English Department

Grade Level: 9

Credit: 1.0, Full Year

Prerequisite: None

English 1 Essentials is a year-long course designed to ensure instruction delivered in 15:1 student ratio. Focus on Oregon High School standards for Language Arts. Emphasis on Literacy and Study Skill development.  Course features 2 project-based learning units of study for research and literary analysis. The course features 6 units of study. The course features 4 Essays: Expository, Personal Narrative, Literary Analysis and Persuasive writing. Literature introduced include short stories, one full length novel, poetry, drama, and non-fiction current event focus. Meets 1 credit of the English graduation requirement.  

Grade Level: 9

Credit: 1.0, Full Year

Prerequisite: None     

English 1 provides the foundation for becoming better readers and writers. Emphasis is placed on the strategies and processes that successful readers and writers use. Through the study of poetry, short story and the novel, and print advertising, students learn to read closely and induce meaning independently. Though the writing process is emphasized in this class, students receive specific instruction on mechanics, usage and grammar. Habits of mind beneficial for being an effective and engaged student are introduced and reinforced.  Meets 1 credit of the English graduation requirement.

Grade Level: 10

Credit: 1.0, Full Year

Prerequisite: English 1 E or English 1

English 2 Essentials is designed to ensure instruction delivered in 15:1 student ratio. Focus on Oregon High School standards for Language Arts. Emphasis on Literacy and Study Skill development.  Course features 2 project-based learning units of study for research and literary analysis. The course features 6 units of study. The course features 4 Essays: Expository, Personal Narrative, Literary Analysis and Persuasive writing. Literature introduced include short stories, one full length novel, poetry, drama, and non-fiction current event focus. Meets 1 credit of the English graduation requirement.  

Grade Level: 10

Credit: 1.0, Full Year

Prerequisite: English 1 E or English 1

English 2 is a year-long course designed as a bridge between the introduction-level skills of English 1 and mastery of the close reading and writing process skills in English 3 and 4.  Students are given opportunities to consider and include some of their own experiences as they approach and write about diverse texts. Emphasis is placed on a variety of assessment types carefully designed to build a strong foundation and prepare students for the more complex reading and writing skills that will be required of them in English 3 and 4. Meets 1 credit of the English graduation requirement.

Grade Level: 10

Credit: 1.0, Full Year

Prerequisite: English 1, English Department Placement 

Honors English 2 is a year-long course that emphasizes the development of critical thinking and expository writing. Because the goal of this course is to produce independent readers and writers, students receive much instruction and many opportunities to hone close reading and writing skills. By course’s end, students will be able to apply the tools necessary for understanding complex literature of various genres and produce the kinds of essays the academic world will require of them, e.g., expository, analytical, research, and persuasive essays.  Meets 1 credit of the English graduation requirement.   

Grade Level: 11

Credit: 1.0, Full Year

Prerequisite: English 2 E or English 2

English 3 Essentials is a year-long course designed to ensure instruction is delivered in a  15:1 student ratio. The learning targets focus on the Oregon High School Standards for Language Arts. Special emphasis is placed on the development of reading, writing, literacy and study skill development. The course features 6 units of study. Additionally, the course features 4 types of essays: Personal Narrative, Descriptive/Expository, Literary Analysis, and Argumentative. Literature introduced include short stories, three full length books, and non-fiction focused on current events. Students will complete a research paper in the spring. Meets 1 credit of the English graduation requirement.  

Grade Level: 11

Credit: 1.0, Full Year

Prerequisite: English 2 E, English 2 or Honors English 2

This course immerses students in the study of U.S. literature. Students will be challenged to build upon reading and writing skills as they think critically about various themes that surface in and around a current controversial social topic. In addition to reinforcing expository, narrative and persuasive writing skills, students will engage in a significant argumentative research project centered around an issue of contemporary relevance.  Meets 1 credit of the English graduation requirement.   

