English II/ Honors Eng II
This course focuses on continuing to develop the foundational skills from freshman year. This will include practice in grammar and usage, essay writing, argumentation, and research. It also focuses on the basics of text analysis. We will read a variety of literature, including short stories, poetry, drama, novels, among others. The second semester will contain a focus on speaking skills. Students will take part in various exercises to develop their comfort and ability to interact and work well with others, as well as speak in front of others. They will give various presentations (some with others, some on their own). The year will end with a Shakespeare play.
Honors English II follows the same basic structure, but with a more intensive curriculum, literature choices, and content coverage.
English II Syllabus: Honors English II Syllabus:
Drama
This course focuses on an introduction to the basic ideas, roles, and terminology inherent in a theater production. Students will learn and perform the warm-ups, exercises and processes that actors in a standard theater setting would deal with. They will also be exposed to the many other roles that go in a production (sound, lighting, set design, etc.) This class is very involved—the majority of the student’s grade will be based on in-class participation, willingness to try new things, and willingness to push oneself outside one’s comfort zone. Out-of-class homework will revolve around worksheets, projects, and tests learning theater history.
Drama Syllabus:
Dystopian Lit.
This course investigates the tradition of the dystopian novel, comparing a more recent dystopian example to classic mid-twentieth-century “classics”. We’ll consider how dystopias function as social criticism and identify generic qualities present in different works. Students will read at least three novels, various short stories and poems, and potentially filmic examples. The course is reading-heavy, with papers, projects, presentations, and other assignments.
Dystopian Lit. Syllabus:
Mythology
This course is a study of world mythologies, including Greek/Roman, Norse, Medieval, Middle Eastern mythologies (among others). It focuses on how a mythology reflects the culture of the people and offers a rational explanation of natural and scientific phenomena. The class concerns itself with the god structures, stories, and ideas expressed in these mythologies. Commonalities and differences between cultures are explored. The course is reading-heavy, with papers, projects, tests, presentations, and other assignments.
Mythology Syllabus:
Film II
This course is an extension of Film Appreciation I. This course delves deeper into the history of cinema, the various departments that are involved in the making of a film, and the different genres of film there are. My aim is to help students better understand the creative decisions that go into making a film. My other goal is to expose students to movies beyond maybe the ones they are used to seeing. Finally, students will make various short films and other film-related projects throughout the semester. Besides that, students will have graded notes, worksheets adjoining most movies we watch, as well as various tests throughout the semester.
Film II Syllabus: