ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS [ ELA ]
Acting III Prerequisite / Selection process: Acting II or teacher permission Intended audience: Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 Credit: Course may be taken multiple times. One trimester = 0.5 credit; students may enroll for one, two, or three trimesters Major outcomes:
• Prepare an audition piece
• Experience in blocking
• Analysis of dramatic literature
• Acting experience
• Scene work Projects, activities, etc.: Perform scenes from musicals, dramas, and comedies Instructional focus: Active participation
Creative Writing I Intended audience: Grades 10, 11, and 12 Credit: One trimester = 0.5 credit Major outcomes:
• Learn strategies to improve as a writer
• Development of writer voice
• Collaborate with a community of writers
• Freedom to write innovatively Projects, activities, etc.: Project-based learning: fiction, poetry, plays, and creative non-fiction
Creative Writing II Prerequisite / Selection process: Creative Writing I Intended audience: Grades 11 and 12 [ grade 10 with special permission of teacher ] Credit: One trimester = 0.5 credit Major outcomes:
• Continue to develop a writer voice
• Experimentation with genre and style
• Collaborate with other student writers Projects, activities, etc.: Project-based learning: fiction, poetry, plays, and creative non-fiction
JOURNALISM
Introduction to Journalism.......................... Intended audience: Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 Credit: One trimester = 0.5 credit Major outcomes:
• Reporting techniques
• News and feature writing
• Editorial and review writing
• Layout and photography
• Journalistic ethics Projects, activities, etc.: Students may write news stories, feature stories, sports stories, and opinion pieces. Students may create photography portfolios and page design layouts. [ Articles submitted may be included in the school newspaper.] Instructional focus: Computer and hands-on activities
Yearbook Lab I Prerequisite / Selection process: Introduction to Journalism or instructor approval Intended audience: Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 Credit: Course may be taken multiple times. One trimester = 0.5 credit Major outcomes:
• Copy writing
• Interviewing techniques
• Layout design
• Photo composition and development
• Advertising
• Time management Instructional focus: Hands-on activities
Yearbook Lab II Prerequisite / Selection process: Yearbook Lab I Intended audience: Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 Credit: Course may be taken multiple times. One trimester = 0.5 credit Major outcomes:
• Copy writing
• Interviewing techniques
• Layout design
• Photo composition and development
• Advertising
• Time management Instructional focus: Hands-on activities
Yearbook Lab III Prerequisites / Selection Process: Yearbook Lab II or teacher permission Intended audience: Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 Credit: Course may be taken multiple times. One trimester = 0.5 credit Major outcomes:
• Further development of skills learned in Yearbook Lab I and II
Instructional focus: Hands-on activities
Television Journalism Prerequisite / Selection process: Introduction to Journalism or instructor approval Intended audience: Grades 10, 11, and 12 Credit: Course may be taken up to three times. One trimester = 0.5 credit; students may enroll for one, two, or three trimesters Major outcomes:
• Improve speaking skills
• Improve journalism and interviewing skills
• Write human interest stories, opinion pieces, and general announcements to be broadcast
• Work as reporters, news writers, news anchors, editors, camera operators, and technicians
Instructional focus: Using journalism and broadcast skills to create informational news for school-wide announcements
SPEAKING
Debate I Intended audience: Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 Credit: One trimester = 0.5 credit Major outcomes:
• Basic research skills
• Public speaking
• Understanding basic debate formats Projects, activities, etc.: Research and deliver major debates Instructional focus: Active participation, research and group work
Honors Debate II Prerequisite / Selection process: Debate I or teacher permission Intended audience: Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 Credit: One trimester = 0.5 credit Major outcomes:
• Advanced research skills
• Argumentation theory Project, Activities, etc.: Research and deliver major debates and utilize argumentation theories Instructional focus: More rigorous challenges, for example, types of research materials
Public Speaking Intended audience: Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 Credit: One trimester = 0.5 credit Major outcomes:
• Confidence in public speaking situations
• Speaking skills
• Presentation skills Projects, activities, etc.: Interpretive speeches, informative presentation, persuasive speeches Instructional focus: Non-threatening course designed to help overcome fears
Coll Honors Public Speaking College credit [ North Hennepin Community College ] Prerequisite / Selection process: Minimum GPA of 2.0; additional criteria set by NHCC Intended audience: Grades 11 and 12; for students who want to improve speaking skills and earn honors and college credit Credit: One trimester = 0.5 credit Major outcomes:
• Practice and improve public speaking skills
• Critically analyze own and others’ speeches
• Explore advanced research techniques and organizational strategies
• Analyze audience and evaluate communication choices
• Participate effectively in groups with emphasis on critical listening and responding
Instructional focus: Create and deliver speeches
50 High School Registration Guide