This course focuses on a study of literary genres; the students develop initial understanding of both the structure and the meaning of a literary work. The students explore the effect of the literary form in regard to interpretation. The students will read across the curriculum to develop academic and personal interests in different subjects. While the focus is technical writing in ninth grade literature, the student will also demonstrate competency in a variety of writing genres: narrative, expository, persuasive, and technical. The students will engage in research, timed writings, and the writing process. Instruction in language conventions will occur within the context of reading, writing, and speaking, rather than in isolation. The students demonstrate an understanding of listening, speaking, and viewing skills for a variety of purposes. This course must reflect the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards.

This course focuses on a study of World Literature; the students develop an understanding of chronological context and the relevance of period structures in literature within world cultures. A focus is to explore the ways the work’s place of origin affects its structure and how the chronology of a literary work affects its meaning. The students develop an understanding of literature as both a culture’s product and a culture-bearer. An exploration of commonalities and differences among works of literature from different times and places in the world is a major component. The students will read across the curriculum to develop academic and personal interests in different subjects. Depending on which grade level this course is taught, the teacher will follow strands from the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards for that grade level for composition, conventions, and listening, speaking, and viewing.

This course focuses on the study of American literature, writing modes and genres, and essential conventions for reading, writing, and speaking. The student develops an understanding of chronological context and the relevance of period structures in American literature. The students develop an understanding of the ways the period of literature affects its structure and how the chronology of a work affects its meaning. The students read a variety of informational and literary texts in all genres and modes of discourse. Reading across the curriculum develops students’ academic and personal interests in different subjects. While expository writing is the focus in American literature, the students will also demonstrate competency in a variety of writing genres: narrative, persuasive, and technical. The student will engage in research, timed writing, and the writing process. Instruction in language conventions will occur within the context of reading, writing, and speaking. The students demonstrate an understanding of listening, speaking, and viewing skills for a variety of purposes. This course must reflect the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards.

This course focuses on the study of American literature, embracing its rhetorical nature and recognizing the literature as a platform for argument. It also emphasizes a variety of writing modes and genres and the essential conventions of reading, writing, and speaking. The students will develop an understanding of how historical context in American literature affect its structure, meaning, and rhetorical stance. The course will enable students to become skilled readers of prose written in a variety of periods, disciplines, and rhetorical contexts. The students will encounter a variety of informational, literary, and non-print texts from across the curriculum and read texts in all genres and modes of discourse, as well as visual and graphic images. Instruction in language conventions and essential vocabulary will occur within the context of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The students will demonstrate an understanding of listening, speaking, and viewing skills for a variety of purposes. This course will focus on the consideration of subject, occasion, audience, purpose, speaker, and tone as the guide for effective writing, as well as the way generic conventions and resources of language contribute to writing effectiveness. The students will compose a variety of writing, including expository, analytical, and argumentative writings which support the academic and professional communication required by colleges; and personal and reflective writings which support the development of writing facility in any context. The students will produce responses to timed writing assignments, as well as writing that proceeds through several stages or drafts, which include opportunities for revision guided by feedback from teacher and peers. Students will analyze primary and secondary sources and develop the research skills needed to effectively synthesize these sources for their writing.

This course is designed to integrate the study of literature, grammar, vocabulary, and writing with an emphasis on the writing in college, career, and leisure settings. In preparation for the rigor of college courses, the workplace, and the unpredictability of life experiences, this class is for ambitious, hard-working students. We will focus on the writing process, current research materials, oral and written responses to literature, vocabulary study, and grammatical skills based on the Georgia Performance Standards.

This course focuses on the study of British literature, writing modes and genres, and essential conventions for reading, writing, and speaking. The students develop an understanding of chronological context and the relevance of period structures in British literature. The students develop an understanding of the ways the period of literature affects its structure and how the chronology of a work affects its meaning. The students encounter a variety of informational and literary texts and read texts in all genres and modes of discourse. Reading across the curriculum develops the students’ academic and personal interests in different subjects. While the continued focus is expository writing in British literature, the student will also demonstrate competency in a variety of writing genres: narrative, persuasive, and technical. The students will engage in research, the impact that technology has on writing, timed writing, and the writing process. Instruction in language conventions will occur within the context of reading, writing, and speaking, rather than in isolation. The students demonstrate an understanding of listening, speaking, and viewing skills for a variety of purposes. This course must reflect the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards.

The course focuses on an intensive study of representative works from various literary genres and periods. The focus is on the complexity and thorough analysis of literary works. The students will explore the social and historical values that works reflect and embody. The textual detail and historical context provide the foundation for interpretation: the experience of literature, the interpretation of literature, and the evaluation of literature. Writing to evaluate a literary work involves making and explaining judgments about its artistry and exploring its underlying social and cultural values through analysis, interpretation, and argument (e.g. expository, analytical, and argumentative essays). The writers will develop stylistic maturity: strong vocabulary, sentence variety, and effective use of rhetoric to maintain voice. An AP syllabus will be submitted and approved by College Board.

This course focuses on journalistic writing through analysis of newspapers, yearbooks, literary magazines, and broadcast journalism publications. A concentration on the following components of journalistic writing is critical: influence, purpose, structure, and diction. Reading, writing, and critical thinking are key components as students explore the power and influence of journalism. Students will participate in news gathering, the study of ethics, and the aspects of copy writing, editing, and revising and will study the ethics of journalism. If a publication is produced, the students will learn the process of publishing. This course requires an application.

The course offers an advanced study of journalistic writing. Skills from Journalism I are continued; the students focus on a more intense analysis of print and broadcast publications. Students read extensively to explore and analyze the influence of good journalistic writing. This course requires more critical thinking and more in-depth writing. This course requires an application.

This course is an extension of Journalism I and II; the students will enhance and hone the skills in journalistic writing, with a main focus in analysis of print and broadcast publications. An in-depth coverage of level-two topics will serve as the main premise. Students will evaluate and apply skills appropriately and efficiently to various publication opportunities and activities. This course requires an application.

This course is designed for students who have mastered skills in Journalism III. The students will publish journalistic articles either in a school newspaper or in the local newspaper. Research and interviews will be required when formulating ideas for writing. The range of opportunities to apply skills will be increased. This course requires an application.

Mythology is an elective class that is offered to students in grades nine through twelve. Its purpose is to provide a broad overview of background and context for an in-depth study of literature. The students will be expected to individually read in this class. Because the curriculum includes so many different countries’ ancient myths, we will teach these stories in a variety of ways: reading novels, plays, and short stories, researching gods and goddesses, creating presentations and writing original myths.