130H/230H Humanities (Grade 9) Five Blocks per week - Full Year - 2.00 Credits (English 1.00 Credit/Social Studies 1.00 Credit)

Prerequisite: Teacher and Guidance Recommendation.

This team-taught, interdisciplinary course explores the connections among world cultures, religions, histories and literature. The primary historical focus is on world history, exploring world economic, political, social, and artistic concepts. The English focus, while primarily a genre study, emphasizes the parallels between literature and the historical context in which it is written. Students read primary sources, essays, short stories, poems, plays, and several novels. Written work includes literary and historical essays, a research paper, creative pieces plus individual and group projects. Humanities is an accelerated, challenging program. Students must employ individual study and organizational skills, but also be willing to work cooperatively in large and small groups. While strenuous, the course provides a fundamental basis for students interested in pursuing honors and AP studies in history and English.

131H/133 English 9 (Grade 9) Five Blocks per week - Full Semester - 1.00 Credit

Note: Required of all ninth grade students not enrolled in the Humanities course.

Grade 9 English is designed to develop an appreciation and understanding of literary genres and to continue the exploration of literature as a mirror of human experience. The curriculum is centered on seven comprehensive units of study: the short story, the novel, drama, poetry, mythology, non-fiction, and independent research. The course is intended to provide a solid base of instruction in reading, writing, grammar, and vocabulary. Students will explore, reflect and apply the skills they learn in a variety of writing and reading activities.

135/136  FIRST: Freshman Integrated Reading, Study Skills and Critical Thinking (Grade 9) Five block per week - Full semester - 1.00 Credit

FIRST is a year-long course in freshman English designed to target those ninth graders who need a wide-ranging and sequential approach to the English language arts, cognitive development and requisite study skills for success at the high school. Curriculum will incorporate four major literary genres: fiction, poetry, drama and non-fiction. Study skills will include vocabulary building, research, organization, independent reading, creative and expository writing, editing and grammar. There will be two community service pieces within the coursememoir and interview with older citizens and literature circles with K-2 students.

141H/143 English 10 (Grade 10) Five blocks per week - Full semester - 1.00 Credit

Grade 10 English focuses on the use of critical thinking, reading, and writing skills as students explore important life themes in literature. Students use a variety of literary genres for models in writing and continue a systematic study of grammar and vocabulary study in order to build a strong foundation for skills improvement. In addition, students will prepare and present formal and informal speeches to improve effective communication and speaking skills. A variety of writing and speaking assignments allows students to expand skills and develop confidence as writers and speakers. Selected sections of this course in any year may be linked with a corresponding history course, using interdisciplinary projects, readings, discussions and presentations.

145 Journalism (Grades 10,11,12 ) Five blocks per week - Full semester - 1.00 Credit

Journalism is an elective course that focuses on the publication of student writing. Student writers become part of the exciting world of the media with the same rights and responsibilities of professional journalists. Students become proficient in the gathering and reporting of information through the Oakmont newspaper, The Oakmonitor. Students are involved in all aspects of journalism required for publication of a newspaper. Topics include generating story ideas, newsgathering techniques, journalism ethics, news judgment, news sources, interviewing, and organizational patterns.

146 Creative Writing (Grades 10,11,12) Five blocks per week - Full Semester - 1.00 Credit

Creative Writing is designed to enhance students writing skills as well as to explore various writing genres. Within these genres, students learn literary techniques and strategies to make their own writing more effective. Students use process writing to revise and improve their writing as well as their peers texts. As students improve their abilities to produce effective, powerful pieces, they create portfolios that may be submitted for publication.

147 Speech & Communication (Grades 10,11,12) Five blocks per week - Full semester - 1.00 Credit

Prerequisite: Successful completion of ninth grade English.

The art of effective communication is one of the most powerful skills a person can possess. This course offers students many hands-on opportunities to learn techniques of effective communication that will be useful throughout their lives. Activities include individual, group, formal, and informal presentations, where students work on their skills to inform, demonstrate, persuade, entertain, and motivate. This is an opportunity to develop the poise and skills to deliver ideas with confidence, using many different types of communication. These skills can help students build stronger relationships and provide activities and employment opportunities that may be closed to others.

