English

201 FRESHMAN SPEECH/COMP./LIT

1 CR.               3 LEVELS                   Fr.

This full year course is designed to supply the student with a basic knowledge of the English language, particularly grammar and usage, in an effort to establish a solid foundation for all forms of communications. Furthermore, it is intended to create an awareness of the universality of human experience expressed in literature (short stories, novels, poems, essays, etc.) and to deepen the student’s ability to express herself critically through expository and analytical writing. The teacher prepares the student for further study and attempts to develop in the student a general interest in the English language.

223 LIT/COMP.

1 CR.               3 LEVELS                   Fr./So./Jr./Sr.

This course is designed to help students further develop their academic reading and writing skills. Students are enrolled in this course based on teacher recommendation, and it will substitute for course 201, 224, 228, 232. This course consists of reading a variety of types of written texts, vocabulary building, and techniques for generating ideas, grammar usage, editing, and organization in writing from the paragraph to the essay.

224 SOPHOMORE LIT/COMP.

1 CR.               3 LEVELS                   So.

This course is required of all sophomores. The literature segment will examine literary genre and themes from World literature, as well as from contemporary and multicultural sources. The composition segment, which comprises half the instructional time, emphasizes analytical writing, often using topics drawn from the literature studied. Grammar and usage are taught as needed, to remedy weaknesses/errors evidenced in student writing.

Each student will develop a portfolio of her composition, which will be continued in her succeeding years of high school. The research process will be studied, and a complete typed research paper in proper MLA form, of appropriate length and content, will be required of all students.

228 JUNIOR LIT/COMP.

1 CR.               3 LEVELS                   Jr.

This course is required of all juniors. The literature segment will examine literary themes, periods, authors and styles from American literature. The composition segment emphasizes analytical writing, often using topics drawn from the literature studied. Grammar and usage are taught as needed to remedy weaknesses/errors evidenced in student writing.

Each student will continue developing a portfolio of her composition. The research process will be studied, and a complete typed research paper in proper MLA form, of appropriate length and content, will be required of all students.

232 SENIOR LIT/COMP.

1 CR.               3 LEVELS                   Sr.

The literature segment will examine literary themes, periods, authors, and styles from British literature. The composition segment emphasizes analytical writing, using topics drawn from the literature studied. Grammar and usage are taught as needed, to remedy weaknesses/errors evidenced in student writing.

Each student will continue developing a portfolio of her composition. The research process will be studied, and a typed research paper in proper MLA form, of appropriate length and content, will be required of all students.

207 READING FOR ENRICHMENT

¼ CR.              1 LEVEL                     So./Jr./Sr.

This semester course is designed to help the student enjoy and appreciate reading a variety of modern literature. Time is built into the student’s schedule to meet with the instructor. Reading for Enrichment is a self-paced course with individual levels of required reading. A “book project” will be completed and graded for each book or selection read.

209 PRACTICE IN WRITING

½ CR.              1 LEVEL                     So./Jr./Sr.

This course offers practice in the types of writing likely to be needed in college and in adult life, such as expository and persuasive essays, business letters, resumes, narratives, and descriptions. Students will study paragraph structure, syntax, organization, conciseness, and other principles of good writing. Advanced grammar issues that affect writing style will also be covered, according to the needs of the class. This course does not deal with writing about literature, the research process, or the research paper and is taught during the first semester.

*240 ENGL X190 Advanced Strategies of Rhetoric and Research

*242 ENGL X202 Introduction to Literary Studies

Prerequisites: Cumulative GPA 3.0 or higher; Department Approval

1 CR.               1 LEVEL                     Sr.

The student will study the more complex structures of language with respect to its logical and persuasive possibilities. During the first semester, we will emphasize the development of the skills of analytical reading, critical thinking, and research methodology. The second semester will stress theoretical and methodological approaches to literary texts. Through critical reading, class discussion, and written analysis of a wide diversity of imaginative works, these courses seek to develop a mature understanding of, and appreciation for, the rich significance of literary language and structure.

This course may be taken for 6 college credits from St. Louis University (3 credits first semester and 3 credits second semester). Students register and pay the University at the beginning of the second semester.

235 CREATIVE WRITING

½ CR.              1 LEVEL                     So./Jr./Sr.

This course is for students who love writing fiction and want to improve their skills in crafting poems, short stories, and plays. Students will study advanced writing techniques and then apply these techniques to their writing. Be ready to write, write, and write—several short poems, a short story, and a play/screenplay, plus weekly short journal entries. Competence in grammar and usage is assumed and will be covered on an as needed basis. THIS CLASS IS OFFERED ONLINE ONLY! You will need to have a computer equipped with a word processing program that is compatible with Microsoft Office 2007 and access to the Internet at home in order to be able to complete the homework.

214 ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

1 CR.               1 LEVEL                     Fr./So./Jr./Sr.

ESL is offered to all students who need help with the English language. Instruction focuses on four areas: reading and vocabulary comprehension, conversation, composition, and learning the culture and customs of the United States. Lessons are taught using a variety of methods, and classes are small. If a student has a native language other than English, this course takes the place of the foreign language requirement.

245 SENIOR ENGLISH: INTRODUCTION TO FILM

1CR.                1 LEVEL                     Sr.

The goal of this course is to develop students’ abilities to view films critically and to deepen their understanding of the cinema experience. The course teaches analysis of narrative strategies, shot properties, mise-en-scène, acting, editing, and the use of sound in films, especially classical Hollywood movies. The course focuses on the study of different genres and styles of films, including film noir, westerns, musicals, combat, and science fiction and fantasy in terms of how they present ideological points of view and/or fulfill certain wishes of the spectator. Thus when studying cinema, we will be studying, among other things, those unique elements and techniques used to convey the film’s message—in other words, the aesthetics of film that shape it as a literary, visual-art form that is, in many respects, a synthesis of literature, drama, and art made possible by the invention of the motion picture camera and sound recording.

250 GLOBAL LITERACY

½ CR.              3 LEVELS                   So./Jr./Sr.

Global Literacy is a team taught cross-curricular course that will explore the many types of literacy affecting the global community by examining literacy in terms of geography, text, multiculturalism, politics, religion, culture, media, and technology. This course stresses the value of becoming actively involved within the local community in order to emphasize social justice and the development of global citizenship. The course would not only expose students to diverse cultures and social constructs but examine the dynamics of power and inequality on local, national and global levels as well as strengthen the knowledge of geographical locations and historical and current events. Students will demonstrate their service and understanding on line and will be able to exchange ideas, plans and discourse with their classmates and the digital global community.

314 INFORMATION RESEARCH

¼ CR.              1 LEVEL                     Fr.

This course is designed to demonstrate the stages of the research process. Students will learn the process of gathering information from a variety of sources. Part of the course will be devoted to understanding a library’s organization and tools. Students will learn to use electronic databases including the Internet and automated library catalogues. This course will help students manage information overload by focusing their perspective on collecting only what is relevant to their research purpose. Different documentation style methods and proper citing procedures will be introduced and used.