Departments

English courses are designed to build upon the reading and writing skills students developed in middle school. Increasingly challenging assignments over the course of four years will encourage students to master the fundamentals of communication and information literacy. Students are expected to become adept at critical analysis, critical thinking, effective writing, persuasive speaking, attentive listening, and substantive research. The department also seeks to promote a genuine appreciation for the aesthetic pleasures of the written word and to develop lifelong readers who will discover greater meaning in their lives through their experiences of literature from around the world.

The Study of Genre and Composition

1 Credit Grade 9

The Study of Genre and Composition includes instruction and practice in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Students will read in a variety of genres, which may include short stories, mythology, novels, poetry, and drama, and they will communicate ideas and learning through writing assignments that emphasize clear expression and correct grammar. They will also build their vocabulary through context-based exercises, and they will prepare public speaking assignments to present verbally. Research skills are taught through projects and a research paper. Independent reading is encouraged and evaluated through the Accelerated Reader Program.

Literature and the Writing Process

1 Credit Grade 10

Prerequisite: The Study of Genre and Composition
Literature and the Writing Process focuses on a variety of reading selections and continues instruction in the methods and skills required for reading non-fiction as well as short stories, novels, poetry, and drama. Students will learn to recognize and analyze literary elements and techniques and to use these devices in their own writing. Instruction in vocabulary and grammar continues throughout the year. Writing assignments include both literary and non-literary topics with a concentration on expository and argumentative writing. The Accelerated Reader Program continues in the tenth grade.

American Literature

1 Credit Grade 11

Prerequisite: Literature and the Writing Process
American Literature surveys the best writing of our country from its beginnings through the twenty-first century, and students will be expected to improve their analytical skills through close readings of American texts. The study of grammar involves correct usage, sentence structure, mechanics, and the development of longer essay forms for both literary and non-literary topics. Students will undertake research projects and formal oral presentations, and they will continue their work in vocabulary development as they prepare for both the PSAT and the SAT.

AP Language and Composition

1 Credit Grade 11

Prerequisites: Student must be in grade eleven and not enrolled in the standard American Literature course; recommendation of the English Department is also required.
AP Language and Composition, American Literature is designed for junior English students who are interested in pursuing a more in-depth study of American literature. The curriculum will include the same course material and expectations of American Literature plus an added component that will prepare students for the mandatory Advanced Placement test in the spring.

British Literature

1 Credit Grade 12
Prerequisite: American Literature

British Literature primarily surveys the writing of the British Isles from its Anglo-Saxon roots to the twenty-first century. Major selections from world literature are also studied with an emphasis on universal and recurring themes. Students will continue to develop critical thinking and analytical skills as they read in a variety of genres including drama, poetry, short fiction, the novel, and non-fiction. Students are expected to show their mastery of writing and research in a fully documented research paper, which culminates the previous years of writing instruction. Collaborative learning is encouraged when appropriate, and students will demonstrate their mastery of verbal skills in class discussions and formal presentations.

AP Literature and Composition

1 Credit Grade 12
Prerequisites: Student must be in grade twelve and not enrolled in standard British Literature; recommendation of the English Department is also required and will be based on cumulative English average, standardized test results, and faculty assessment of student’s self-discipline and motivation.

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition, British and World Literature is designed for senior English students who are interested in pursuing a more in-depth study of British and world literature. The curriculum will include the same course material and expectations of British Literature plus an added component that will prepare students for the mandatory Advanced Placement test in the spring. The course is intended for those students who show a superior command of the language through reading proficiency and writing ability and who demonstrate an enthusiastic interest in the humanities.

College Connection English: College Composition (Honors)

Credit Grade 12
Prerequisites: Qualifying SAT verbal score, 3.0 grade average and permission of the Department.

College Connection English: College Composition is a one-semester, college-level English composition course. Students who complete the course successfully will receive credit toward their grade twelve English requirement at Mount de Sales, and they will also receive credit for English 1101 through Macon State College. The college credit is accepted at any public undergraduate institution in Georgia and at many other colleges as well. In the course, students will write a variety of essays in the styles that will be required of them in their college coursework and beyond. The emphasis will be on close reading of essays that serve as models for students’ own writing, collaborative writing and editing projects, and extensive individual writing practice. Types of writing assignments may include description and narration, exposition, argumentation and persuasion, explication, and analysis. Students will also have the opportunity to submit an essay for publication in the Macon State College anthology entitled Pathways: Models for Composition.