148 Theater Arts (Grades 10,11,12) Five blocks per week - Full semester - 1.00 Credit

Prerequisite: Recommendation of instructor, successful completion of ninth grade English.

Theater Arts is designed to get students up on their feet and acting, with an emphasis on doing as opposed to just discussing the elements of theater. Using a series of improvisational exercises, students will learn the basics of the physical and emotional aspects of acting, stage movement, and directing. We will also read and analyze plays from the perspective of the actor and director and write and perform skits, plays, scenes, monologues and reviews. The semester ends with a performance of short plays by all members of the class.

151H/153 English 11 (Grade 11) Five blocks per week - Full semester - 1.00 Credit

A chronological study of American literature is at the center of Grade 11 English. The course provides an historical perspective on the evolution of American literature, language, values, and philosophy. A major focus of the course is the continued development of critical thinking, reading, and writing skills. Writing activities are based upon the literature and range from persuasive and creative writing to literary analysis. Students develop sophistication in the ability to use thesis statements and supportive textual evidence in critical, analytical essays.

154H/254H American Studies (Grade 11) - Five blocks per week English; Five blocks per week Social Studies - Full Semester - 2.00 Credit

This course incorporates the study of American history and literature though a thematic approach. Specific themes will serve as that basis for a look at the historical, social, and cultural development of American and its literature. The course allows the opportunity for a wide variety of creative expression through interdisciplinary projects, readings, and presentations. The course fulfills the grade 11 English and U.S. History requirements.

155 Media Production (Grades 11,12) - Five blocks per week - Full semester - 1.00 Credit

Prerequisite: Instructor recommendation (This course will not be offered in 2010-2011.)

This elective course involves video production projects by students for broadcast on local cable television and Oakmont's OTV. Live and prerecorded productions about people and events at Oakmont allow students to become proficient in television programming. Students gather news electronically with a camcorder and use television studio equipment and video editing equipment. Strong writing and communication skills are essential.

156 Understanding Mass Media (Grades 10,11,12) Five blocks per week - Full semester - 1.00 Credit

This elective course stresses the importance of becoming media literate in today's global society.  Students will learn to critically examine the media and its messages. Students will have many hands-on opportunities to write and produce media and journalism projects, including newspapers, advertisements, radio spots, and television features. Students will actively study the important issues that each type of media raises in our world.

160 AP English: Literature and Composition (Grade 12) Five Blocks per week semester one; Alternate days semester two - 1.50 Credit

Prerequisite: Instructor recommendation

This advanced literature and writing course offers an opportunity for students to participate in college-level work and to develop their abilities as independent readers and writers, especially in the analysis of literature. Class activities include close reading of established and contemporary works in drama, fiction, and poetry. Students participate in classroom discussion to develop independence of thought and mature habits of critical thinking. Students write frequent short and long term written assignments. Students demonstrate their achievement by taking the AP exam at the end of the school year that could qualify them for college credit in English. Students are required to take the AP Preparation Block semester two and complete the AP Exam to receive AP credit.

161H English 12 (Grade 12) Five blocks per week - Full semester - 1.00 Credit

This honors course offers students continued opportunities to explore the themes, context, and development of world literature. Students look at world literature from ancient to contemporary times, studying the patterns found in literature in various periods and genres. Students consider the connections between world literature and the contemporary world in class discussion and in writing. The primary goal is to help students develop abilities as independent readers and writers, especially in the analysis of literature. Students will work on projects and papers to enhance their critical thinking about literary works. Selected sections of this course in any year may be linked with a corresponding history course and taught utilizing interdisciplinary projects, readings, discussions and presentations.

163 English 12 (Grade 12) Five blocks per week - Full semester - 1.00 Credit

The objective of this course is to prepare students for a successful transition to a college or work environment. Different sections of the course will have different literature emphasis. All sections will use reading, writing, presentations, discussion, and problem-solving assignments to deepen critical thinking skills. Students will write creative and analytical pieces with the goal to write coherent, insightful essays and papers. Students may choose from these sections: