tba

Students will develop language arts skills in accordance with the Illinois State Standards for Learning. Through thematic units and genre study, students will begin to understand the concepts of reading, writing, and learning as processes. Using reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills, students will study literature, vocabulary, composition, research, and grammar. Students may be required to obtain one novel per term. This course has a required summer reading assignment. Link: All school summer reading assignments. Knowledge of the novel will be assessed on the first day of class.

Students who enroll in this course should have a high level of skills related to the Illinois State Standards for Learning.  Through thematic units and genre study, students will begin to understand the concept of reading, writing and learning as processes.  Using reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills, the students will study genres of literature, vocabulary, composition, research, and grammar.  This course is differentiated from English 1 in both the quantity and quality of material and student work, in addition to the pace at which topics are covered.  Students will be expected to read and write extensively outside of class. Students may be required to obtain one novel per term. This course has a required summer reading assignment. Link: All school summer reading assignments. Knowledge of the novel will be assessed on the first day of class.

This course is for students who have successfully completed English 1 Essentials but who are still experiencing difficulty with Language Arts skills. Students will continue to develop reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in accordance with the Illinois State Standards for Learning. Students will read world literature organized into thematic units exploring the concept of justice. They will produce papers and presentations emphasizing expository, analytical and persuasive thinking. Students may be required to obtain one novel per term. This course has a required summer reading assignment. Link: All school summer reading assignments. Knowledge of the novel will be assessed on the first day of class.

Students will continue to develop reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in accordance with the Illinois State Standards for Learning. Students will read world literature organized into thematic units exploring the concept of justice. They will produce papers and presentations emphasizing expository, analytical and persuasive thinking. Students may be required to obtain one novel per term. This course has a required summer reading assignment. Link: All school summer reading assignments. Knowledge of the novel will be assessed on the first day of class.

Students will continue to develop reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in accordance with the Illinois State Standards for Learning. Students will read world literature organized into thematic units exploring the concept of justice. They will produce papers and presentations emphasizing expository, analytical, and persuasive thinking. This course is differentiated from English 2 in both the quantity and quality of material and student work, in addition to the pace at which topics are covered. Students will be expected to read and write extensively outside of class. Students may be required to obtain one novel per term. This course has a required summer reading assignment. Link: All school summer reading assignments. Knowledge of the novel will be assessed on the first day of class.

Students will read a variety of American literature ranging from colonial times to the present while exploring the concept of a national identity. They will integrate reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills to perform a number of tasks involving the interpretation of literature, persuasion, and research. Students may be required to obtain one novel per term. This course has a required summer reading assignment. Link: All school summer reading assignments. Knowledge of the novel will be assessed on the first day of class.

Students will read a variety of American literature ranging from colonial times to the present while exploring the concept of a national identity. They will integrate reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills to perform a number of tasks involving the interpretation of literature, persuasion, and research. This course emphasizes longer and more numerous works than English 3 and requires extensive reading and writing outside of class. Students may be required to obtain one novel per term. This course has a required summer reading assignment. Link: All school summer reading assignments. Knowledge of the novel will be assessed on the first day of class.

The Advanced Placement course in English Language and Composition engages students in becoming skilled readers of prose written in a variety of periods, disciplines, and rhetorical contexts and in becoming skilled writers who compose for a variety of purposes. Through both their writing and reading, students become aware of the interactions among a writer’s purposes, audience expectations, and subjects as well as the way generic conventions and the resources of language contribute to effectiveness in writing. Students will read and write extensively both in and out of class. Students may be required to obtain up to three texts per term. This course has a required summer reading assignment. Link: All school summer reading assignments. Knowledge of the novel will be assessed on the first day of class.

*It is highly recommended that all students in an Advanced Placement course take the Advanced Placement Exam offered each May by the College Board.

Students will read works by major authors from significant time periods in British history. Students will gain an understanding of how the historical, economic, social and political perspectives are addressed and reflected in the literature. Students will demonstrate their learning through presentations, essays, and essay tests. Students may be required to obtain two novels. This course has a required summer reading assignment. Link: All school summer reading assignments. Knowledge of the novel will be assessed on the first day of class.

