English

Prerequisite: Placement in SERP or International Programs. Department Chair approval required.

This course is designed to provide students with a foundation in writing, reading, and critical thinking necessary for continued success in high school. The course is intended for students currently enrolled in the SERP Program and the International Program who need further encouragement in reading, writing, speaking, and language development. The course is literature-based, with a comprehensive writing program covering both semesters. Students will respond in oral and written forms to the novel, short stories, epic poetry, drama, and nonfiction works they read, utilizing a variety of writing and presentation modes. The course curriculum follows the literature focus similar to English 1, and includes instruction in research methodology and synthesis.

• Homework Expectation: 1-2 hours per week, can include weekends & breaks
• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved
• NCAA Approved

How English 1A differs from English 1:

• The English 1A course is a specially-designed and modified curriculum for SERP and International students.
• English A students are exposed to the same units as the CP class; however, students are required to do less independent reading. Some chapters will be summarized; some short stories omitted.
• Graphic novels are substituted for Romeo and Juliet and The Odyssey.
• Writing instruction begins with sentence structure and mastering single organized paragraphs in the first semester; students embark on the four-paragraph essay in the second semester.
• The Courageous Activities research paper has fewer source and length requirements. The teacher will focus more on assisting students with executive functioning skills during this unit.

English 1 is a college preparatory course which focuses on the fundamentals of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The course is literature-based with a sacramental worldview, and includes a short story unit, such novels as Fahrenheit 451 and To Kill a Mockingbird, the drama Romeo and Juliet, and the epic poem The Odyssey. Writing instruction centers primarily on literary analysis in the form of organized paragraphs in the first semester; by the second semester, students write quote-embedded five-paragraph essays. Students also write a comprehensive research paper on Courageous Activists in the second semester. Additionally, the course includes bi-weekly vocabulary and grammar lessons.

• Homework Expectation: 1-2 hours per week, can include weekends & breaks
• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved
• NCAA Approved

How English 1 differs from English 1 Honors:

• Honors students read Fahrenheit 451 during the summer and an abridged version of Les Miserables during the school year.
• Honors students read more excerpts of The Odyssey.
• Honors students read an additional non-fiction book during the first semester.
• A poetry unit is included in the second semester.
• Writing instruction begins with the five-paragraph essay in the first semester and focuses on style and coherence. Honors students are expected to delve deeper into textual analysis and demonstrate limited usage errors.
• The Courageous Activist research paper has greater source and length requirements.
• Reading homework expectations for honors students are considerably increased during the Les Miserables and Odyssey units.

Prerequisites: Placement based on HSPT. Transfer students must pass a placement test.

This course covers advanced literature including mythology, drama, poetry, short stories, and the novel. Writing skills are stressed with an emphasis on process and on-demand literary analysis, and includes advanced instruction in research methodology and synthesis. Vocabulary includes the study of classical Greek and Latin roots, in preparation for standardized tests. Sophistication in grammar, reading comprehension, analytical thinking, and writing are vital. Participation in this class does not guarantee acceptance into English II Honors.

• Homework Expectation: 2-3 hours per week, can include weekends & breaks
• Summer Assignment Required: Due on 1st day of class
• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved
• NCAA Approved

How English 1 Honors differs from English 1:

• Honors students read Fahrenheit 451 during the summer and an abridged version of Les Miserables during the school year.
• Honors students read more excerpts of The Odyssey.
• Honors students read an additional non-fiction book during the first semester.
• A poetry unit is included in the second semester.
• Writing instruction begins with the five-paragraph essay in the first semester and focuses on style and coherence. Honors students are expected to delve deeper into textual analysis and demonstrate limited usage errors.
• The Courageous Activist research paper has greater source and length requirements.
• Reading homework expectations for honors students are considerably increased during the Les Miserables and Odyssey units.

Prerequisite: Students must apply to be in the program and must qualify for English 1 Honors through results of their HSPT test.

