Communications (Grade 9 – Semester 1 – 5 credits)
Communications focuses on grammar, composition, vocabulary, research, reading strategies, and academic writing. Students study multiple literary genres in-depth: short story, novel, drama, poetry and nonfiction, exploring rich literary themes through varied works from different time periods. Core readings include Lord of the Flies and Shakespearean Sonnets. Some units focus on public speaking, persuasive essays, expository writing, poetry, creative writing, and journalism. This course teaches students how to write a unified and coherent literary analysis essay and narrative essay. All units integrate skills in reading, writing conventions, speaking, listening, and working cooperatively. Students enrolled in Communications Honors may read additional titles and more challenging coursework.
American Literature (Grade 9 – Semester 2 – 5 credits)
The American Literature curriculum examines our nation’s ever-changing voice from early settlers to contemporary Americans. Units include The New World, A Nation is Born, A Growing Nation, and Disillusions and Defiance. In addition to exploring an array of short stories, essays, and other literary genres, students read The Interesting Life of Olaudah Equiano, Narrative of Frederick Douglass, The Crucible, and A Raisin in the Sun. Students write varied compositions that include an argumentative essay, and an expository essay. To reinforce test preparedness, students learn advanced vocabulary and augment critical reading skills. All units integrate skills in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and working cooperatively. Students enrolled in American Literature Honors may read other titles in addition to the more challenging coursework.
Multicultural Literature (Grade 10 – Semester 1 – 5 credits)
The Multicultural Literature curriculum examines topics such as A Culture of Empathy, Redemption After Failure, Tradition versus Modernity, and Oppression and Hope. Some texts used are Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri, Othello by William Shakespeare, Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, In the Time of Butterflies by Julia Alvarez, Night by Elie Wiesel, Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon, and When I Was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago. All units integrate skills in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and working cooperatively. Students enrolled in Multicultural Literature Honors may read other titles in addition to the more challenging coursework.
Advanced Communications ( Grade 10 – Semester 2 – 5 credits)
Advanced Communications reinforces a focus on grammar, composition, vocabulary, research, reading strategies, and academic writing. Students study multiple genres in-depth: short story, novel, drama, poetry and nonfiction. Additionally, students will explore rich literary themes in varied works from different time periods. Core readings include 12 Angry Men and Freedom Writers. This course teaches students how to write a unified and coherent academic essay and a research paper. All units integrate skills in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and working cooperatively. Students enrolled in Advanced Communications Honors may read other titles in addition to the more challenging coursework.
Core English (Grade 10-12 – One Semester Length – 5 credits) **SHU Dual College Credit**
Core English is a dual college credit course offered through Seton Hall University by a teacher in-house. The course focuses on short readings and narrative, informative, comparitive, argumentative, and research-based writing. “The Most Dangerous Game”, “Everyday Use”, “The Story of Three Little Pigs”, “Hills Like White Elephants”, “They Called Us Enemies”, “Warriors Don’t Cry”, “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind”, “This American Life”, “I, Too, Sing America”, and more texts are utilized for analysis and writing purposes. Students enrolled in Core English may read other titles in addition to the more challenging coursework.
World Literature 1 (Grade 11 – 5 credits – One Semester Length)
Building on proficiencies emphasized in previous grades, students in World Literature 1 explore how social institutions shape identity. Some topics of focus are creation stories, archetypes, heroes, epics, and kingdoms. This course includes rigorous literature, exemplified in the core readings: The Epic of Gilgamesh, Arabian Nights, Beowulf, and Oedipus Rex. In addition to extensive reading analysis, this course incorporates writing different types of essays. These writing requirements are specifically designed to enrich college and career readiness for seniors. All units integrate skills in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and working cooperatively. Students enrolled in World Literature 1 Honors may read other titles in addition to the more challenging coursework.
World Literature 2 (Grade 12 – 5 credits – One Semester Length)
In addition to enhancing reading and writing standards established in previous grades, World Literature 2 provides a literary perspective based on intercultural connections and global influences. Students examine literature from various eras and cultures, which include the following core readings: Canterbury Tales, Twelfth Night, Othello, 1984, A Modest Proposal, and The Kite Runner. Some units include analyzing Chaucer and the feminist theory, Shakespeare and gender theory, and Marxism and 1984. This course further refines the multi-paragraph composition, with emphasis on the development of compare and contrast and argumentative essays. All units integrate skills in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and working cooperatively. Those enrolled in World Literature 2 Honors may read other titles in addition to the more challenging coursework.