English Courses

ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT (ELD) 1 - 2 000326, 000327 Grades 9-12 & NEWCOMER CLASS 1-2 000333, 000334

This is a year-long course. You must register for both ELD 1-2 and Newcomer Class 1-2 listed above. ELD 1-2 is a comprehensive course which takes students who are beginning English speakers and develops a foundation in basic English language skills needed to survive in the school community, both socially and academically. Based on language acquisition theory, instruction focuses initially on listening and speaking and builds reading and writing skills. The underlying goal of the course is to develop a strong foundation of knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to succeed in ELL 3-4. The Newcomer Class is designed to acquaint newly immigrated students to the culture of the United States and the Poway Unified School District. In addition, students are introduced to early American history as well as geography of the United States. The primary purpose of the class is to provide intensive practice in English and additionally teach basic academic skills, promote higher-order thinking skills, and develop appropriate reading and writing skills.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT (ELD) 3 - 4 000328, 000329 Grades 9-12

This is a year-long course. You must register for both ELD 3-4 and Explorations A/B listed above. ELD 3-4 is a comprehensive course which takes students with limited English proficiency or literacy and develops their functional literacy and language arts skills to a level of proficiency which enables them to be successful in regular academic classes. Based on language acquisition theory, instruction utilizes an integrated approach which blends listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Ultimately, the course develops the English/language arts knowledge, skills, and attitudes and helps students to become productive members of society. This course has been approved to meet the UC “b” or “g” requirement. ELD Explorations A/B is a course designed to support English learner students at an intermediate level of English fluency who are concurrently enrolled in ELD 3-4. The purpose of this course is to allow the students extra time each day to develop their proficiency in English and to practice the skills learned in ELD 3-4. The curriculum is based on the ELD standards and focuses on developing students’ listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. The ELD 3-4 course meets the UC/CSU “b’ English requirement.

HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH 1-2 000301, 000302 Grade 9

A variety of writings will promote increased sophistication in previously studied domains and introduce new styles of writing. Literature integrates with the writing process to broaden students’ knowledge of literacy techniques and to connect their own personal experience with human emotion. The courses extend the expectations of more sophisticated writing and literature skills, focus on the skills needed to pass a performance assessment test, and prepare the student for more advanced English courses. This course meets the UC/CSU “b” English requirement.

HONORS HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH 1-2 000303, 000304 Grade 9

Recommended Prerequisite: Teacher recommendation and “A” or “B” in 8th grade English

The course accelerates students’ exposure to the short story and the novel and teaches them to write fluent descriptive, narrative, and expository paragraphs which have a controlling idea, adequate development, a sense of closure, unity, coherence, and transition while improving the students’ spelling vocabulary, usage and grammar. Multi-paragraph compositions and skills for advanced literary analysis will be introduced. The second semester will accelerate the students’ exposure to literature, writing skills, and literary analysis. It is designed to further improve the students’ ability to write fluent paragraphs and multi-paragraph essays. It requires them to edit and proofread their writing and introduces them to poetry and drama. This course meets the UC/CSU “b” English requirement.

HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH 3-4 000310, 000311 Grades 10

Recommended Prerequisite: Honors 9th Grade Eng. or “A” in HSE 1-2, teacher recommendation.

Through the thematic and integrated study of literature and written composition, students will broaden their knowledge of literature, develop writing and thinking skills, hone punctuation and grammar skills, and further improve listening and speaking skills in individual and collaborative settings. This course meets the UC/CSU “b” English requirement.

HONORS HUMANITIES 1-2 000313, 000314 Grades 10

Recommended Prerequisite: Honors 9th Grade Eng. or “A” in HSE 1-2, teacher recommendation.

Honors Humanities 1-2 studies man’s relationship with society, nature, and himself. The course will emphasize expository expression, both written and oral. Through literary exploration, classroom activities, and by accessing outside resources the students will gain and be able to demonstrate an understanding of the development and influences of Western humanities. This course meets the UC/CSU “b” English requirement.

AMERICAN LITERATURE 1-2 000387, 000388 Grade 11

Recommended Prerequisite: HS English 3-4

This class explores the idea of the American Dream, what does it mean “To Be American”, and how literature helps shape human thought and action. Students are to gain an understanding of American Character through the study of the literary movements throughout American history through a variety of texts. Students will explore their understanding of rhetoric and acquire the skills to recognize an author’s rhetorical purpose, message, and appeals, while analyzing the intended audience and any identifying bias. The literature integrates with the writing process to broaden knowledge of literary techniques, to connect personal experience with the human condition, and to showcase analytical and objective thinking through evidentiary analysis. Students will also refine their knowledge of English language conventions and extend their vocabulary. Earns PUSD Credit for 11th Grade English and UC/CSU “b” requirements.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT ENGLISH LANGUAGE 1-2 000372, 000373 Grade 11-12

EXPOSITORY READING and WRITING 1-2 000315, 000316 Grade 12

Recommended Prerequisites: American Literature 1-2

Expository Reading and Writing prepares college-bound seniors for the literacy demands of higher education. Students in this rhetoric-based course will become more proficient in expository, analytical, and argumentative reading and writing, increasing their awareness of the rhetorical strategies employed by authors and applying those same strategies to their own writing. This course meets the UC/CSU “b” English requirement.