This year-long course explores the beginnings of poetry, narrative, and drama in Western civilization. The first semester guides students through representative works of ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian literature, followed by ancient Greek epic literature and drama. The second semester continues the study of Greek drama, examines the seminal literary works of ancient Rome, and culminates with the study of a novel that integrates key elements of the religious and philosophical traditions of ancient peoples. Throughout the course, students will consider how these great texts illuminate our understanding of God and humankind. Writing instruction begins with a five-paragraph essay in the first semester and focuses on style and coherence. Honors students are expected to delve deeper into textual analysis and demonstrate limited usage errors. The course includes bi-weekly vocabulary and grammar lessons.

• Homework expectation: 2-3 hours per week
• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved

How Humanities 1 Honors (English) differs from English 1 Honors:

• Humanities 1 Honors (English) focuses on the literary heritage of the ancient cultures that preceded and influenced Western Christianity; most of the texts are ancient and written in poetic form. English 1H is a genre-survey course that contains a mix of modern and ancient texts, including poetic works, but also multiple novels and short stories.
• Humanities 1 Honors (English) employs the Socratic Method teaching style more often: open-ended class discussion, often with students and teacher sitting in circle as peers, with heavy expectation on student-led dialogue and an emphasis on analysis and comparison of texts. English 1H employs periodic Socratic method with less analysis and integration, relying more on teacher-led instruction.
• Students in Humanities 1 Honors (English) will be expected to do a substantial amount of independent reading to consider the development of literature over time and its significance for our understanding of our cultural origins and theology. English 1H has significantly less reading and focus on connections to theology.

Prerequisite: Placement in SERP or International Programs. Department Chair approval required.

The course is intended for students currently enrolled in the SERP Program and the International Program who need further encouragement in reading, writing, speaking, and language development. This course continues to develop proficiency of the English language through reading comprehension and analysis, writing development, speaking fluency, as well as vocabulary and grammar usage. Students will respond to literature with an emphasis on written analysis and oral presentations using a variety of writing and presentation modes. The course curriculum follows the world literature focus similar to English, and includes instruction in research methodology and synthesis.

• Homework Expectation: 1-2 hours per week, can include weekends & breaks
• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved
• NCAA Approved

How English 2A differs from English 2:

• The English A course is a specially-designed and modified curriculum for SERP and International students.
• English A students are exposed to the same units as the CP class; however, students are required to do less independent reading. Some chapters will be summarized; one novel is omitted.
•  In the second semester students read The Alchemist in place of Cry the Beloved Country and A Midsummer Night's Dream.
• Writing instruction begins with re-teaching the four-paragraph essay in the first semester; students embark on the five-paragraph quote-embedded essay in the second semester. Students are also exposed to responding to analytical questions.
• The Genocide Research Paper has fewer source and length requirements. The teacher will focus more on assisting students with executive functioning skills during this unit.

English 2 is a college preparatory course which continues the fundamentals of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The course is literature-based with a sacramental worldview, and includes the memoir Night, such novels as The Lord of the Flies, The Alchemist, and Cry the Beloved Country, the drama A Midsummer Night's Dream, and the epic poem The Inferno. Writing instruction centers primarily on literary analysis in the form of four and five-paragraph, quote-embedded essays. Students also write a comprehensive, multi-source research paper on a post-Holocaust genocide in the first semester. Additionally, the course includes bi-weekly vocabulary lessons.

• Homework Expectation: 1-2 hours per week, can include weekends & breaks
• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved
• NCAA Approved

How English 2 differs from English 2 Honors:

• Honors students read a few different or additional texts, including Life of Pi during the summer which is not required of CP students. In the first semester, students read A Tale of Two Cities in place of The Lord of the Flies and The Alchemist. In the second semester, students read The Iliad in place of Cry the Beloved Country, and Julius Caesar in place of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
• A poetry unit is included in the second semester.
• Writing instruction begins with the five-paragraph quote-embedded essay in the first semester of English 2 H and focuses to a great degree on style and coherence. Honors students are expected to delve deeper into textual analysis and demonstrate advanced writing skills with limited usage errors.
• The Genocide Research Paper has greater source and length requirements.
• Reading instruction is less focused on basic comprehension, and more focused on analysis and stylistic evaluation. Students can be expected to read 25 pages per night.

