Grade 9: Two Semesters, 2 Credits
Required of all Mater Dei Freshmen

Through a study of literature and composition, English 9 students further develop their use of language as a tool for learning and thinking and as a source of pleasure. Students practice identifying, analyzing, and composing with different elements, structures, and genres of written language.

Literature instruction focuses on opportunities to:

• Read and comprehend a broad variety of literature applying appropriate reading strategies to enhance reading skills and literary appreciation which includes the ability to: (1) identify and analyze the elements of story structure
• Utilize literature and expository material related to the world of work and technical documents
• Identify literature by genre
• Identify the author's purpose and perspective
• Recognize bias and propaganda
• Identify and analyze elements of drama
• Develop vocabulary through:
  • Decoding the use of Greek and Latin roots
  • Literary terms and the use of glossaries
  • Contextual clues
  • Independent reading

The Composition component of language arts provides students with opportunities to write for various audiences and purposes. Students identify and employ various elements of good writing in well-organized, descriptive, expository and narrative writings.

These elements include (1) having a hierarchy of ideas such as thesis, supporting points, and specific examples; (2) the understanding of the paragraph as a formal structure, with a topic sentence, and (3) the understanding that writing is an organized message from an author to a specific, identified audience. Students will receive instruction and practice in the writing process, including (1) prewriting, (2) drafting, (3) revising, and (4) editing, which includes attending to proper spelling, grammar, punctuation and style.

Students will create multiple styles of writing, including persuasive essays, literary analysis, and technical writing assignments.

Grade 10
Two Semesters, 2 Credits
Required of all Mater Dei Sophomores

English 10 builds on the skills and activities of English 9, adds emphasis on literature, and focuses on reading comprehension and writing strategies.

The Literature element of the class focuses on the following:

• Responding critically, reflectively and imaginatively and recognizing the relevance of this literature to the modern world
• Distinguishing among different types of contents and purposes language can hold, including logic, opinion, ideology, point-of-view and suggestion. Students will practice using language for different, sophisticated purposes, including:
  • Identifying and forming conclusions
  • Recognizing and using persuasive techniques
  • Judging authors' purpose, perspective, and expertise
  • Reading and interpreting public documents, instructions, and symbols
  • Developing vocabulary through:
    • Decoding
    • The use of Greek and Latin roots
    • Literary terms and the use of glossaries
    • Contextual clues
    • Independent reading

In addition, students should be responsible for taking personal time for both instructional and recreational reading.

The Composition part of this class provides students the opportunity to write for various audiences and purposes.

Students identify and use various elements of good writing, including:

• stating and supporting a point of view or opinion
• using transitions effectively
• writing persuasive essays and literary analysis
• completing technical writing assignments.

The formal study of grammar, usage, spelling and language mechanics is integrated into the study of writing.

Grade 11
Two Semesters , 2 Credits
Required of all Mater Dei Juniors

English 11 continues to develop reading and writing skills that have been introduced in English 9 and built upon in English 10. The focus of literature is on American Literature and linking the literature to its historical and social context.

The Literature element of the class focuses on opportunities to:

• Examine a survey of American Literature from pre-Revolutionary times to the present, and discern how that literature reflects the American culture
• Understand a variety of literary genres, such as drama, poetry, and prose, their similarities and differences
• Develop critical thinking skills through vocabulary, literary terms, and independent reading, and advanced writing

The Composition element of the class focuses on the opportunity to master skills in grammar, usage, and language mechanics through writing. The writing process (prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing) is emphasized as students work to complete and persuasive essays, technical as well as creative writing.

Grade 12
Two Semesters, 2 Credits
Required of all Mater Dei Seniors unless taking Novels (1 semester) paired with Advanced Composition CAP ENG 101 (1 semester)

English 12 continues to refine students' ability and desire to learn and communicate about language and literature. Students will read works of world literature to identify and communicate about broad themes, trends and cultural issues.

The Literature element of this course focuses on opportunities to:

• Apply appropriate reading skills and strategies to make and defend judgments about written quality and content of literary works and other writings
• Respond critically, reflectively, and imaginatively to the literature of outstanding world writers
• Become acquainted with cultures of other countries
• Study themes that relate to humankind and outstanding world writers
• Analyze literature as it reflects a divergent point of view in all literary periods
• Develop vocabulary through:
  • Decoding
  • The use of Greek and Latin roots
  • Literary terms, (4) contextual clues
  • Independent reading

The Composition part of English 12 continues to provide students opportunities to hone their writing, especially in regards to

• Clearly identifying an audience
• Articulating a purpose and thesis
• Structuring writing to fulfill its stated purpose and support its thesis

Students will master their skills in grammar, usage, spelling, language mechanics and the stages of the writing process (prewriting, drafting, revising, editing and publishing).

Grade 11-12
Two Semesters, 3 Credits

Advanced Placement/College Achievement Program English Language and Composition may be taken by juniors instead of English 11.

This course is approved by the College Board and requires both formal and informal expository, analytical, and argumentative writing and speaking assignments. This class prepares students for the College Board AP English Language and Composition exam and the PSAT/SAT.

The class may be taken for dual credit at the University of Southern Indiana and the readings are almost exclusively nonfiction.

