| The set of courses offered by the English Department follows the New York State English Language Arts Core Curriculum. Students will expand their reading, writing, listening and speaking abilities. The focus of the department is to develop each student’s critical and analytical abilities through a variety of challenging courses.
International Students must take Seton Catholic Central’s ELA Entrance Exam and will be placed according to the results of the exam.
Transfer students with prior English credit will be given credit according to Seton’s standards. Graduation requirements include four credits of high school English and a passing score on the NYS English Language Arts exam.
English 7
Students in this course will read a variety of literature (short story, poetry, novel, nonfiction). Students will review grammar rules for understanding of the workings of our language. Significant time will be spent of strengthening the student’s writing skills through essays and narratives. Students will participate in activities to enhance their listening and speaking skills. Students are taught the NYS ELA Core Curricula in preparation for the NYS ELA Grade 7 Test. This is one-credit course meets daily. Prerequisite: ENG 6
English 8
English 8 enhances the skills students have acquired in their seventh grade year and follows the core curricula for the NYS ELA Grade 8 Test. The areas of concentration include writing, speaking and appreciating literature. Emphasis is placed on improvement of writing skills through a multi-faceted approach. Students create original works pertaining to the unit being studied. This one-credit course meets daily. Prerequisite: ENG 7
English 9
This is a literature based course and highlights literary terms, vocabulary, grammar and spelling in context. The areas covered include short stories, plays, novels, poetry, non-fiction, creative and expository writing, and public speaking. This one-credit course meets daily. Prerequisite: ENG 8, ESL 2 or successful completion of the Seton Catholic Central’s ELA Entrance Exam
English 10
The focus of this course is the ongoing development of students’ reading, writing and critical thinking skills. The literature studied in this course includes novels, plays, poetry, short stories and non-fiction. Students receive instruction in the writing process including prewriting, drafting, revising, editing and publishing. The study of paragraph and composition structure includes the terminology associated with the writing process. The study of grammar, usage, spelling and language mechanics is integrated into the study of writing. This one-credit course meets daily. Prerequisite: ENG 9
English 11
The goals of this American Literature course include leading the students to improved reading skills, writing and critical thinking skills. Students read and discuss novels, plays, short stories, poetry and non-fiction as they determine that author’s message and use of literary techniques. Most writing is expository and is in preparation for the NYS ELA Regents. This one-credit course meets daily. Prerequisite: ENG 10
English 12
This course is designed to serve the needs of the college bound student. The course provides students with a variety of learning opportunities with an emphasis on college preparation during this important phase of their secondary education. Composition assignments are given on a regular basis to further develop writing and prepare students for their first semester of college. One in-depth research report is required. This one-credit course meets daily. Prerequisite: ENG 11
Advanced Placement English
This course is an intense immersion into world literature and it is intended for the serious student and the avid reader. A cross section of literature is addressed. This course also reinforces the student’s ability to use all types of communication and to recognize the assumptions underlying various rhetorical strategies. Through speaking, listening, intellectualizing, but chiefly through writing, the student becomes more aware of the resources of the English language- its connotation, metaphor, irony, syntax and tone. The final evaluation is the National Advanced Placement Test give by Princeton Testing Service. This is a two-credit course and meets daily for two semesters. Prerequisite: Completion of English 11 with a course average of 90 or above.
ESL 1
This course is designed for those whose first language is not English and whose knowledge of English is not adequate for success in a high school setting. The skills refined are listening comprehension, writing, vocabulary development, reading comprehension and speaking ability in both formal and informal English. This one-credit course meets daily.
ESL 2
ESL2 aims to help students achieve proficiency in speaking, listening, reading and writing at a high school level. It is literature based and highlights literary terms, vocabulary, grammar and spelling in context. Fourteen short stories, one to two novels, and a full-length play, as well as public speaking are covered, with creative writing being an integral part of the course. This is a one-credit course and meets daily. Prerequisite: ESL 1or placement by the Seton English Department.
Speech and Theater/English Elective
Various public speaking experiences, reading and understanding five plays, and working with creative dramatics are the integral parts of this course. The class is limited to sixteen students, with preference to seniors. All students will act in a major production. This is a one-credit course and meets daily.
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