Prerequisites: Minimum B- in the 1st semester and 3rd quarter of English 1 H or a minimum A- in the 1st semester and 3rd quarter of English 1. Transfer students must pass a placement test.

This course in advanced literature includes novels, a memoir, epic poetry, Shakespearean drama, and modern poetry. Writing skills are stressed with an emphasis on process and on-demand literary analysis, and includes advanced instruction in research methodology and synthesis. Vocabulary studies include a return to the origins of English words through recognition of Greek and Latin roots. Sophistication in grammar, reading comprehension, and analysis are required. Participation in this class does not guarantee acceptance into AP English.

• Homework Expectation: 2-3 hours per week, can include weekends & breaks
• Summer Assignment Required: Due on 1st day of class
• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved
• NCAA Approved

How English 2 Honors differs from English 2:

• Honors students read a few different or additional texts, including Life of Pi during the summer which is not required of CP students. In the first semester, students read A Tale of Two Cities in place of The Lord of the Flies and The Alchemist. In the second semester, students read The Iliad in place of Cry the Beloved Country, and Julius Caesar in place of A Midsummer Night's Dream.
• A poetry unit is included in the second semester.
• Writing instruction begins with the five-paragraph quote-embedded essay in the first semester of English 2 H and focuses to a great degree on style and coherence. Honors students are expected to delve deeper into textual analysis and demonstrate advanced writing skills with limited usage errors.
• The Genocide Research Paper has greater source and length requirements.
• Reading instruction is less focused on basic comprehension, and more focused on analysis and stylistic evaluation. Students can be expected to read 25 pages per night.

Prerequisite: Students must qualify for English 2 Honors.

This year-long course continues the four-year Humanities narrative, examining the characteristics of the flourishing of Christian culture. It begins by exploring the poetry, narrative, and drama that stretch from the Post-Apostolic Age and into the 19th Century. This first semester takes students on a tour of primary texts from the Early Church in the first generations after Christ, followed by notable poetic works that give insights into medieval culture and piety. Semester 2 continues to explore the marks of high Christian culture. The semester also focuses heavily on writing. It begins with a research paper, but then moves through novel, play, and fairy tales that integrate key elements of the religious and philosophical traditions of Christian Europe. Throughout the course, students will consider how these great texts illuminate our understanding of God, humankind, and what it means to live in Christian community. Writing instruction will develop the five-paragraph essay in the first semester and focus later on argument. Students are expected to delve deeper into textual analysis and demonstrate limited usage errors in their writing.

*Though completion of Humanities English Honors is preferred, students are allowed to transfer into year 2 of this program, provided prerequisites are met and the student’s application is approved by the program director.

• Homework expectation: 2-4 hours weekly, including weekend reading
• Year
• 10 Credits

Prerequisite: Placement in SERP or International Programs. Department Chair approval required.

The course is intended for students currently enrolled in the SERP Program and the International Program who need further encouragement in reading, writing, speaking, and language development. This course continues to develop proficiency in the English language by focusing on analysis of novels, short stories, drama, and poetry passages to understand the literature born on the American continent. The course is intended for students who need further encouragement in reading, writing, speaking, and language development. The course curriculum follows the American literature focus similar to English 3 and includes instruction in research methodology and synthesis.

