areas to focus on include: 1) grammar and usage; 2) punctuation and mechanics; 3) research and study skills; 4) sentences, paragraphs, and essays; also, 5) constructed/extended responses and reports. Students will learn the importance of the writing process, and the practice communicating ideas nonverbally. Since it is important students develop and master this skill, concentration will be placed on various essays such as descriptive, persuasive, reflective, and expository. Practical writing such as letters, reports, email, and messages, will be perfected, and students will also produce several short stories.      

 

POETRY:  Back to top 

This course focuses on a concentrated or compact form of writing known as poetry. Students will learn to understand the complexities of figurative language, and will concentrate on the unique mixture of sounds, rhythms, feelings and ideas associated with poetry. Students will experience numerous poems, interpreting their styles and elements. Students will be expected to produce original examples of poetry incorporating the poetic devices learned, and also practice various types of poetic verse.    

  

Communications in Business   Back to top 

This class is designed to improve the reading, writing, listening, communication and employability skills of the student.  The trimester will include the following topics:

1.                   Communication Skills

2.                 Job Interest Surveys

3.                 Job Search and Success

4.                 Educational Development Plan on Career Cruising

5.                 Letter writing process

a.      Cover Letter

b.     Follow up letter

c.      Resignation Letter

d.     Memos

6.                 Resume writing

7.                 Interview skills

8.                 Timed readings

9.                 Keeping sentences readable

10.              Proofreading and proofreading marks

11.               Reading and Researching on the job

 When the class is completed, each student will have a portfolio of their work that should be beneficial as a future resource in the job search.

AMERICAN LITERATURE I and II  Back to top 

This course focuses on American Literature.  The types of literary units to be studied include the following:  short story, novel, drama, and poetry.  The literary units are arranged in time periods beginning with the 1600's to the present.  Each unit encompasses writing assignments that critically evaluate the literature.  The writing process will be followed to complete the writing assignments.  Presentations follow each unit to demonstrate the acquired knowledge.  An appreciation of American Literature accompanied with the ability to evaluate its meaning is the overall objective.

 

WORLD LITERATURE (first trimester):   Back to top   

BRITISH LITERATURE (second)

This course focuses on World or British Literature. The types of literary units to be studied include the following: short story, novel, drama, and poetry. Literary units arranged by genres. Each unit encompasses writing assignments that critically evaluate the literature. The writing process will be followed to complete the writing assignments. Presentations follow each unit to demonstrate the acquired knowledge. An appreciation of World or British Literature accompanied with the ability to evaluate its meaning is the overall objective.   

 

APPLIED READING STRATEGIES:  Back to top 

This course is designed to further the development of each student's reading and writing skills. The student will read, hear and view selected material be instructed of the step by step process and encouraged to practice the skills in the classroom.  In addition each student's skills will be enhanced through a tutorial program.  Each student is responsible for tutoring at a local elementary school focusing on the tutoring process.  Enhancing the student's reading/writing skills individually and using the acquired knowledge from the classroom to benefit the tutoring sessions is the main goal.

 

READERS WORKSHOP:  Back to top 

Readers Workshop is a computer assisted class designed to help students increase their reading level.  Because the class is individualized, it allows students to have a choice in their reading materials.  The goal of the course is to motivate students to read more, promote reading success and foster a love of reading.

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