The English Department recognizes the important responsibilities it has to students. First, students need to master specific skills essential to the proper use of language. Second, students need to know how to speak and write effectively, how to read with precision, how to think clearly, how to be creative, and how to be critical in a world that demands increasingly complex choices. Our English curriculum is designed to help students continue to improve their language arts skills and to further expand their developing talents. Courses are created to meet student needs and interests and to offer choice, challenge and inspiration.

Graduation Requirements: Students must earn four English credits for graduation. In order to receive instruction and assessment in all Vermont standards, students need to earn two of their four credits in these areas:

• 1 credit in the introductory Composition and Literature course. Most students take Composition and Literature in ninth grade; based on the recommendation of middle school teachers, some students may take English I (in ninth grade) and English II (in tenth grade) in place of Comp. & Lit. Students must take either Composition and Literature or English I before entering the elective system. (In most cases, they will also take English II before beginning electives.)
• ½ credit from Group 1 courses: Literature Survey; Contemporary Literature; Humanities; Dramatic Literature.
• ½ credit from Group 2 courses: On the Road; Journalism; Gender Studies; Humanities.

Humanities is listed in both groups. Humanities PT 1 is a Group 1 course while Humanities PT 2 is a Group 2 course. Students must take Humanities PT 1 prior to taking Humanities PT 2. All of the other courses in Groups 1 and 2 are one semester and ½ credit. In regard to content, the courses are quite different from each other, so students may take more than one in each category.

English Course Selection Guide

The English department offers a wide range of courses. We recommend that students choose courses that will stretch their abilities and focus on their interests. This chart is to provide guidance for students selecting a series of courses that will develop and challenge their skills. Please read individual course descriptions for more information about particular course expectations.

Open
These courses are open to all 11/12 students. These courses are interest-based and accommodate a range of skill levels. It may also be appropriate for some students to elect to take one or more of these open courses in addition to their required two credits in 11/12 grade.

Film as Literature
Autobiography & Memoir
Poetry & Song 11/12
Branching Out English
Gender Studies
Journalism
Media Literacy