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ENGLISH 7A - English in the 7th grade is devoted to the study of basic English grammar. Prerequisite: 7th Grade standing (5 credits).
ENGLISH 7B - English in the 7th grade is devoted to the study of basic English grammar. Prerequisite: Identification by 6th grade English teacher and/or results of the English section of the Palma admissions exam (5 credits).
LITERATURE 7 - This course is designed to help students become active readers who think critically. A variety of literature is studied, including short stories, nonfiction, drama, poetry, and mythology. By learning literary concepts related to plot, setting, character, and theme, students can better appreciate the craft of writing because they understand how effective stories are constructed. Writing in this course involves responses to the literature that has been read, and the development of composition skills, focussing primarily on paragraph development. The summer reading test will be given the first week of the new school year and will count approximately 15% of the first quarter grade. Prerequisite: 7th Grade standing (10 credits).
ENGLISH 8 - English in the eighth grade is a study of the basic elements of English grammar, which consists of the parts of speech, the simple sentence, the compound sentence, and the complex sentence. This course also includes study of the use of the dictionary, the thesaurus, resource materials and methods for a research paper. The above elements will be implemented with a program of writing expository compositions. Student composition skills will move from the development of a variety of paragraphs to a mastery of the three-paragraph essay. The course will emphasize the importance of good spelling skills and will also explain and provide practice in proper punctuation and capitalization. Prerequisite: 8th Grade standing (10 credits).
LITERATURE 8 - This course is designed to help students become active readers who think critically. A variety of literature is studied, including short stories, nonfiction, drama, poetry, American folklore and the novel. By learning literary concepts relating to plot, setting, character, point of view, mood and theme, students can better appreciate the art of writing because they can understand how effective stories are constructed. Writing in this course involves responding to the literature read through explication and analysis&emdash;especially through the 11-sentence paragraph--and applying literary concepts in creative writing assignments.
ENGLISH 1A - This course is a study of written communication, including poetry, prose, and drama. The course also further develops the student's skills in reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, and composition, with special emphasis on paragraphing and writing five-paragraph essays. Students are expected to read a number of novels during the course of the year as well as the summer prior to entrance. This summer reading accounts for approximately 15% of the first quarter grade. Students are tested on the summer reading when they return in the fall. Prerequisite: results of Palma admissions exam; recommendation of previous English teacher (10 credits).
ENGLISH 1B &endash; This course is designed to help the student become a more effective reader, writer and thinker by improving his skills in reading, vocabulary, grammar, and composition while improving his study skills. The course offers special instruction in basic grammar and writing skills, which must be mastered by the end of the freshman year. Students are expected to read three novels during the summer prior to entrance. Students are tested on the summer reading when they return in the fall, and that grade accounts for approximately 15% of the first quarter grade. Prerequisite: results of Palma admissions exam; recommendation of previous English teacher (10 credits).
ENGLISH 1 HONORS - This course focuses on three areas of study: grammar and usage, vocabulary, and literature. The study of grammar provides a basis for standard verbal communication and facilitates the teaching of writing. Students review the parts of speech, the parts of the sentence, and usage and punctuation rules. The students' vocabulary is expanded through directed study of word lists in the vocabulary workbook. After every three units, students take review tests that simulate the SAT. Students read short stories, poems, several novels and the plays The Tragedy of Julius Caesar and The Tragedy of Macbeth. After reading the literature selections, students write analytical essays in which they discuss aspects such as plot construction and theme development. Prerequisite: results of Palma admissions exam; recommendation of previous English teacher (10 credits).
ENGLISH 2 - This course concentrates on the areas of reading and reading comprehension, composition and vocabulary. Grammar and mechanics are emphasized at all stages of the writing process. In addition, public speaking and listening skills are developed and reinforced throughout the year. In vocabulary, unit tests covering twenty words are administered bi-weekly and SAT type mastery tests are administered after every three units. The course includes several classic and contemporary novels, short stories, poetry, and a play. Writing assignments consist primarily of responding to the literature, however, creative and personal narrative writing is also explored. Research skills are mastered and a research paper is written following certain guidelines. As supplementary work, students are required to read three novels for summer reading, and will be tested on these novels the first week of the fall semester for 25% of the first quarter grade. Prerequisite: English I (10 credits).
ENGLISH 2 HONORS - This course concentrates on the areas of grammar and usage, critical analysis, vocabulary and spelling, and public speaking. Grammar and mechanics are emphasized at all stages of the writing process. In composition, the course includes a review of paragraphing as well as the development of skills used in writing various multi-paragraph essays. Students will have opportunities to express themselves in creative and personal narrative assignments. A major research paper is generated, with research skills explored as a background to the research paper. In vocabulary and spelling, basic lists of words are studied and mastered, and SAT type tests are administered. The play, Romeo and Juliet is studied and students are expected to perform a monologue from that play. Literary elements, such as theme, conflict and characterization, are explored in poetry, novels, short stories, and drama. Prerequisite: minimum "A" average in regular English I or "B" average in English I (Honors); recommendation of present English teacher (10 credits).
