English Language Arts

905161—Advanced Placement (AP) English Language and Composition–English Language Arts III
Prerequisite: Honors English Language Arts II with a grade of “C” or higher, or English Language Arts II with a grade of “A”, on-grade level lexile score, or Proficient score on English  II EOC. 
Grade Placement: 11 
Length of Course: 1 year 
Credit: 1/2 English per semester (Honors) 

Advanced Placement English Language and Composition is an intensive, college-level course emphasizing nonfiction texts and composition. Students read, examine, and learn how to carefully analyze a broad range of challenging nonfiction prose, deepening their awareness of the purpose and effectiveness of rhetoric. Through analyzing professional pieces, students become familiar with the rhetorical strategies that make for effective, persuasive writing. Throughout the year, students write extensively over short as well as extended time frames. Course writings “require students to develop evidence-based analytic and argumentative essays that proceed through several stages or drafts. Students also evaluate, synthesize, and cite research to support their arguments. During the course, students develop a personal style by making appropriate grammatical and rhetorical choices” (College Board, AP Language and Composition Course Overview, 2019). Students enrolled in Advanced Placement English Language and Composition have the opportunity to earn college credit for the course by earning a passing score (3, 4, or 5) on the Advanced Placement English Language and Composition exam.

905594—Career Writing
Prerequisite: None 
Grade Placement: 12 
Length of Course: 1 semester 
Credit: 1/2 English

Career Writing emphasizes practical research skills,  inference, the writing process and professional  communication skills. Students focus on digital literacy, career preparation, intrapersonal and interpersonal  communications, group problem solving, public speaking, interview skills and formulating project proposals.

905734—College Composition I—(STLCC - ENG 101)
Prerequisite: “C” or better in Advanced Placement (AP) English Language Arts III or “A” in English Language Arts III and teacher recommendation
Grade Placement: 12
Length of Course: 1 semester
Credit: 1/2 (Honors)

College Composition I is taken in cooperation with St. Louis Community College for 3 hours of college credit. St. Louis Community College requires a GPA of­ 2.5 and ACT scores of 18 in reading and 18 in English. The ACT scores can be replaced by a strong enough Accuplacer score. This course focuses on the development of writing techniques. Students will develop effective writing styles, writing process, revision practices and analytical skills. There is a focus on college level reading and writing of various types of essays including a research component. Students will complete a minimum of 20 pages of final draft writing using MLA format.

905724—College Composition II—(STLCC - ENG 102)
Prerequisite: “C” or better in College Composition I or a “3” or better on the AP Composition and Language exam
Grade Placement: 12
Length of Course: 1 semester
Credit: 1/2 English

College Composition II is taken in cooperation with St. Louis Community College for 3 hours of college credit. St. Louis Community College requires a GPA of 2.5 and ACT scores of 18 in reading and 18 in English. The ACT scores can be replaced by an Accuplacer score of 276 or higher.  This course builds on knowledge and skills learned in College Composition I and focuses on argumentative and persuasive writing techniques. Students will develop effective writing processes, writing styles, research  abilities, analytical skills and argumentative tools. There is focus on college level reading and writing of various types of essays and a focus on research, persuasion and argumentation. Students will complete a minimum of 20 pages of final draft writing using MLA format.

905413—College Prep English
Prerequisite: “C” or better in English Language Arts III, teacher recommendation
Grade Placement: 12
Length of Course: 1 semester
Credit: 1/2 (Honors)

College Prep English is a rigorous, semester-long course designed for college-bound students. It concentrates on preparing students for college-level writing and work expectations. Students independently read a variety of nonfiction texts, write formally and informally, build their grammar skills, and develop effective work habits for college coursework. Student essays will focus on idea development, organization, and support as they write for specific audiences and purposes, including college admissions teams, scholarship committees, and peers.

905424—Contemporary Fiction
Prerequisite: English Language Arts III 
Grade Placement: 12 
Length of Course: 1 semester 
Credit: 1/2 
Contemporary Fiction involves reading, analyzing, discussing, and writing about modern novels and short stories. Focus areas include analyzing language, narrative, and theme. Students must be able to read independently and engage with novels and multi-step assignments.

905774—Creative Writing
Prerequisite: Juniors must be concurrently enrolled in English III.  Priority enrollment is given to seniors who need an additional ELA credit for graduation or honors recognition. Juniors may be admitted on a space-available basis if they meet the above criteria.
Grade Placement: 11, 12
Length of Course: 1 semester
Credit: 1/2 EnglishCreative Writing is for students who enjoy composing short stories, poems and plays. In addition to writing original pieces, students share selected works with their peers and critique other classmates’ work. Class members also contribute materials to Reflections, Ritenour’s literary  magazine.  

905211—Composition and Rhetoric
Prerequisite: None 
Grade Placement: 12 
Length of Course: 1 semester (Course can not be repeated) 
Credit: 1/2 English

Composition and Rhetoric applies reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills to different styles of argumentation. Students consider questions of opinion, policy, and ethical decision-making using both their own experience and applied research. Class members learn both extemporaneous and prepared styles of debate, completing extended and short writings to complete in-class performances.

905111—English Language Arts I
Prerequisite: None
Grade Placement: 9
Length of Course: 1 year
Credit: 1/2 English per semester

English Language Arts I examines a variety of classic and modern literature in several different genres including stories, novels, drama, and poetry. Students will learn to read critically to apply the literary elements to analyze authors' techniques and purpose. Students will focus on composing extended fictional and personal narratives as well as well-developed, well supported claims in response to questions about texts.