Grade Level: 11

Credit: 1.0, Full Year

Prerequisite: English 2 or Honors English 2, English Department Placement

AP English 3, also known as AP English Language and Composition, combines theory and practice of rhetoric, the writing process, and the study of non-fiction American Literature. By the course’s end, students will be able to apply the fundamentals of rhetoric as well as the tools necessary for college-level reading, critical thinking, and critical writing (i.e., students will write in a variety of discursive modes including expository, analytical, persuasive—as well as produce a research paper). Students will examine important themes and concepts that have modern relevancy -- such as the concept of ‘America’ today, Equity and Inclusion, current social issues -- through the lens of a variety of non-fiction sources, including essays, speeches, letters, videos, book-length arguments, to name a few. In addition to reinforcing expository and persuasive writing skills, students will engage in a significant argumentative research project centered around an issue of contemporary relevance. Meets 1 credit of the English graduation requirement. Dual credit option of 4 CCC credits for WRI 121.

Grade Level: 12

Credit: 1.0, Full Year

Prerequisite: English 3 E or English 3

English 4 Essentials is a year-long course designed to ensure instruction is delivered in a  15:1 student ratio. The learning targets focus on the Oregon High School Standards for Language Arts. Special emphasis is placed on the development of reading, writing, literacy and study skill development. The course features 6 units of study. Additionally, the course features 4 types of essays: Personal Narrative, Descriptive/Expository, Literary Analysis, and Argumentative. Literature introduced include short stories, three full length books, and non-fiction focused on current events. Students will complete a research paper in the spring. Meets 1 credit of the English graduation requirement.

Grade Level: 12

Credit: 1.0, Full Year

Prerequisite: English 3 E, English 3 or AP English 3

English 4 is a year-long course designed to analyze the various ways in which literature of the world reveals and explores the human condition. Students identify and apply various themes, close reading strategies, and writing techniques in an effort to understand differences and similarities across diverse cultures, time periods, and places. Students demonstrate knowledge of literary terms and how to apply them. They further develop their writing abilities, organizational skills, and authorial voices. They learn to identify and write for multiple audiences. Students uphold grammar, punctuation, and capitalization standards. Major writing assignments and projects are scaffolded. Students are given opportunities to demonstrate mastery of the skills outlined in the College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Language and Reading. Students who cannot show mastery of these skills are provided opportunities for improving these skills. Meets 1 credit of the English graduation requirement.  

Grade Level: 12

Credit: 1.0, Full Year

Prerequisite: English 3 or AP  English 3, English Department Placement

AP Literature is a year-long course that not only introduces students to major literary works and writers within and outside the United States, but also places emphasis on the development of the critical thinker and writer. Because this course is La Salle’s flagship English course, you will receive much instruction and opportunities to hone your skills related to textual analysis, critical thinking and writing about imaginative literature (fiction, poetry, drama) from Ancient Greece, and the 16th to 21st century.  By course’s end you will be able to apply the tools necessary for understanding college level primary and secondary literary texts and produce the kinds of essays the academic world will require of you, especially expository and literary analysis. This course also prepares students for the AP English Literature and Composition Exam given in May. Students will also be provided some instruction on writing the college application essay though you will not be expected to write that kind of essay for this class. Meets 1 credit of the English graduation requirement.  Dual credit option of 8 CCC credits for ENG 104 and WRI 121.   

Grade Level: 10-12

Credit: 0.5, Semester or 1.0, Full Year

Credit Status: Elective

Prerequisite: None

Students in this course publish the award-winning, student-run online school newspaper, The La Salle Falconer. Students study and practice all aspects of digital journalism and publishing, including writing, editing, and photojournalism. Freshmen may take Journalism, but only with instructor approval. 

Grade Level: 10-12

Credit: 0.5, Semester or 1.0, Full Year

Credit Status: Elective

Prerequisite: Instructor Approval and an A- or A in Journalism

Students in Advanced Journalism are editors for the award-winning online school newspaper, The La Salle Falconer. In addition to studying and practicing all aspects of digital journalism and publishing, students in Advanced Journalism serve in leadership roles, and are responsible for editing the work of other students, managing The Falconer's social media channels, and collaborating with other members of the editorial board to make all decisions about the content of this student-run publication. 

Grade Level: 9-12

Credit: 0.5, Semester

Credit Status: Elective

Prerequisite: None

Slam poetry is a form of spoken word poetry that combines poetry with performance. Typically, slam poets address real-world issues and issues personal to them in a vibrant and evocative performance. This course, which will be a workshop-style creative writing course, will introduce students to slam poetry. Students will read and watch slam poets, study the different aspects of slam poetry, and write and perform their own poems. The workshop-style arrangement entails that students will work with other students to craft their own poetry and provide feedback and suggestions to others.