*This course meets ½ of the senior year English requirement when taken during senior year.

Students will further develop the skills demanded in first year college writing courses.  In this course, students can expect to write a number of essays (informative, persuasive, argumentative and research based) with an emphasis on organization, support, and effective use of Standard English.  Students may be required to obtain one text. This course has a required summer reading assignment. Link: All school summer reading assignments. Knowledge of the novel will be assessed on the first day of class.

*This course meets ½ of the senior year English requirement when taken during senior year.

Students will develop and improve their oral and written communication skills required for future success in school and work. Each student’s critical thinking abilities, attitude, and self-knowledge will be explored as the basis of a research project. Letter and resume writing will also be covered. Students may be required to obtain one text. This course has a required summer reading assignment. Link: All school summer reading assignments. Knowledge of the novel will be assessed on the first day of class.

*This course meets ½ of the senior year English requirement when taken during senior year.

In this course students will apply their reading, writing, speaking, listening and researching skills to a project of their own design. Working with their instructor and a mentor specific to their area of inquiry, students will research an area of interest through books, periodicals, interviews and personal experience. Classroom instruction will emphasize planning skills, research methods, and reflection. Students will demonstrate their learning through journals, an extensive formal paper, and a presentation. Students may be required to obtain one text. This course has a required summer reading assignment. Link: All school summer reading assignments. Knowledge of the novel will be assessed on the first day of class.

*This course meets ½ of the senior year English requirement when taken during senior year.

Starting in 2008, the majority of off-campus research and observation will take place outside of the school day.

Students will read poems, short stories, novels, and plays from a number of different countries, such as South Africa, Ecuador, China, and Germany. Most pieces will be from modern or contemporary time periods. Through this study of literature, students will explore how these authors address the issues and reflect the values of their cultures. Students will demonstrate their learning through presentations, essays, and essay tests. Students may be required to obtain two novels. This course has a required summer reading assignment. Link: All school summer reading assignments. Knowledge of the novel will be assessed on the first day of class.

*This course meets ½ of the senior year English requirement when taken during senior year.

Students will read a wide variety of short stories, novels, plays, and poems. They will sharpen their interpretive skills and participate in extensive discussion of literature, as well as write a number of short and long essays to refine their interpretive and expressive skills. This course requires extensive reading and writing outside of class. Students may be required to obtain up to three novels per term. This course has a required summer reading assignment. Link: All school summer reading assignments. Knowledge of the novel will be assessed on the first day of class.

*It is highly recommended that all students in an Advanced Placement course take the Advanced Placement Exam offered each May by the College Board.

Students enrolled in this class will explore the genres of science fiction and fantasy. Science fiction has long been a literary form that addresses the social, political, scientific, and technological issues of modern times, while fantasy is a literary form which is the playground of the imagination, giving the reader a world of limitless possibilities. Students will read extensively, familiarizing themselves with some of the most important and popular texts of these genres. The class will include short stories, novels, class discussion, essays, and creative writing. This course has a required summer reading assignment. Link: All school summer reading assignments. Knowledge of the novel will be assessed on the first day of class.

This course is for students who want to develop and practice creative expression. Class time will include the study of different genres of writing: the essay, short story, poetry, drama. Using the process of writers’ workshop, students will create their own works, as well as read and critique their own writing and that of their classmates. Students may be required to obtain up to two texts.

*This course meets ½ of the senior year English requirement when taken during senior year.

This course is designed for students who use creative writing as an important part of their artistic expression. Those who want to significantly improve their creative writing skills or plan to study writing in college are encouraged to enroll. Students will spend time writing poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, and they will also study various pieces of literature to influence their own work. The demands will be high, both in the production of new work and the degree of revision. The class will use the collegiate workshop format as a way to share and develop student pieces. Students are required to bring a portfolio of their previous work (3 poems, 2 short fiction pieces) on the first day of class. This course has a required summer reading assignment. Link: All school summer reading assignments. Knowledge of the novel will be assessed on the first day of class.

