CNG HS Academic Program Guide 2024 - 2025: ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS

Pre-AP ENGLISH 1 - FOUNDATIONS

9 A & B 

ENG106/ENG107

0.5 credit each

Texts take center stage in the PreAP English 1 classroom, inspiring and preparing all students for close, critical reading and analytical writing. Through carefully examining the details of a text and analysis of the author's style, students obtain an understanding of conventions of the English language and explore the power of language and literature. The course is constructed around the theme of "The Individual and the Collective," examining the portrayal of the world in literature and connections between characters and their environment. Students will reflect on their place in society and how their individual identities are shaped through the relationships of the collective institutions they belong to. This will be achieved through a combination of modern and traditional texts, which are studied collectively by the class and also individually, with a strong focus on the writing process to develop critical thinking skills. By exploring this theme, students have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of themselves and the world that surrounds them, and attempt to answer the questions: What is culture? How does one create and destroy culture? And what are the dangers of cultural, tradition and collective identity?

No prerequisite.

Average workload: 1-2 hours outside of class per week

Pre-AP ENGLISH 2 - FOUNDATIONS

10 A & B

ENG204/ENG205

0.5 credit each.

Pre-AP English 2 builds on the skills, content, and questions explored in Pre-AP English 1. In Pre-AP English 2, students will challenge their own notions of identity by reading and writing about ideas that subvert the notions explored last year. In Pre-AP English 2, students will engage with the study of becoming part of society (or against it) through contemporary and classical literature. Pre-AP English 2 is a foundational course that prepares students for higher levels of thinking, reading, and writing. Students of the Pre-AP English 2 classroom develop the necessary literacy skills that will empower them for success in higher-grade CNG classes.

Prerequisite successful completion of English 9 .

Average workload: 1 ½ -2 hours outside of class per week

ENGLISH 11: CREATIVE WRITING AND CRITICAL READING

11 A & B

ENG328/ENG329

0.5 credit each

This course embarks on a transformative journey of self-expression and storytelling through the dynamic framework of project-based learning. Designed for aspiring writers seeking an immersive and hands-on approach to honing their craft, this course integrates traditional writing instruction with collaborative projects aimed at fostering creativity, critical thinking, and real-world application. Throughout the course, students will engage in a series of thematic projects that encourage exploration of various genres, styles, and narrative techniques. From crafting statements of belief, vignette writing, to developing multimedia storytelling projects, participants will have the opportunity to experiment with diverse forms of creative expression while receiving guidance and feedback from both peers and the instructor.

Prerequisite successful completion of English 9 and 10
Average workload: up to 1 hour outside of class per week

AP ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION

11 - 12  A & B

ENG400/ENG401

0.5 credit each

This course is intended for students who are interested in deepening their analytical skills; are interested in exploring how writers, artists, and speakers express abstract ideas through concrete language; and are interested in seeing the argument in everything around them. Over the course of the year students will develop their ability to read critically and write intentionally, taking into consideration the rhetorical situation. Tapping into their own choice and voice through a variety of structured and creative projects, students will read, write, and speak extensively. Content includes: poetry, art, full length fiction and non-fiction texts, selected short readings, speeches, articles, and journals. Texts vary. The course culminates in the AP exam, which tests students’ ability to examine and demonstrate rhetoric at work in fiction, nonfiction, and art, through three free response essays and 55 multiple choice questions. Those who pass the AP exam often receive college credit.

Prerequisites: high proficiency in reading, writing, and managing multiple projects of varying scope.
Summer work: there may be required reading
Average workload: 3-5 hours outside of class per week

AP SEMINAR: TRUTH BEHIND THE TRUTH - CAPSTONE

11 A & B

ENG524/ENG525

0.5 credit each

This course is an epistemological exploration of the conception of truth from Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” to the era of “fake news”. What is true? And for whom? Does the truth even exist? How do we define it? Do we truly live in a post-truth society? We will explore these questions through multiple perspectives, as a part of the first Semester’s mock experience, and in preparation for College Board’s required Digital Portfolio submissions and End of Course Exam. This is a student-driven inquiry-based course that aims to engage students in cross-curricular conversations that explore real-world topics and issues from multiple lenses. Through extensive research, thinking, writing, collaborating, and presenting students pursue their unique interests. College Board assesses students as a team for a portion of one of the Performance Tasks; time management, assignment completion, and accountability are expected. AP Seminar an elective, and is the first of a two-year commitment to CNG’s AP Capstone Program. Students must successfully complete this course in order to enroll in AP Research as a senior. .

Recommended: Successful completion of at least one AP course in grade 10. Concurrent enrollment with one or more AP courses. Student must be in grade 11.