• Homework Expectation: 1-2 hours per week, can include weekends & breaks
• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved
• NCAA Approved

How English 3A differs from English 3:

• The English A course is a specially-designed and modified curriculum for SERP and International students.
• English A students are exposed to the same units as the CP class; however, students are required to do less independent reading.
• In the first semester students read an abridged version of The Scarlet Letter, and, instead of Huckleberry Finn, students read short texts by Twain, Douglas, and London. In the second semester, students read The Crucible instead of The Catcher in the Rye.   
• Writing instruction is essentially the same, although students have more guided instruction and more class time for composition. Students may write fewer paragraphs in an essay or respond to fewer analytical questions in a unit.

English 3 is a college preparatory American Literature course which espouses the fundamentals of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The course is literature-based with a sacramental worldview.  It examines novels, short stories, poetry, and essays in the context of such literary movements as Romanticism, Transcendentalism, Gothic, Realism, Feminism, Modernism, the Harlem Renaissance, and Postmodernism. Writing instruction centers primarily on literary analysis in the form of analytical questions and five-paragraph, quote-embedded essays. Students also write a comprehensive, multi-source Themes Across History research paper in the second semester in which they examine how a theme in American Literature presents itself throughout history and culture. Additionally, the course includes regular lessons in vocabulary and usage.

• Homework Expectation: 1-2 hours per week, can include weekends & breaks
• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved
• NCAA Approved

How English 3 differs from AP English Language:

• AP Language is a completely different curriculum that follows the standards prescribed by the AP College Board.
• AP Language is not a literary analysis course. Instead, it explores the rhetoric, reasoning, organization, and style of exclusively non-fiction texts, such as In Cold Blood, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, and The Things They Carried. Students think deeply about language as a persuasive tool and about the dynamic relationship of writer, context, audience, and argument.
• Students who opt to take AP Language may not be exposed to the classic works of American Literature in their high school tenure.
• AP Language emphasizes writing as primary assessment. Students produce written work (both on-demand and process papers) on a weekly basis. Students are expected to already demonstrate sophisticated writing skills with a strong grasp of structure, style, vocabulary, and cohesion.
• AP Language students can expect to 1.5 hours of reading and/or writing homework per night.
• Be advised that a student coming from English 2 to AP Language makes a two-level leap in rigor and expectation. AP is not a high school honors class; it is a college-level class.

Prerequisites: Minimum B- in the 1st semester and 3rd quarter of English 2H or minimum A- in the 1st semester and 3rd quarter of English 2. Transfer students must pass a placement test.

This course is designed in accordance with the annual College Board Course Description for Advanced Placement English Language and Composition. It is a year-long course designed to mirror a freshman-level college writing course. This course continues an exhaustive practice in analysis of selected challenging works of non-fiction. Students will learn to recognize and analyze form, content, and style and to master their control of both using and deciphering language, style, and diction in writing. It emphasizes critical thinking, writing, vocabulary development, grammatical accuracy and research techniques. Students will employ their skills in several types of writing: expository, analytical, journaling, letters, personal essays, persuasion and argumentation.

• Homework Expectation: 3-4 hours per week, can include weekends & breaks
• Summer Assignment Required: Due on 1st day of class
• AP Exam Required: $105 Fee
• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved for Honors
• NCAA Approved

How AP English Language from English 3:

• AP Language is a completely different curriculum that follows the standards prescribed by the AP College Board.
• AP Language is not a literary analysis course. Instead, it explores the rhetoric, reasoning, organization, and style of exclusively non-fiction texts, such as In Cold Blood, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, and The Things They Carried. Students think deeply about language as a persuasive tool and about the dynamic relationship of writer, context, audience, and argument.
• Students who opt to take AP Language may not be exposed to the classic works of American Literature in their high school tenure.
• AP Language emphasizes writing as primary assessment. Students produce written work (both on-demand and process papers) on a weekly basis. Students are expected to already demonstrate sophisticated writing skills with a strong grasp of structure, style, vocabulary, and cohesion.
• AP Language students can expect to 1.5 hours of reading and/or writing homework per night.
• Be advised that a student coming from English 2 to AP Language makes a two-level leap in rigor and expectation. AP is not a high school honors class; it is a college-level class.