ENGLISH 3-This course concentrates on an extensive study of American literature and the further development of composition skills. It will include works from poetry, prose, drama, and two novels. The composition study stresses a variety of genres and incorporates analytical and critical thinking skills. Vocabulary development and speaking and listening skills are also stressed. Students read three books assigned during the summer. The summer reading will account for 25% of the first quarter grade. Students demonstrate their understanding of their summer reading material during the first week of classes when they return the fall. Prerequisite: English II (10 credits).
ENGLISH 3 HONORS - This course is an intensive study of literature and composition. The class will cover a wider variety of literary styles and delve more extensively into the works of American authors than the English III class will. Certain selections challenge the students more keenly due to greater sophistication of style and breadth of subject matter. There is a concentrated preparation for the English Language and Composition Advanced Placement test which can be taken at the end of the junior year and the Advanced Placement Literature and Composition test which can be taken at the end of the senior year. As a result, students work extensively with literary analysis, critical thinking, and composition skills. At times the vocabulary and grammatical construction are taxing and the passages demand more of the student's time and effort to gain comprehension. Students read at least three assigned books during the summer. The summer reading accounts for 25% of the first quarter grade. Students are tested on the summer reading when they return in the fall. Prerequisite: minimum "A" average in regular English II or "B" average in English II (Honors) and recommendation of present English teacher (10 credits).
ENGLISH 4 - This course concentrates on an extensive study of literature and further development of composition and critical thinking skills. The survey of major English literature includes the study of poetry, prose and drama. Students will be expected to read a number of novels in the class. Composition study will stress the response to the literature through a variety of genres and will stress the development of literary analysis skills. Vocabulary, listening and speaking skills will be developed, also. Students will be required to read three books assigned during the summer. The summer reading will account for approximately 20% of the first quarter grade. Students will be tested on the summer reading when they return in the fall. Prerequisite: English III (10 credits).
ENGLISH 4 HONORS - An intensive study of literature and composition, the class will cover a wider variety of literary styles and delve into more extensive reading. Certain selections challenge the students more keenly due to greater sophistication of style and breadth of subject matter. At times the vocabulary and grammatical construction will be taxing, and the passages will demand more of the student's time and effort to gain comprehension. The course will also involve accelerated vocabulary enrichment and emphasize further development of writing skills through specific composition assignments. The course will prepare students for taking the Advanced Placement Literature and Composition Test, although the taking of the test is not required. Students will be required to read at least three books assigned during the summer. The summer reading will account for approximately 20% of the first quarter grade. Students will be tested on the summer reading when they return in the fall. Prerequisite: "A" average in regular English III or a "B" average in English III (Honors) and recommendation of present English teacher (10 credits).
CREATIVE WRITING - This semester-long course develops the students' imagination and writing ability with a range of creative writing topics. Emphasis is placed on the writing process, editing and revising and developing writing strategies to write expressive, imaginative, and personally significant works. Students are assigned a range of topics from a number of genres; they are required to write metered and free verse, a short story, a myth, autobiographical incidents, a play, a screenplay, and miscellaneous prose exercises. Prerequisite: 12th grade standing, a minimum "C" average in English, and approval of English teacher (5 credits).
SPEECH - A course designed to familiarize the student with the methods and techniques of oral communication. This will consist of speaking experiences on how to inform, to convince, to entertain, to speak impromptu on any given subject, and to orally interpret literature and poetry. This course of study includes speech writing, organization, outlining, and the use of prompt notes. Prerequisite: 12th grade standing (5 credits).
WORLD LITERATURE ADVANCED PLACEMENT -This course is a concentration on literary works from around the world. It focuses on an in-depth analysis of works by a variety of authors from the Greeks to contemporary Latin Americans. It includes the study of representative pieces drawn from diverse genres: poetry, short story, short novels, essays, and drama. The class also emphasized the continued development of writing and analytical skills through specific assignments based upon the subject matter. The goal of the class is to develop independence on the part of the students. It is desirable that the students meet four days a week during which they discuss the assigned reading material and then respond in writing. One day a week students meet with the teacher to present a prepared assignment or a synthesis of their analysis and for instruction on new material. Students are required to take the Advanced Placement Literature and Composition Examination. Prerequisite: at least a "B" in English III Honors and permission from the instructor (10 credits).
NEWSPAPER - The student learns the mechanics and fundamentals of journalistic writing and reporting. Students also learn though hands-on experience with desktop publishing programs how to produce a school newspaper designed to meet the needs and interests of the student body.
YEARBOOK - The purpose of this class is to produce a quality yearbook to be presented to the students and faculties of Palma and Notre Dame High Schools in the spring of the school year.
JUNIOR HIGH YEARBOOK - The purpose of this class is to produce a quality yearbook to be presented to the students and faculty of Palma Junior High School in the spring of the school year.
LITERARY JOURNAL - This course engages the student in the production of a printed vehicle for creative student writing. This hands-on experience begins with the brainstorming ideas for the current journal, and then the call for entries. Once submissions are made, staff members read all prose and poetry, determine the relative merits of each work, then select the most engaging and successful literary works. Selections are proofread and edited, then formatted with a title and byline. Staff members work together as judges, proof readers and editors in order to produce a quality publication on deadline.
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