WORLD LITERATURE 1-2 000393, 000394 Grade 12

Recommended Prerequisite: American Literature 1-2

World Literature surveys the literary works of authentic authors who write about the country &/or region in which they live or were born, providing a global perspective on human experiences, values, and narratives. In this class, students will have the opportunity to read works from places such as: the Dominican Republic, Cyprus, Brazil, England, and beyond. It is designed to provide students with a more diverse perspective of their own world view as well as foster a more multifaceted awareness of other cultures globally. This course meets the UC/CSU “b” English requirement.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT ENGLISH LITERATURE 1-2 000370, 000371 Grade 12

Recommended Prerequisite: AP English Language 1-2

Advanced Placement English Literature 1-2 is a college-level course designed to prepare students to take the Advanced Placement English Literature examination. The course presents examples of Western literary development from the Greeks through the Twentieth Century, acquainting students with various genres and themes. Emphasis is placed on a close reading of the individual literary work. Emphasis is placed on the writing of research papers, creative narratives, and expository essays. This course meets the UC/CSU “b” English requirement.

A CRITICAL STUDY OF MASS MEDIA 000358, 000359 Grades 9-12

A Critical Study of the Mass Media requires students in this standards-based course to study the media’s methodologies by comparing and contrasting techniques used in news presentation and advertising. An analytical look into the world of mass media drives the course. Students examine the liberal and conservative bias in the presentation of news and editorial content, successful and failed techniques in advertising, and the ethics involved in media production and presentation. Radio and video clips, news magazines, and newspapers serve as the primary nonfiction sources of study and are enhanced by studying media analysts’ work. Daily reading, writing, and thinking are asked of students. This course meets the UC “g” Elective requirement.

ORAL INTERPRETATION (Speech & Debate) 1-2 000330, 000331(course receives fine art credit) Grades 9-12

This class combines all elements of oration and debate skills to enhance development of speaking, listening, argumentation, and confidence in the public realm. Students will explore the “Forensics” platform and be introduced to competition based events. These events will be explored and practiced in the classroom setting, combining elements of instruction, daily practice, and student led learning to improve public speaking. Daily participation in speech and debate practice rounds leads to growth, confidence, and success. Opportunities to also compete with the RBHS Speech and Debate Team through the San Diego Imperial Valley Speech League tournaments.

SPEECH WORKSHOP 000332, 070332 Grades 10-12

Recommended Prerequisite: Teacher Recommendation

Speech Workshop is an advanced, intensified course in the study and practice of giving speeches. Communication theory is taught and examined along with the important elements of delivery. The ethics of communication, literature interpretation, organization, delivery strategies, and debate techniques will also be taught. The student will prepare a contest speech for use in the San Diego Speech League or any service club contest. One quarter of this course meets the UC/CSU "g" Elective requirement. This course does not receive English Credit, ONLY Elective credit.

ADVANCE SPEECH AND DEBATE LEADERSHIP 000339 Grades 9-12

Leadership and teaching in the arena of Speech and Debate focuses on developing the twin skills of team building and mentoring individual students to reach high performance levels. During the process of developing leadership skills students will learn effective small and large group communication skills, time management, decision and problem solving skills, financial and logistical management for tournaments, as well as the methodologies and informational basis inherent to debate and oratory. This is the third course in a series of courses that allows students to develop oratory skills, mentor peers in the program, and develop leadership capacity. Advanced Speech and Debate Leadership will earn PUSD elective credit and be repeatable up to 60 credits. One quarter of this course meets the UC/CSU "g" Elective requirement. This course does not receive English Credit, ONLY Elective credit.

ETHNIC LITERATURE 000365-000366 Grade 12

This course will focus on the foundational disciplines of ethnic studies: African American Studies, Asian American Studies, Chicano Latino Studies, Middle Eastern, and Native American and Indigenous Studies. This course will promote cultural understanding and empathy through a deep analysis and examination of how systems of power in the United States have affected these groups. The course will also examine the intersectionality of gender and sexual orientation. This senior level course aligns with the California State Standards for English Language Arts. Teaching Tolerance’s Anti-Bias Framework along with culturally responsive strategies, such as Dr. Gholdy Muhammad’s historically responsive teaching, will be part of the instructional design of the class. Students will engage in discussions, conduct research, synthesize different mediums from poetry to film, and craft analytical essays in order to understand the social and political systems that have shaped different marginalized groups in America. Students will deepen their understanding of self and others through exploring their own implicit biases. Students will have the option to take this course or existing English courses available. This course will earn PUSD English credit for 12th grade students, and UC “b” English credit.