English Course Composites | Westford Public Schools

English

The goals of the English Department are to teach students to speak and listen effectively, to read with comprehension, to write clearly and correctly, to engage in research, and to be open minded and reflective in their thinking.

001 - English 9 CP - 5 credits

Students will develop an understanding of the five literary genres: novel, short story, poetry, drama, and non-fiction. They will review and acquire 300 new vocabulary words. In addition, students will participate in formal and informal discussions and write compositions and essays that have been revised and edited for correctness and expression. Process writing will be stressed.

002 - English 10 CP - 5 credits

Students will extend and refine their understanding of the five literary genres: novel, short story, poetry, drama, and non-fiction. They will acquire 300 new vocabulary words as well as refine their understanding of grammar with a focus on usage. In addition, students will participate in formal and informal discussions, engage in research, and write compositions and essays that have been revised and edited for correctness and expression. Students will work on MCAS prep by learning test-taking strategies and by writing constructed responses.

003 - English 11 CP - 5 credits

A major emphasis of this course is the examination of American Literature. Novels, short stories, essays, poems, and plays that reveal aspects of the American experience will be studied. America as revealed in its myths, literary movements and history forms the basis of student inquiry. Grammar and usage will be addressed through writing. Students will acquire 300 new vocabulary words, participate in formal and informal discussions, and engage in research. The focus of student writing will be on analytical and persuasive essays that have been revised and edited for correctness and expression. In addition, students will prepare for the SAT test by working on literary models, the conventions of language, and test taking skills.

004 - English 12 CP - 5 credits

A major emphasis of this course is British and World Literature. Students will be exposed to Greek and Elizabethan drama, medieval as well as modern poetry, and literary models that span several centuries as well as several cultures. Students will generate, examine, and reflect upon personal values by responding to literature. In addition, students will acquire 300 new vocabulary words, participate in formal and informal discussions, and engage in research. The focus of student writing will be on analytical and persuasive essays that have been revised and edited for correctness and expression. Students will also work on personal narratives and reflective essays that are suitable for college applications.

034 - English 9 CP - 5 credits

Course 034 is primarily a skills-building course offered to students who have been identified and recommended by the English Department as benefitting from more individualized instructional practices. The course is paced so that students will be afforded more time to practice and master concepts, as well as become familiar with test-taking strategies and techniques.

035 - English 10 CP - 5 credits

Course 035 is offered to students who have been identified and recommended by the English Department as benefitting from more individualized instructional practices.

036 - English 11 CP - 5 credits

Course 036 is offered to students who have been identified and recommended by the English Department as benefitting from more individualized instructional practices.

037 - English 12 CP - 5 credits

Course 037 is offered to students who have been identified and recommended by the English Department as benefitting from more individualized instructional practices.

English Honors / Advanced Placement Courses

To select honors, students must receive a recommendation from their English teacher, achieve at least a 93 average in eighth grade language arts, achieve a 90 average in a college preparatory class, or maintain an 85 average in the honors program. Teacher recommendations are based on the "Characteristics of a Successful Honors English student," which can be found on the English department webpage. In addition, those students who seek to move from the college preparatory class into the honors program may be asked to complete an assessment to demonstrate their inferential reading level to be consistent with others in the honors program. In order to enter the Advanced Placement class, a student must have participated in the honors program and have earned at least an 87 average. Students may not move from a college preparatory class into the Advanced Placement class.

038 - English 9 H - 5 credits

English 9 Honors parallels the freshman college preparatory curriculum in its concentration on genre study. The honors course is an accelerated class in which students will be expected to read and analyze extensively and critically, to write in a sophisticated manner and, in general, to establish high expectations for themselves. Students will review and acquire an understanding of grammar and usage, as well as develop an understanding of the five literary genres: novel, short story, poetry, drama, and non-fiction. In addition the student will acquire 300 new vocabulary words, participate in formal and informal discussion, and write compositions and essays that have been revised and edited for correctness and expression. Process writing will be stressed.

039 - English 10 H - 5 credits

English 10 Honors parallels the sophomore college preparatory curriculum in its concentration and focus. The honors course is an accelerated class in which the student will be expected to read and analyze extensively and critically, to write in a sophisticated manner and, in general, to establish high expectations for themselves. Students will extend and refine their understanding of grammar with a focus on usage and their understanding of the five literary genres: novel, short story, poetry, drama, and non-fiction. In addition, students will acquire 300 new vocabulary words, participate in formal and informal discussions, engage in research and write compositions and essays that have been revised and edited for correctness and expression. The student will also work on MCAS prep by learning test-taking strategies and by writing constructed responses.

040 - English 11 H - 5 credits

English 11 Honors parallels the junior college preparatory curriculum in its concentration on American Literature. The in-depth scrutiny of the works of American writers as well as the emphasis on writing and thinking skills reflect the level of sophistication expected of students. In addition, students will acquire 300 new vocabulary words. Proficiency in rhetoric and composition, vocabulary, library research, and literary analysis is required.