Average workload: 2-3 hours outside of class per week

ENGLISH 12 - RESEARCH

12 A & B

ENG456/ENG457

0.5 credit each

English 12 allows students to deeply explore an academic topic, problem, or issue of individual interest. Through this exploration, students design, plan, and conduct a year-long research-based investigation to address a research question. In the English 12 course, students further their skills such as understanding research methods; employing ethical research practices; and accessing, analyzing, and synthesizing information as they address a research question. Students explore their skill development, document their processes, and curate the artifacts of the development of their scholarly work in a portfolio. Weekly writing will follow a workshop format that emphasizes elements of mastery of the conventions of Standard English. The course culminates in a senior research project which includes an academic paper of approximately 4000–5000 words (accompanied by a performance or exhibition of product where applicable) and a presentation with an oral defense.

Prerequisite successful completion of English 9 , 10, & 11

Average workload: 2-3 hours outside of class per week

HONORS Pre-AP  ENGLISH 1 - FOUNDATIONS

9 A & B

ENG112/ENG113

0.5 credit each

This Honors course focuses on humanity’s foundational texts. Together we will discuss how these texts try to answer our greatest questions: Who are we? How did we get here? Why are we here? Where are we going? Texts may include but are not limited to the Book of Genesis, Gilgamesh, The Bhagavad-Gita, The Analects by Confucius, Tao Te Ching, Mary Zimmerman’s The Metamorphoses. All skills from Pre-AP English 1 will be covered via these challenging texts.

No prerequisite.

Average workload: 1-2 hours outside of class per week

HONORS Pre-AP ENGLISH 2 - FOUNDATIONS

10  A & B

ENG212/ENG213

0.5 credit each

In this course, students will apply analysis, language use, and argumentation abilities to a wide variety of texts in a search for the meaning behind creation. The expectation being that students search for truths across texts, not buried in any single work. Please note that, for the purposes of this course, texts mean novels, articles, essays, paintings, films, speeches and any concept conveyed through a medium that the audience can consume. Thus, in this class students will read several novels, film segments, artistic works, pieces of short fiction, poetry, and nonfiction, write, think, discuss, destroy, and create, all in an effort to better understand the complexity of the following questions: Who are we? Why are we thus? Who Cares?

Prerequisite successful completion of English 9 .

Average workload: 2 - 2 ½ hours outside of class per week

ENGLISH 11: LYRICAL LITERATURE 

11 A & B

ENG326/ENG327

0.5 credit each

This course explores how song lyrics function as literature. We’ll consider a range of song lyrics – from Kendrick Lamar to Taylor Swift, Beyonce to the Beatles, Gangsta Rap to Disney classics – all examining how the musical artists in the past have influenced our modern approaches. By critically analyzing song lyrics, you’ll explore how authors use language, sound, rhythm, and tone, as well as use these elements in your own writing. You will also have the chance to look at lyrics and music videos and connect them to the context in which they were composed all while reading novels, plays, and poetry that tie these themes together. This course requires neither musical knowledge nor creative writing experience, and will include songs built into the course as well as those chosen by students, who will collaboratively explore their own passions in this course.

Prerequisite successful completion of English 9 and 10
Average workload: up to 1 hour outside of class per week

AP ENGLISH LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION

11-12   A & B

ENG396/ENG397

0.5 credit each.   

This course is intended for students who like fiction, poetry or theater This course prepares students to read, analyze and enjoy all types of literature in English (poetry, plays, novels, short stories). With work balanced between writing and reading, students will read writers from the 16th century until today in the English language, from various Englishspeaking countries. In addition, students will experiment with writing their own works of literature. Students can expect to improve their vocabulary, reading comprehension, as well as style and grammar. 

Enough with the regular rhetorical drivel!
Put down your drab JSTOR database!
To dare to not eat a vegetable,
to take a break from the GPA race!
In this advanced course we will read:
a play by Shakespeare, books by Krys Lee,
Emily Dickinson and Voltaire’s Candide,
authors Sherman Alexie and Ngozi Adichie.
We’ll be working on improving your writing,
learning the best grammar and mechanics,
from the literature you’ll be citing
lines for symbolism and semantics.

Three essays, fifty-five multiple choice questions --Right!-- the test, that I almost forgot to mention.

Prerequisites: none
Summer work: There may be required reading
Average workload: 4 hours outside of class per week

AP RESEARCH: ADVANCED ENGLISH 12 - CAPSTONE

12  A & B

ENG522/ENG523

0.5 credit each

This course is intended for students who want to develop research skills. AP Research: Advanced English 12 allows students to deeply explore an academic topic, problem, or issue of individual interest. Through this exploration, students design, plan, and conduct a year-long research based investigation to address a research question. In the AP Research: Advanced English 12 course, students further their skills acquired in the AP Seminar course by understanding research methodology; employing ethical research practices; and accessing, analyzing, and synthesizing information as they address a research question. Students explore their skill development, document their processes, and curate the artifacts of the development of their scholarly work in a portfolio. The course culminates in an academic paper of approximately 4000–5000 words (accompanied by a performance or exhibition of product where applicable) and a presentation with an oral defense.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of AP Seminar
Summer work: There is not required summer work, however, it is desirable that students start to think about the kind of project that they will develop during the course.
Average workload: 4 - 6 hours outside of class per week