*This course meets ½ of the senior year English requirement when taken during senior year.

In this course, students will examine several Greek, Norse, and Roman myths; the roots of mythology; the role of mythology in the creation of fairy tales; and the role of myth in the arts, drama, religion, politics, and social institutions of today. Students will understand that peoples of markedly different cultures, customs, and time periods have told stories closely resembling their own. Students may be required to obtain two texts. This course has a required summer reading assignment. Link: All school summer reading assignments. Knowledge of the novel will be assessed on the first day of class.

*This course meets ½ of the senior year English requirement when taken during senior year.

The areas of listening, nonverbal communication, interpersonal communication, public and business communication, persuasion, organization, and leadership will be explored. Students will learn about themselves as communicators by engaging in a variety of class activities such as sharing experiences, preparing and presenting talks to the class, participating in panel or symposium presentations, and interviews. Other areas of study will include storytelling, oral interpretation, and the analysis of famous speakers and speeches. Students will be asked to assess themselves and their peers for the group exercises and performances. This course has a required summer reading assignment. Link: All school summer reading assignments. Knowledge of the novel will be assessed on the first day of class.

*This course meets ½ of the senior year English requirement when taken during senior year.

After studying various authors, social issues, and genres through literature, students will design their own search as a way to deepen their understanding of a particular area of interest or inquiry. Although critical analysis of literature of the 19th century is the emphasis of this course, several mediums of expression such as film, television, art, dance, and particularly classical music will be integrated to enhance the literature being studied. Students may be required to obtain two novels. This course has a required summer reading assignment. Link: All school summer reading assignments. Knowledge of the novel will be assessed on the first day of class.

*This course meets ½ of the senior year English requirement when taken during senior year.

Film as literature offers students the opportunity to sharpen their critical, analytical, and observation skills through film analysis. Students will analyze genre, symbolism, setting, characterization, story development, author/director style (camera angles, camera as storyteller, and purpose of editing), etc. to develop meaning from and think critically about films. Students will demonstrate their reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills through journals, formal papers, presentations and/or tests.  Students may be required to obtain two texts.This course has a required summer reading assignment. Link: All school summer reading assignments. Knowledge of the novel will be assessed on the first day of class.

*This course meets ½ of the senior year English requirement when taken during senior year.

Note: “R” rated movies are part of the Film as Literature curriculum. The course instructor will distribute information regarding the movie selections and descriptions at the beginning of the course.

Students enrolled in Introduction to Journalism will gain a strong foundation in all aspects of journalism including interviewing, news writing, feature writing, sports writing, editorial writing, editing, photojournalism, layout, production, and journalistic ethics. This course is a one term prerequisite for Journalism Newspaper and Journalism Yearbook. Students may be required to obtain two texts.

*This course may not be used to fulfill English requirements for graduation.

The primary purpose of this course is the production of the Mundelein High School student newspaper - The Mustang. Students will write on a daily basis and will contribute news stories, sports, features, editorials and other forms of journalistic writing. In addition, students will also study other aspects of journalism including libel, ethics, responsibilities of journalists and current events. Students must adhere to strict deadlines. Students may be required to obtain two texts. Most newspaper work is done in class. However, students may have to attend outside events to take pictures or conduct interviews.

*This course may not be used to fulfill English requirements for graduation.

*Students enrolled in Newspaper must take the required corresponding R/G PE or enroll in Yearbook.

Students in this course plan, design, and produce the Mundelein High School yearbook. It involves writing news and sports, designing page layouts and meeting deadlines. Students also learn about other forms of print and broadcast journalism. Good grades in English and developed computer skills are a plus for potential yearbook staff members. Students may be required to obtain two texts. Most yearbook work is done in class. However, students may have to attend outside events to take pictures or conduct interviews.

*This course may not be used to fulfill English requirements for graduation.

*Students enrolled in Yearbook must take the required corresponding R/G PE or enroll in Yearbook.