This course is a required component of the AMHS 11th grade curriculum and is the first course required to potentially earn an AP Capstone Certificate or Diploma. AP seminar is a foundational course that engages students in cross-curricular conversations that explore the complexities of academic and real-world topics and issues by analyzing divergent perspectives. Using an inquiry framework, students practice reading and analyzing articles, research studies, and foundational literary and philosophical texts; and viewing speeches, broadcasts, personal accounts, artistic works and/or performances. Students learn to synthesize information from multiple sources, develop their own perspectives in research-based written essays, and design and deliver oral and visual presentations, both individually and as part of a team. Ultimately the course aims to equip students with the power to analyze and evaluate information with accuracy and precision to craft and communicate evidence-based arguments. Note: A required course for AMHS students.

AP Research is a required component of the AMHS 12th grade curriculum and is the second course required to potentially earn an AP Capstone Certificate or Diploma. AP Research allows students to deeply explore an academic topic, problem, issue, or idea of individual interest. Students design, plan, and implement a yearlong investigation to address a research question. Through this inquiry, they further the skills they acquired in the AP Seminar course by learning research methodology, employing ethical research practices, and accessing, analyzing, and synthesizing information. Students reflect on their skill development, document their processes, and curate the artifacts of their scholarly work through a process, and reflection portfolio. The course culminates in an academic paper of 4,000—5,000 words (accompanied by a performance, exhibit or product where applicable) and a presentation with an oral defense. Note: A required course for AMHS students.

The English 1 Honors curriculum at Academic Magnet High School is unique in Charleston County School District. Writing is taught with the AP Capstone Diploma program in mind, which every student will enroll in during their junior and senior years. The course includes ancient and classic literature to provide foundational knowledge that subsequent courses build upon, as well as modern and contemporary literature by diverse authors to introduce students to current conversations in the field and the world. The distinctive design of the course at Academic Magnet High School is why every incoming freshman must take it, even if they receive credit for English I prior to enrolling at AMHS. In English 1 Honors, students will read a variety of literary and informational texts to develop analytical skills. Through literary texts, students will study, craft, and determine points of view, and analyze themes and figurative language. Through informational texts, students will evaluate arguments and claims to assess valid reasoning and relevant evidence. In addition, students will continue to develop knowledge of vocabulary to include roots, affixes, euphemisms, and idioms for use in reading, writing, and oral communication. Students will produce coherent and well-organized writing that includes a thesis and supporting evidence. Students will also conduct research from primary and secondary sources to present to their peers and instructor in oral, written, and visual formats. Students will evaluate the validity of their sources, incorporate their own ideas with the information they have chosen from those sources, and distinguish that information from their own ideas by providing accurate and complete documentation of the sources they have used.

Students in English 2 Honors will continue to build on the skills described in the English 1 Honors course description. Although this course is based on the South Carolina College and Career Readiness Standards for Grade 10, it will be taught on the Honors level with an emphasis on critical reading and writing. Students transferring into Academic Magnet in grade 10 are strongly encouraged to take English2 Honors with their grade-level peers. Tenth grade students will develop analytical skills through a sustained and structured study of classic and contemporary works from World Literature. Students will explore various literary periods, genres, and texts. Students will learn the language of literary study and analyze not only the content of texts, but the craft as well. Additional skills include interpreting, comparing and contrasting, synthesizing, and applying information. Students will write frequently, engaging in the writing process and developing skills necessary for timed writings required in AP English courses and research papers in the AP Capstone courses. Students enrolled in this course will take a South Carolina End of Course exam that will count as 20 % of their final grade.

In English 3 Honors, students refine their knowledge of language through a focused study of American Literature. Through literary texts, students study the author’s craft by making inferences within and across works, examine the impact of point of view, analyze theme and figurative language, and determine the relationship between characters, plot, and theme. By reading a variety of informational texts, students analyze an author’s development and support of a thesis and create a variety of responses to texts. In addition, students continue to develop and use their reading, writing, and oral communication skills, in addition to learning vocabulary that consists of literary terms, poetic devices, and word lists generated from college-bound assessments. In writing, students produce coherent and well-organized essays with a thesis and supporting evidence. In implementing the writing process, students compose various types of written works, including personal narratives and informational (expository/persuasive/argumentative) pieces. Personal narratives will use descriptive language to create tone and mood, in addition to capturing the student’s individual voice. In carrying out the research process, students identify a topic, collect information from primary and secondary sources, and present their findings and conclusions in oral, written, and visual and digital formats. In addition to evaluating the validity of their sources and evidence, students will incorporate quotations, paraphrases, and summaries into all informational writing. After incorporating their own ideas with information from other sources, students distinguish their own ideas from those of others by providing accurate, MLA formatted documentation.

