ELA Electives

ELA Electives

Reading Street is a standards-aligned program with a carefully planned scope and sequence of reading skills paired to a range of reading materials that can be used cross-curricular. Additional practice is built into the program.

AP English Literature and Composition

This course prepares students to write for academic discourse.  The course teaches students to think critically, write in a variety of genres for various audiences, analyze language, and evaluate the craft of writing both stylistically and rhetorically. An AP exam must be taken in May for the purpose of exempting from a college course at the student’s expense. Students may earn up to 6 college credits.

Creative Writing

In this writing workshop course, students will develop creative writing skills in short stories, poetry, one-act plays, etc. Emphasis will be on the writing process, as well as the written product.  Students who wish to become involved in a writing project will find this course useful and instructive.

Curriculum
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4

Factual Writing

The course will focus on developing critical thinking and critical writingskills.  The first part of the course is designed to improve writing skills used when writing themes about literature.  The second part is designed to prepare the student to correctly research and develop a term paper.  The approach used in the course is one that considers writing as a process rather than as a product.

Mythology

This course is designed for both the general and the academic students. The course will offer reading in World Mythologies, but will focus on the Mythologies of Greece and Rome.

Text
World Mythology, Donna Rosenburg
Mythology and You, Donna Rosenburg & Sorelle Baker 

Curriculum
Mythology

Novel and Drama

The course work involves extensive reading and research.  Four novels and four major dramas will probably be covered within the scope of this time frame.  All works are analyzed and discussed in a small group setting.  Each work is followed by short paper discussing some relevant aspect.  There are no unit tests, only short, well researched papers and graded group discussions.

Text
Resource List

Publishing and Presentation

This course focuses on learning the tools required to create professional publications.  Students learn writing skills, photography, graphic design and page layouts as well as database organization, marketing tools and office skills.  The course designs and publishes both the Troy Yearbook and school newspaper, Trojan Crier, while also sending articles to local papers.

Speech

Speechis designed to improve students speaking and listening skills through a study of basic formal and informal speech situations. It will, therefore, consist of a study of the communication process andits importance for success in all occupations. Speech games stressing that process will be used to give students aunique awareness of the various elements involved in speaking and listening and will also be used to overcome students’ initial inhibitions so typical of first speaking-listening encounters.  Effective characteristics and techniques for the preparation and delivery of any type of speech will be studied.  Instruction, research, preparation, delivery, and evaluation of impromptu speeches, informative speeches, demonstration speeches, and persuasive speeches will be amajor focus of the course.

Curriculum
Unit 1

Writing About Philosophy

This is a 9-week elective course designed to increase a student’s knowledge of some of the world’s greatest thinkers by discussing elements of their work in selected writing pieces.  Students will enrich writing skills through preparing short papers focused on the principles discussed in the philosophical readings. Daily graded discussion is mandatory.

Curriculum
Writing About Philosophy KUD
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