Prerequisites: Minimum B- in the 1st semester and 3rd quarter of English 2H or minimum A- in the 1st semester and 3rd quarter of English 2. Transfer students must pass a placement test.

This course continues the tradition of the JSerra Humanities program by coordinating the Classical pedagogy of the Trivium (grammar, logic, and rhetoric) with the AP Language and Composition framework. It is a year-long course designed to mirror a freshman-level college English course. This course challenges students to critically and comprehensively analyze selective works of non-fiction. Students will learn to recognize and analyze form, content, and style and to master their control of both using and deciphering language, style, and diction in writing. The course emphasizes critical thinking, writing, vocabulary development, grammatical accuracy, and research techniques using texts and excerpts from the late Medieval period through the Enlightenment, with a thematic focus on Modernism and its impact on the Christian culture of the West. Students will employ their skills in several types of writing: rhetorical analysis, synthesis and argument. Most importantly, as a JSerra Humanities class, this course challenges students to consider how these texts illuminate our understanding of God, humankind, and the marks of a Christian culture.

• Homework Expectation: 3-4 hours per week, can include weekends and breaks
• Summer Assignment Required: Due on 1st day of class
• AP Exam Required: $105 Fee
• Year
• 10 Credits
• Pending: UC Approval for Honors
• Pending: NCAA Approval

How Humanities 3 / AP English Language differs from AP English Language:

• In continuation of the JSerra Humanities tradition, students engage often in dialectic analysis (i.e., Socratic seminar) that leads to student-led discovery. The AP English Language course employs more traditional and varied teaching methods.
• Humanities 3 /AP Language text selections will differ from AP English Language in their focus on Catholic Worldview and revelation of truth, goodness, and beauty found within the time period from the late Middle Ages through the Enlightenment.
• Structure: Whereas the AP English Language units are structured to dive directly into a study of the three types of modes students are expected to master (Synthesis, Rhetorical Analysis and Argument), The Humanities 3/AP English Language class begins with the Trivium (material logic and grammar) as a basis for understanding the same modes.

How Humanities 3 /AP English Language differs from English 3:

• AP Language is a completely different curriculum than English 3CP that follows the standards prescribed by the AP College Board.
• AP Language is not a literary analysis course. Instead, it explores the rhetoric, reasoning, organization, and style of exclusively non-fiction texts. Students think deeply about language as a persuasive tool and about the dynamic relationship of writer, context, audience, and argument.
• Students who opt to take AP Language may not be exposed to the classic works of American Literature in their high school tenure.
• AP Language emphasizes writing as primary assessment. Students produce written work (both on-demand and process papers) on a weekly basis. Students are expected to already demonstrate sophisticated writing skills with a strong grasp of structure, style, vocabulary, and cohesion.
• AP Language students can expect to 1.5 hours of reading and/or writing homework per night.
• Be advised that a student coming from English 2CP to AP English Language makes a two-level leap in rigor and expectation. AP is not a high school honors class; it is a college-level class.

Prerequisite: Placement in SERP. Department Chair approval required.

The course is intended for students currently enrolled in the SERP Program who need further encouragement in reading and language development. The objective of this course is to continue to develop proficiency of the English language through reading comprehension and analysis, writing development, speaking fluency, as well as vocabulary and grammar usage. This British Literature course runs chronologically and includes literature from the Anglo-Saxon, Elizabethan, Romantic, and Post-Modernist movements. The course is intended to strengthen English skills and better prepare students for college-level curriculum. Students will respond to literature with an emphasis on written analysis and oral presentations using a variety of writing and presentation modes.