English 2 Honors – With a Year Grade of 90 or Above by the End of the Third Nine Weeks According to the College Board’s Course and Exam Description, “The AP English Language and Composition course focuses on the development and revision of evidence-based analytic and argumentative writing, the rhetorical analysis of nonfiction texts, and the decisions writers make as they compose and revise. Students evaluate, synthesize, and cite research to support their arguments. Additionally, they read and analyze rhetorical elements and their effects in nonfiction texts—including images and forms of texts—from a range of disciplines and historical periods.” Because students take this course in lieu of English 3, the focus is on texts written by American writers, both fiction and non-fiction. Each student enrolled in Advanced Placement \ \® English Language and Composition is required to take the \ A P ( \ \ B ) Exam at the end of the course. Many colleges and universities grant college credit or placement through qualifying \ A P ( \ \ B Exam scores. This course replaces English 3 for participating students.

Students complete a chronological study of British literature beginning with Beowulf and The Canterbury Tales to post-modern short stories and contemporary novels. A variety of genres are examined including poetry, drama, non-fiction essays, and prose. Students expand their analytical skills through structured study and independent reading as well as through class discussions. Students study how the author crafts the work to create meaning. Students build on their close textual analysis skills to determine how the author develops theme and character through the use of literary devices such as figurative language. Students also consider the historical context in which the works were written to further develop an understanding of the text. In addition, English 4 Honors students continue to create a variety of written responses that include literary analysis as well as creative products using art and presentations. Students continue to build upon the writing skills learned in previous years focusing on the use of precise and sophisticated language, complex and varied sentence structure, and insightful and meaningful interpretations. The use of outside sources, primarily literary criticism, is required to develop a topic and to support analyses. Students proofread and edit their work for the correct use of conventions of written Standard American English and MLA, and they use revision strategies to improve such elements as voice, content and development, and organization.

English 3 Honors – With a Year Grade Average of 90 or Above by the End of the Third Nine Weeks OR ● AP English Language and Composition – With a Year Grade Average of \ 8 7 or Above by the End of the Third Nine Weeks According to the College Board’s Course and Exam Description, “The AP English Literature and Composition course focuses on reading, analyzing, and writing about imaginative literature (fiction, poetry, drama) from various periods. Students engage in close reading and critical analysis of imaginative literature to deepen their understanding of the ways writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure. As they read, students consider a work’s structure, style, and themes, as well as its use of figurative language, imagery, and symbolism. Writing assignments include expository, analytical, and argumentative essays that require students to analyze and interpret literary works.” Each student enrolled in Advanced Placement \ \® Literature and Composition is required to take the \ A P ( \ \ B ) Exam at the end of the course. Many colleges and universities grant college credit or placement through qualifying \ A P ( \ \ B ) Exam scores. This course serves as English 4 for participating students. This course will be offered based on student interest and teacher availability. Seniors have precedent.

This course is designed for students actively involved in the production of an on-line school newspaper. Students should possess average or above average verbal ability.

This course is designed for students actively involved in the production of a school yearbook. Students should possess average or above average verbal ability. This course will be offered based on student interest and teacher availability. Seniors will be registered first and available seats will be offered to the next grade level.

This course introduces the principles of public speaking with the application of speaking skills in varied communication situations. Emphasis is placed on content and organization in the development and delivery of oral messages. This course may be offered every other year and based on student interest and teacher availability.

This course focuses on writing as a form of art and personal expression. Workshops, peer review, and author studies support the development and refinement of texts for publication. Genres include poetry, short stories, and creative nonfiction. This course may be offered in even years (24, 26, etc.) based on student interest and teacher availability.