Page 15 - Overbrook Course Selection Guide

ENGLISH

Course Sequencing
Honors (Level IV) Advanced (Level III) College Preparatory (Level II)
English 9 English 9 English 9
English 10 English 10 English 10
English 11 English 11 English 11
English 12 English 12 English 12

Introduction: All students must pass four years of English in order to graduate from a New Jersey high
school. At our high school, these courses have several designations: the grade at which the course is offered,
and the level of achievement required in grades 9-12 which will be Level IV (Honors), Level III (Advanced),
Level II (College Preparatory), and Level 1 (Remedial). Students in the Advanced Placement/Honors and
Advanced levels are expected to work with greater independence and do more extensive reading and writing
activities than students in the College Preparatory Level. Honors courses have both academic and achievement
pre-requisites.

ENGLISH 9
Level: IV – Honors Credits: 05
This course provides an accelerated, unified program of instruction in language, literature, and
composition, engaging the student with appropriate practice in listening, reading, speaking, writing, and critical
thinking. In addition to meeting the standards set for other 9th grade English classes, the student will be
challenged, expected to write papers, and complete projects which reflect, not only the various literary works used
in class, but the relevance and importance of these works. The purpose of the course is to provide advanced
language arts experiences and opportunities for students who have mastered the individual reading, writing and
speaking skills at the seventh and eighth grade levels. Independent reading and writing are expected. Pre-
th
requisite: Minimum grade of 90 from 8 the grade English and a proficient score on 7 grade PARCC Exam.
Summer reading is required.

Level: III – Advanced Credits: 05
The course content is based on application of reading, writing and speaking skills which have been
introduced and/or mastered at the eighth grade level. Levels of investigation and evaluation are stressed.
Curriculum is taught through use of the short story, essay, drama, novel and poetry. Independent work on
projects, research, and reading will be included. Summer reading is required.

Level: II – College Preparatory Credits: 05
In this college preparatory class, skills in listening, reading, speaking and writing will be maintained and
expanded with an emphasis on expository writing, grammar and literature. This is a required course in language
study which has been developed specifically for the ninth grade student and is a continuation of those programs
which precede it. Course content expands and defines specific speaking skills, composition activities, in
conjunction with grammar usage, research techniques, and reading skills. Students will read and understand
grade-level appropriate material and analyze the organizational patterns, arguments and positions advanced with
guided support from their teacher. Students write coherent and focused essays that convey a well-defined
perspective and tightly reasoned argument as they progress through the stages of the writing process. Summer
reading is required.

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