• Homework Expectation: 1-2 hours per week, can include weekends & breaks
• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved
• NCAA Approved

How English 4A differs from English 4:

• The English A course is a specially-designed and modified curriculum for SERP students.
•  English A students are exposed to the same units as the CP class; however, students are required to do less independent reading. Most reading assignments are completed in class; students have few homework assignments.
• In the first semester, The Canterbury Tales is omitted. In the second semester, graphic novels are used for Frankenstein and Brave New World.
• Writing instruction is essentially the same as the CP class; however, written assignments may be modified for length. Students will have more class time to work on written assignments. Students will engage more often in writing conferences.
• The Moral Challenges of Modern Science research paper has fewer source and length requirements. The teacher will focus more on assisting students with executive functioning skills during this unit.

English 4 is a college preparatory British Literature course which espouses the fundamentals of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The course is literature-based with a sacramental worldview; it includes the epic poems Beowulf and The Canterbury Tales, the drama Macbeth, and such novels as Frankenstein and Brave New World. Writing instruction centers primarily on literary analysis in the form of multi-paragraph, quote-embedded responses. Students also write a comprehensive, multi-source research paper in the second semester which examines the Moral Challenges of Modern Science. Additionally, the course includes regular lessons in vocabulary and usage.

• Homework Expectation: 1-2 hours per week, can include weekends & breaks
• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved
• NCAA Approved

How AP Literature differs from English 4:

• AP Literature is a completely different curriculum that follows the standards prescribed by the AP College Board.
• AP Literature explores the various facets of novels and poetry, particularly the authors' use of literary techniques, to interpret multiple meanings of the texts.
• Students who opt to take AP Literature may not be exposed to the classic works of British Literature in their high school tenure.
• AP Literature is recommended for students who enjoy reading. Students are expected to read novels in their entirety before class discussion begins; therefore, students must create their own reading schedules and budget their own reading time.
• In the fall semester, students will read Jane Eyre (422 pages) and The Awakening (109 pages); in the spring semester, students will read Crime and Punishment (505 pages) and Catch -22 (453 pages).
• Writing is almost entirely timed, on-demand literary analysis in preparation for the AP Literature exam in May. Students are expected to already demonstrate advanced writing skills with a strong grasp of structure, style, and cohesion.
• Be advised that a student coming from an English 3CP to AP Literature makes a two-level leap in rigor and expectation. AP is not a high school honors class; it is a college-level class.

Prerequisite: Minimum  B- in the 1st semester and 3rd quarter of AP Language or a minimum A- in the 1st semester and 3rd quarter of English 4.

This course is designed in accordance with the annual College Board Course Description for Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition. This year-long course focuses on critical analysis of prose and poetry passages to understand the reflexive nature of literary devices and analysis of how those literary devices enhance one's understanding of literature. The course addresses objective reading to promote reading practices in order to best support the multiple-choice responses. The class focuses on mastery of writing through both on-demand writing and processed papers, primarily focusing on literary analysis in preparation for the AP Literature Exam.

• Homework Expectation: 3-4 hours per week, can include weekends & breaks
• Summer Assignment Required: Due on 1st day of class
• AP Exam Required: $105 Fee
• Year
• 10 Credits
• UC Approved for Honors
• NCAA Approved

How AP Literature differs from English 4:

• AP Literature is a completely different curriculum that follows the standards prescribed by the AP College Board.
• AP Literature explores the various facets of novels and poetry, particularly the authors' use of literary techniques, to interpret multiple meanings of the texts.
• Students who opt to take AP Literature may not be exposed to the classic works of British Literature in their high school tenure.
•  AP Literature is recommended for students who enjoy reading. Students are expected to read novels in their entirety before class discussion begins; therefore, students must create their own reading schedules and budget their own reading time.
• In the fall semester, students will read Jane Eyre (422 pages) and The Awakening (109 pages); in the spring semester, students will read Crime and Punishment (505 pages) and Catch-22 (453 pages).
• Writing is almost entirely timed, on-demand literary analysis in preparation for the AP Literature exam in May. Students are expected to already demonstrate advanced writing skills with a strong grasp of structure, style, and cohesion.
• Be advised that a student coming from an English 3CP to AP Literature makes a two-level leap in rigor and expectation. AP is not a high school honors class; it is a college-level class.