041 - English 12 H - 5 credits

English 12 Honors, the final sequence of a traditional high school honors program, is a reading and writing intensive course. It parallels the senior college preparatory curriculum in its concentration on British and World Literature. The in-depth scrutiny of the works of British and World writers as well as the emphasis on writing and thinking skills reflect the level of sophistication expected of students. In addition, the student will acquire 300 new vocabulary words. Proficiency in rhetoric and composition, vocabulary, library research and literary analysis is required. Active class discussion and participation are expected. Students will also spend time on writing and revising the college application essay.

042 - English Literature & Composition AP - 5 credits

In an Advanced Placement course in English Literature and Composition students are involved in both the study and practice of writing and the study of literature. Students will learn to use the modes of discourse and to recognize the assumptions underlying various rhetorical strategies. Through speaking, listening and reading, but chiefly through the experience of their own writing, students will become more aware of the resources of language: connotation, metaphor, irony, syntax, and tone. Assignments will focus on the critical analysis of literature and will include essays and discussion in exposition and argumentation. The desired goals are the effective use of language and the organization of ideas in a clear, coherent and persuasive way.

Students selecting this course are expected to take the Advanced Placement English exam in May.

English Electives

English electives can be taken in addition to regular English classes. The signature and approval of the present English teacher is required. English electives do not satisfy the English requirements. Electives will be given dependent upon numbers of sign-ups and availability of English teacher time slots.

044 - Journalism CP - 5 credits

This one year course exposes students to the basics of journalism and news production. Students will learn to conduct interviews, to write in a variety of forms, to write captions and headlines, to design print pages, and the basics of photojournalism. Students will be exposed to the following written forms: news writing, feature writing, sports writing, editorial writing, and review writing. Students are expected to interview a variety of sources in and out of the school. Student work will be published online at waghostwriter.com and in print form in the WA Ghostwriter.

045 - Journalism II H - 5 credits

Prerequisite: Journalism 1 and Instructor's approval.

050 - Creative Writing CP - 2.5 credits

This course is a writing workshop for students who wish to pursue creative writing and discover their voice. Through teacher lessons and models, students will learn about various genres of creative writing -- including but not limited to narrative essay, short story and poetry. Students will gain material for writing from their imaginations and their life experiences. Students will have the opportunity to pursue their own writing interests. Sharing work and receiving open feedback from others is a central part of the course. This course is open to juniors and seniors and to sophomores with permission from their teacher and if space allows.

051 - Creative Writing H - 2.5 credits

This course is a writing workshop for students who wish to pursue creative writing and discover their voice. Through teacher lessons and models, students will learn about various genres of creative writing -- including but not limited to narrative essay, short story, and poetry. Students will gain material for writing from their imaginations and their life experiences. Students will have the opportunity to pursue their own writing interests. Sharing work and receiving open feedback from others is a central part of the course. This course is open to juniors and seniors and to sophomores with permission from their teacher and if space allows.

For honors credit, students will be expected to complete additional assignments at the same level as the standard honors English courses.

055 - Film and Literature: Good Movies, Better Books CP - 2.5 credits (11-12)

Do you know that some of the most thought-provoking movies viewed in the 20th and 21st centuries are based on even better novels, short stories, and plays? This course will explore the complex interplay between film and literature. Selected novels, short stories, and plays are analyzed in relation to film versions of the same works in order to gain an understanding of the possibilities and problems involved in transferring a story from the page to film. What elements of the work are lost in the transition? What is gained?

056 - Film and Literature: Good Movies, Better Books H - 2.5 Credits (11-12)

Do you know that some of the most thought-provoking movies viewed in the 20th and 21st centuries are based on even better novels, short stories and plays? This course will explore the complex interplay between film and literature. Selected novels, short stories, and plays are analyzed in relation to film versions of the same works in order to gain an understanding of the possibilities and problems involved in transferring a story from the page to film. What elements of the work are lost in the transition? What is gained?

*This course requires extensive reading and writing in addition to viewing films and taking part in class discussions. Students will be expected to present critical analysis and illustrate their ideas based on the study of film and literature at the same level as the standard Honors English courses.

893 - Empowerment & Goal Setting CP - 2.5 credits (10-12)

What makes us feel EMPOWERED? How can this understanding help us to be more resilient individuals and to be more responsible, active participants in the global society? Answers to these questions will be explored through this new semester elective offered through the English and Health departments. Topics include Game Changers in History, the role of Gender in Society, Domestic Violence, Individual Health Needs and Gender Equality/Equity. The course includes personal goal-setting, confidence building techniques, and daily self-reflection. This course is open to students in grades 10-12.