CNG HS Academic Program Guide 2023 - 2024: ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Pre-AP ENGLISH 1

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.

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.

HONORS Pre-AP ENGLISH 2

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?

ENGLISH 11:

CREATIVE WRITING AND CRITICAL READING 11 A & B

ENG328/ENG329                                                                       0.5 credit each

This course explores the importance of reading as part of a creative writer’s development. You will gain inspiration and ideas from examining other writers’ methods, as well as enhancing your critical reading skills. A diverse range of examples will cover the genres of fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, film and scriptwriting. You will also have the opportunity to apply the insights you have gleaned to your own writing, by producing short creative pieces.

Prerequisite successful completion of English 9 and 10

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 analytic skills; are interested in how speakers develop arguments; would like to see the argument in everything around them; are self-motivated; are able to manage a significant workload with little teacher oversight. Those who have taken Pre-AP English are strongly encouraged to sign up for this challenging class that examines rhetoric in writing and speaking. Over the course of the year students will develop their ability to read critically and write intentionally, taking into consideration purpose, audience, context, choices, appeals and tone. In doing so, they will read, write, and speak extensively. Content includes: full length fiction and non-fiction texts, selected short readings, speeches, articles, journals, etc. Texts vary. The course culminates with the AP exam, which tests the students’ ability to examine rhetorical devices in both fiction and nonfiction. 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: Not required but a Summer Reading List is offered
Average workload: 3-5 hours per week

AP SEMINAR:  Doing and Undoing Gender

11  A & B

ENG530/ENG531                                                                                                    0.5 credit each

This course examines the construction of gender and the identification of sex through a series of scientific, historic, economic, anthropological and philosophical texts, among other disciplines. The AP Seminar is an inquirybased course that aims to engage students in cross-curricular conversations that explore real-world topics and issues from multiple perspectives.

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.

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

Pre-AP ENGLISH 2

10 A & B

ENG204/ENG205                                                                                            0.5 credit eaah

Pre-AP English 2 builds on the foundations of Pre-AP English 1. While Pre-AP 1 focuses on the understanding of us as social beings, Pre-AP English 2 looks into the development of individual identities, where we will study and answer questions such as What are the stories I’ve been told? Do I believe in/agree with those stories? What if I buy into the stories? But what happens if I don’t buy into them? and in the end, what will MY story be? The course will cover multiple different texts, with a wide range of voices and genres being covered, while focusing on the development of the skills needed to read and write across genres, while also developing strong analytical and presentational skills.

English 9 is a prerequisite.

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

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 a recommended novel
Average workload: 4 hours per week

AP SEMINAR: The Truth Behind Truth

11 A & B

ENG524/ENG525                                                                            0.5 credit each

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? Do we truly live in a post-truth society? We will explore these questions through multiple perspectives. The AP Seminar is an inquiry-based course that aims to engage students in cross-curricular conversations that explore real-world topics and issues from multiple perspectives.

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.

AP RESEARCH: ADVANCED ENGLISH 12

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 hours per week

_______________ ENGLISH ELECTIVE ______________

ADVANCED COMPOSITION AND CONFERENCING
(THE WRITING CENTER)  10-12 A & B

ENG528/ENG529                                                                                      0.5 credit each

The purpose of this course is to grow already advanced writers and build in them the ability to be a peer tutor and leader through the workshop model in a Writing Center setting. In this course, students will improve their own writing and knowledge of writing strategies and techniques and learn the power of being a peer leader within the school. Additionally, students will hone their writing skills working with complex works of academic discourse around best practices in Writing Centers at the University level and in reading the literary work of published writers for purposes of inquiring how to write better ourselves. In the first semester, students will learnhow to guide others with a writing assignment to understand the assignment/audience, generate ideas/questions, form a thesis, choose an organizational pattern, revise and edit. Students will read peer-reviewed articles that employ MLA, APA and other citation and research elements. Students will be guided in the writing workshop model and will practice having their own writing conferences with each other, teachers and students in a variety of classes. Students will gain a deeper understanding of the workshop approach to guiding writers. Throughout the course, students will be responsible for promoting the Writing Center among the student body, developing the revising protocols and processes for the Center, and taking appointments with actual student clients.

This course can be counted for 1.0 credit of English in 11th grade as a yearlong English course.
This course can be counted for 0.5 credit in 12th grade as a semester length elective.