905121 English Language Arts II
Prerequisite: None
Grade Placement: 10
Length of Course: 1 year
Credit: 1/2

English per semester English Language Arts II emphasizes literary analysis and composition. Course readings include fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and drama. Course writings focus on using various text structures to analyze and compose expository writing. The study and use of literary devices and the writing process are emphasized. This is a state assessment (EOC) course.

905131—English Language Arts III
Prerequisite: None 
Grade Placement: 11
Length of Course: 1 year
Credit: 1/2 English per semester

English Language Arts III emphasizes nonfiction, fiction, and composition. Students practice rhetorical analysis skills with essays, speeches, visuals, and articles. Students practice literary analysis skills with poems, short stories, and novels. Throughout the year, students write extensively over short as well as extended time frames. Course writings emphasize a variety of rhetorical modes such as narration, exemplification, comparison and contrast, analysis, and argumentation.

905106—Foundations of English Language Arts I
Prerequisite: Recommendation by middle school reading interventionists or counselors, supporting data from MAP, STAR, and/or Evaluate  
Grade Placement: 9 
Length of Course: 1 year 
Credit: 1/2 English per semester 

This course is designed for students who are reading below grade level upon entering high school and in need of  intervention to meet foundational reading goals. Missouri Learning Standards will be taught using texts that are  both at a student's independent and instructional reading level. Students will learn reading and vocabulary strategies that will enable them to comprehend narrative and  informational texts, as well as poetry and drama. The course will also guide students through the writing process, and include explicit lessons on grammar, sentence  structure, and paragraph development. This will enable  students to cite information acquired through reading as a means of supporting and defending their personal  interpretation of a text.

905107—Foundations of English Language Arts II
Prerequisite: Recommendation by middle school reading interventionists or counselors, supporting data from MAP, STAR, and/or Evaluate  
Grade Placement: 10 
Length of Course: 1 year 
Credit: 1/2 English per semester 

This course is a continuation of Foundations of English Language Arts I; it is intended for students who need continued support to meet their foundational reading goals.  Students will learn reading and vocabulary strategies that will enable them to comprehend narrative and informational texts, as well as poetry and drama. There will be an increased focus on literary analysis, asking students to consider how the author's craft and structure contribute to the development of a main idea or theme. The course will also guide students through the writing process, and include explicit lessons on grammar, sentence structure, and paragraph development. Lessons over nonfiction text structure will support students as they compose blended genres (expository, narrative, and argumentative) essays. This is a state assessment (EOC) course.

905171—Honors English Language Arts I
Prerequisite: On grade-level lexile score, proficient score on 8th grade ELA MAP test.  To remain in Honors English 9 for the second semester, students must: Maintain a “B” or higher during the first semester, and Maintain a high school–level or higher Lexile score. 
Grade Placement: 9 
Length of Course: 1 year 
Credit: 1/2 English per semester (Honors)

Honors ELA I emphasizes a variety of classic and modern literature in different genres including short stories, novels, drama, and poetry. Students will practice annotation, critical thinking, and literary analysis techniques in order to interpret, evaluate, and connect to the text. Students will compose extended essays, narratives, and multimedia projects to demonstrate mastery of these skills. Success in Honors ELA I depends on a student's self-motivation, independent work habits, and ability to use constructive criticism effectively. A summer reading assignment will be assigned prior to beginning this course. Honors ELA I and II prepares students for Advanced Placement study as juniors and seniors.

905181—Honors English Language Arts II
Prerequisite: On-grade level lexile score.  Earn a “C” or higher in Honors English Language Arts I, or a “B” or higher in English Language Arts I. To remain in Honors English 10 for the second semester, students must: maintain a “B” or higher during the first semester. 
Grade Placement: 10 
Length of Course: 1 year 
Credit: 1/2 English per semester (Honors) 

Honors ELA II emphasizes the analysis of a variety of fiction and nonfiction including essays, articles, short stories, novels, drama, and poetry. Students will continue using analysis techniques introduced in Honors ELA I in order to gain a deeper understanding of materials studied. Honors ELA II focuses on author’s purpose and the literary techniques each author uses to add depth to his/her work. Students will compose short literary analysis writings and extended expository and persuasive essays along with creative and multimedia projects to demonstrate mastery and understanding of literary analysis. Students will also study academic vocabulary and grammar in order to prepare for the ACT/SAT. This course is reading and writing intensive with AP style questions and writing introduced and practiced. A summer reading assignment will be assigned prior to beginning this course. Honors ELA I and II prepares students for Advanced Placement study as juniors and seniors. This is a state assessment (EOC) course.

905873—Multicultural Literature and Film
Prerequisite: None
Grade Placement: 12 
Length of Course: 1 semester 
Credit: 1/2 English 

The purpose of this course is to gain an understanding of how culture influences an individual's behaviors, perceptions, values, and expectations. Emphasis will be placed on acceptance and appreciation for multicultural diversity with a focus on the perspectives of minority voices. Reading in the course is selected to be high-interest and thought provoking, and will include informational text, fiction, poetry, biographies, and drama. Writing will focus on narrative, informative, and argumentative pieces. Students will also be expected to research, discuss, and present on various topics which are sensitive in nature.

905105—Oral Communication I—(STLCC - COM 101 and MOTR COMM 100)
Prerequisite: “C” or better in English III, minimum 2.0 GPA and teacher approval 
Grade Placement: 12 
Length of Course: 1 semester 
Credit: ½ HS credit, 3 college credits  (Honors) 

Oral Communication is the basic college course in speech communication. It offers students an opportunity to explore effective one-to-one, small group, and large group oral communication processes. Emphasis is placed on a theoretical/conceptual approach as well as skill development and application or oral communication concepts to various communication settings and relationships.  Oral Communication is a basic requirement for most degree programs.  This is a weighted course, and will earn 3 college credit hours if paid for through STLCC.