English Department

	Department Chair Charla Smith
Nicolas Albonico	Stephen Armijo	Andrew Keleher
Jennie Vatoseow		Elizabeth Walden

Updates for 2024-2025 are pending on this page. See the course description guide for middle school information.

Course sections in English are available to meet the needs of various student abilities. Assignment to special course sections will be made by counselors and department personnel with final approval given by the Assistant Principal Academics. Research Paper Policy: Failure to produce an acceptable research paper means that the student loses course credit for the semester, so he/she must enroll in summer school, AND the student must write said paper before he/she can be enrolled in English for the subsequent school year at St. Pius X High School.

English I

This course is designed to teach students the process of reading and writing as an essential experience that is continuously and consistently evaluated. Students are introduced to two different writing structures: the five paragraph critique and the compare/contrast essay. Vocabulary is a fundamental component of the course. Grammar is taught through student expository writing and critical reading is taught in relation to mythology, The Odyssey, short stories, poetry, drama, and novels. Students must pass the research paper section of this course to pass the course.

Prerequisite: None - A course open to Freshmen. Required for graduation.

Honors English I

Students read extensively in multiple genres such as short stories, dramas, novels, poems, and non-fiction selections drawn from world literature. Students apply literary analysis techniques to determine the reasoning and expression of ideas in selections of prose, poetry, novels and plays and demonstrate their skill in composition by writing essays in various rhetorical modes as well as critical and analytical essays. Students may be required to purchase various paperback texts. Students must pass the research paper section of this course to gain semester credit.

Prerequisite: Entrance to this class is determined by high entrance exam scores, former teacher recommendations, and grades, and in addition, a letter of application and review of a writing sample prior to acceptance.

English II

This course emphasizes the writing process as a continuous and integrated experience that encourages agile writers who are prepared for 21st century writing. Course work focuses on writing in different genres with rhetorical analysis. Emphasis is on style, fluency, and real-world writing. This course will explore a wide range of literature to enhance the different genres: novels, non-fiction, memoirs, short stories, and poetry will reinforce the genres of writing. Vocabulary and grammatical standards are reinforced throughout the school year. A non-literary research paper is required and must be passed to gain credit and pass the course.

Prerequisite: None - A course open to sophomores. Required for graduation.

AP Seminar/Honors English II

In this course, students will engage in cross-curricular conversations that explore the complexities of academic and real-world topics and issues by analyzing divergent perspectives. Students will synthesize information from multiple sources, develop their own perspectives in written essays, and design and deliver oral and visual presentations, both individually and as part of a team. They will study selections of prose, poetry, novels, and plays and apply more complex literary analysis techniques to determine the reasoning and expression of ideas in these texts. These essays, presentations, and oral defenses completed during the academic year will be submitted as AP Seminar Performance Tasks, which will be evaluated to contribute to an overall AP® Seminar score.

Prerequisite: Application required and department approval.

English III

This course uses American and British literature as a springboard for critical thinking and writing. In one semester, students will be guided through the development of American literature and the significant literary movements of the United States, and in the second semester, British literature and literary movements will be surveyed. Both semesters will utilize non-fiction, fiction, drama, and poetry. Students will continue using the previous writing genres studied and will add cause and effect and definition essay formats. Vocabulary and grammatical standards are emphasized in relation to reading and writing. A literary research paper is required and must be passed to gain credit and pass the course.

Prerequisite: None - A course open to juniors. Required for graduation.

AP English III - Literature

Students are challenged to become skilled readers of novels, dramas, and poetry written in a variety of periods, disciplines, and rhetorical contexts. Students will read extensively and compose advanced analysis of works by William Shakespeare, American and European authors, and 20th century Latin American writers. Students will write a minimum of eight essays and a literary research paper. Timed-writes and AP exam preparation will also be included. Material is college level, and students are required to take the AP Literature Examination in May. The course requires a course fee for the purchase of required texts. Students must pass the research paper section of this course to gain semester credit.

Prerequisite: Application required and department approval.

English IV

This course is designed for critical writing based on great works of world literature and philosophy by Sophocles, Plato, Dante, Camus, Shakespeare, Kafka, and others. All rhetorical modes of expository writing are reviewed and reinforced. Students are introduced to the personal essay, college application essay, and the argumentation essay, which includes usage of antithetical arguments and refutations. Formal and informal essays, practical writing assignments, and a literary research paper are required. Students must pass the research paper section of this course to gain semester credit and graduate.

Prerequisite: None - A course open to seniors. Required for graduation.

AP English IV - Language and Composition

This course is designed to instruct students in rhetorical analysis, an approach to literature that most students will encounter at the college level. Students read literature and non-fiction from a range of historical periods and cultural contexts. Students also compose myriad analytical, personal, and argumentative essays using a variety of rhetorical techniques and modes. Material is college level, and students are required to take the AP English Language and Composition Examination in May. Students must pass the research paper section of this course to gain semester credit and graduate.

Prerequisite: Application required and department approval.

Creative Writing (Year)

This course is designed to replicate a college-level Creative Writing workshop. Students will practice writing daily with the freedom to explore whatever writing paths or genres are of interest. The main objective is that students become better writers through continual practice and reflection. Students must have a willingness to cooperate with the class to create an atmosphere conducive to writing, sharing, and providing feedback to their peer’s work. In lieu of a final, students will compose a portfolio of their revised original work. In addition, students will be responsible for putting together St. Pius’s literary magazine, Akira.

Prerequisites: This course is open to sophomores, juniors and seniors with teacher recommendation.

Yearbook (Year)

This course is offered for creative students interested in producing the school yearbook. Students will receive training in all facets of yearbook production with emphasis on story, headline, and caption writing, interviewing, and reporting, layout, editing, digital photography, and In Design Year Tech software program usage. Basic computer skills are necessary. Students may elect to take this course for three years and will receive one credit for each year taken. The workload of students will be the same as in any other academic course.

Prerequisite: Two positive, highly ranked written recommendations from the student’s current English teacher and another teacher of the student’s choice. A writing sample from the applicant is also required.

8th Grade

English 8 - Language & Literature

This combined literature and language course is designed to introduce students to the English language as an experience involving reading, writing, speaking, and listening in order to develop effective communicators and thinkers. Students are introduced to various writing structures, such as the five-paragraph critique and written narrative. Vocabulary and grammar are fundamental experiences. Reading for comprehension involves short stories, poetry, drama, and novels. A speech component is an essential part of the whole language experience. Students must compose a research paper section of this course. Students will receive two separate grades: one for Language and one for Literature.

Prerequisite: None - A course open to eighth graders.

Honors English 8 - Language & Literature

This advanced, combined literature and language course is designed to introduce students to the English language as an experience involving analytical reading, critical thought, articulate writing and speaking, and astute listening in order to develop effective communicators and thinkers. Students are introduced to various writing structures, such as the five-paragraph critique and written narrative.. Vocabulary and grammar are fundamental experiences. Reading for analysis involves short stories, poetry, drama, and novels. A speech component is an essential part of the whole language experience. Students must compose a literary research paper section of this course. Students will receive two separate grades: one for Language and one for Literature.

Prerequisite: Entrance to this class is determined by high entrance exam scores, former teacher recommendations, and grades. In addition, a letter of application and review of a writing sample prior to acceptance.