English

English 9, Grade 9, Credit: 1.0/year

English 9 is a demanding course that challenges students to explain and apply their reading, writing, and interpretative abilities.  Students read, study, respond to, and/or write about a variety of literary genre including short story, poetry, myths, essays, and non-fiction.  In addition, students will explore various themes such as Rites of Passage, Heroes and Courage, Decisions and Consequences, Family Ties, and Illusion and Reality, using novels, drama and related, shorter pieces of literature that apply multi-genre thematic units of instruction.  Writing instruction will be emphasized; grammar and vocabulary instruction will take place in context of students’ reading and writing.  Other activities include projects, assessments, and opportunities for oral presentation.  Must be taken concurrently with Theatre 9 (Performing Arts)

English 10, Grade 10, Credit: 1.0/year

Prerequisite: Two semesters of English 9 (Performing Arts), or the permission of the English/Theatre instructor at Pankow.  American Literature chronologically surveys authors and works from the pre-colonial era to the 21st century as well as their historical contexts and applications to the present.  Essays, poetry, short stories, plays, nonfiction, and novels by major American authors are read and studied.  Activities in this academic course include reading and discussing daily assignments, projects, assessments, and opportunities for oral presentations.  As students advance their composition skills, they will be required to write in varied genre including interpretive and analytical papers.  Must be taken concurrently with Theatre 10 (Performing Arts).

English 11, Grade 11, Credit: 1.0/year

Prerequisite: Two semesters of English 10 (Performing Arts), or the permission of the English/Theatre instructor at Pankow.  The interested student will gain an overall view of dramatic literature, including sampling from different genres and time periods.  A brief theatre history will include samplings from ancient Greek, Europe, and the United States (19th century), and Modern Theatre (1875-1915); Europe and the United States s between the Wars; Europe and the United States (1940-1968); and drama after 1968.  These classic and contemporary plays will be explored through class readings, written analysis, and performances.  Literary papers will be written, and the semester will conclude with each student writing and performing an original monologue or scene.  Imaginative writing may include daily journals, poetry, sketches, personal narratives, short stories, drama, and a portfolio project of revised and illustrated works.  Oral reading of assignments and peer group editing will be required as well.  Must be taken concurrently with Theatre 11 (Performing Arts).