Grade 11-12
Two Semesters, 2 Credits

Advanced Placement/College Achievement Program English Literature and Composition is offered on a rotation with AP/CAP Language for students who want to read imaginative literature more carefully and deliberately, understand the various elements of this literature more deeply and analytically, and, as a result, write more clearly and critically using a variety of purposes. This two-semester college level class is designed to:

• Develop critical and analytical reading skills
• Enhance understanding of the various elements of fiction, poetry, drama, and essays
• Enhance creative and expository skills
• Provide instruction and practice in writing and documenting a literary research paper
• Enhance vocabulary skills
• Prepare for the May Advanced Placement examination

Students will also consider a work's structure, style, and themes, as well as the use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism, and tone and knowledge to enhance their own creative and expository skills.

AP English Literature and Composition includes an intensive study of representative works of literature from various genres and periods. The reading will be accompanied by thoughtful discussion and writing.

Students will be given the opportunity to take the College Board Advanced Placement Test in English Literature and Composition. The test is optional; however, passing the test can earn the student college credits.

Recommended Grade Level: 11, 12
Credits: 2 semesters, 2 credits; 3 college credits for CAP ENG 101
Required of all Mater Dei Seniors unless taking the year-long ENGLISH 12 (1008) course
Fulfills an English/Language Arts requirement for all diplomas

Students enrolled in this course will earn ENG 101 college credit through USI one semester and then will complete the Novels course the other semester. To accommodate schedules, both courses will be offered each semester.

Advanced Composition is a course based on the Indiana Academic Standards for English/Language Arts, is a study and application of the rhetorical writing strategies of exposition and persuasion. Students write expository critiques of nonfiction selections, literary criticism of fiction selections, persuasive compositions, and research reports in addition to other appropriate writing tasks. Course can be offered in conjunction with a literature course, or schools may embed Indiana Academic Standards for English/Language Arts reading standards within curriculum.

English 101 is a course in the critical arts of reading, writing, reflection, and discussion with an introduction to rhetoric and informal logic.

Competencies:

1. Academic Literacy

Students will learn to:

• Employ critical thinking, reading, and writing skills.
• Experiment with various invention and research strategies.
• Demonstrate electronic and library literacy.
• Practice process-based writing through peer response and global revision.

2. Academic Discourse Conventions

Students will learn to

• Respond to the demands of specific audiences, purposes, and genres.
• Develop focused thesis statements.
• Organize ideas.
• Support claims using reasoned and organized arguments.
• Analyze and synthesize information from credible primary and secondary sources.
• Integrate and cite evidence properly.
• Use conventions of appropriate grammar, tone, format, and punctuation.

3. Enhancement of Individual Development

Students will learn to:

• Discover, develop, and express their ideas.
• Project a personal ethos as members of discourse communities.
• Evaluate positions from critical perspectives.
• Adopt successful revision techniques.
• Engage in writing as a social process.

Novels, a course based on the Indiana Academic Standards for English/Language Arts, is a study of the distinct features of the novel, such as narrative and fictional elements of setting, conflict, climax, and resolution, and may be organized by historical periods, themes, or authors. Students examine novels of a given period, such as Victorian, the Modern Period, or Contemporary Literature, and what distinguishes novels from short stories, epics, romances, biographies, science fiction, and others.

Students analyze novels by various important authors from the past and present or sets of novels from a specific era or across several eras. embed Indiana Academic Standards for English/Language Arts writing standards within the curriculum.

Grades 11-12
One Semester, 1 Credit

Film Lit is a study of how literature is adapted for film or media. Students read about the history of film, the reflection or influence of film on culture, and issues of interpretation, production and adaptation.

Students examine the visual interpretation of literary techniques and auditory language in film and limitations or special capacities of film versus text to present a literary work. Students analyze how films portray the human condition and the roles men and women and the various ethnic or cultural minorities in the past and present.

Grades 9-11: Two Semesters, 2 Credits
Prerequisite for Publications

Journalism, a course based on the Indiana Academic Standards for English/Language Arts, is a study of news elements, journalism history, First Amendment law, ethics, fact and opinion, copy editing, news, and features as they apply to print and digital media products. It includes a comparison study of journalistic writing to other types of English writing with practical application of news, features, editorials, reviews, columns and digital media writing forms.

For the second credit: Students continue to develop journalistic writing skills in addition to studying graphic design, advertising, public relations, photojournalism and emerging media development and design. By the end of the semester, students write, shoot, and design stories for print and digital media products. Journalism is the study of the art of reporting and profession of journalists.

This course includes the processes involved in:

• newsgathering
• media literacy
• reporting and writing news, feature, sports, and opinion stories
• the legal and social responsibilities involved in a publication
• the ethics of accurate and fair reporting
• introductory design
• introductory photography

Grades 10-12
Two Semesters, 2 Credits
Prerequisite: Journalism

Course can be taken for successive fine arts credits with teacher approval and signature.

In this course, students learn the principles of graphic design and production, which are then applied to their own student-produced school yearbook and school news magazine.

Students write copy, headlines, and captions and design all pages, take photographs, and handle all marketing aspects such as advertising and publication sales. Within the course, students will learn how to properly use a camera and the elements of good photo composition. Students will make contributions to all types of publications related to Mater Dei High School, including the school yearbook, student and community magazines, and the school website.

A 2-day summer workshop is held at the end of summer, and all students must attend.