English Course Options
for Juniors and Seniors
DC - Creative Nonfiction Writing
English Department Course Sequence Map
English 9
(10 credits)
English 10
(10 credits)
Writing Courses
Creative Writing
English Graduation Requirement:
English 9 Essentials
English 10 Essentials
English 10 Diff (23-24 only)
(10 credits)
Reading Courses
Professional Writing
Research and Compositions
DC - Composition I
DC - Composition II
DC - Modern Fiction
Contemporary Literature
World Literature
American Literature
***Senior Seminar***
*Seniors only
All Semester Courses (5 Credits)
Take 1 Reading Course
& 1 Writing Course
Junior Year
DC - Creative Nonfiction Writing
Writing Courses
Creative Writing
English Graduation Requirement:
Reading Courses
Professional Writing
Research and Compositions
DC - Composition I
DC - Composition II
DC - Modern Fiction
Contemporary Literature
World Literature
American Literature
***Senior Seminar***
*Seniors only
All Semester Courses (5 Credits)
Junior & Senior Course Offerings -
Juniors must choose 1 Reading
and 1 Writing Course!
Writing Courses
Research and Composition
This course focuses on research and composition and builds on writing concepts learned in previous English courses. Students will read model texts to aid their understanding of research and persuasive modes. Written work will be informative and persuasive in nature. Students will prepare for scholarship essays, the ACT, and college-level writing. Students will write a variety of essays, practice techniques of effective argumentation, work through multiple drafts, and develop research skills. This course covers basic high school English skills, such as grammar, vocabulary, and citations.
Composition I (DC)
This is a semester-long course offered as dual credit through Doane University; however, students are not required to take dual credit and only receive college credit if they pay the fee and earn a grade of C or better. This course is designed to help students write with clarity, confidence, and conviction through regular practice in writing (including argument and exposition, writing as discovery, and personal exploration). Particular attention will be given to the role of revision in the writing process. This course also includes a study of language and its social roles, with special attention to the origin, development, and current nature of the English language.
Creative Writing
This course focuses on composition and builds on writing concepts learned in previous English courses. Students will read model texts to aid their understanding of creative modes. Written work will be creative and descriptive in nature. Students will write a variety of essays, practice techniques of effective writing, work through multiple drafts, and develop their voice as writers. The course covers basic high school English skills, such as grammar and vocabulary.
Professional Writing
This course will focus on the fundamentals of professional communication in both written, speaking, and visual contexts. Emphasis will be on clarity, organization, format, appropriate language, and consideration of audience. Students will engage with model texts to aid their understanding of factual writing. This course will also focus on multi-media literacy.
Reading Courses
American Literature
The skills targeted in American Literature build on those developed in previous years. Students will discuss, analyze, and explore a variety of complex texts that depict a wide range of American voices from different backgrounds and time periods. This course will include a variety of texts that include, but are not limited to, novels, short stories, biography/memoir, poetry, research articles, and current events.
Creative Nonfiction Writing (DC)
This is a semester-long course through Doane University; however, students are not required to take dual credit. The primary goal of this course is to improve writing. Students will first study literature and what other writers do to provide depth to their narratives, which should influence how students tell their stories. Students will develop writing skills in both academic and creative nonfiction formats. Students will receive instruction on structuring an essay and using evidence to support ideas, but they will also receive instruction on what works in stories to create good writing. Thus, this course will have two units to examine literature followed by a third unit to put this knowledge into practice.
Contemporary Literature
This course will build on those skills developed in previous courses and includes informational and complex narrative reading; analysis of story elements; use and understanding of literary devices; making predictions and inferences, and evaluating text for organizational structures. This course includes a variety of texts that include novels, biographies/memoirs, short stories, poetry, research articles, & current events.
World Literature
This course will explore works of literature from around the globe. The reading will examine complex literary texts across a variety of cultures, genres, and time periods. Students will develop critical thinking and interpretive skills through close reading, discussion, and analysis of literary texts from around the world in their historical, cultural, social, and/or literary contexts. Texts may include, but are not limited to, novels, short stories, excerpts, biographies/memoirs, poetry, research articles, and current events.
Take any TWO English courses, which can include Senior English Seminar!
Students can also take any English course as an elective!
Make sure you have 40 credits of English!!
Senior Year
Senior English Seminar
Senior English Seminar is a semester-long course that focuses on composition and independent reading of complex texts. In this course, students will write a personal narrative, a research essay, and critical analyses of a variety of media. Students will review Standard English usage, study vocabulary, and write about current events. This course is designed to prepare students for all types of writing, reading, and speaking for college and careers.
What about Dual Credit?
All dual credit courses are through Doane University
Must meet ALL of the following:
Dual Credit Courses
Creative Nonfiction Writing (DC)
More info can be found at this link.
English Composition I (DC)
More info can be found at this link.
Additional Dual Credit
English Composition II (Dual Credit)
This is a continuation of Intro to Comp with an emphasis on the study of argumentation and library research techniques and their application. Students hone their skills through summarizing and analyzing arguments, and then write their own argument essays with support from outside research.
Class Prerequisites: English Composition I (DC) or Creative Nonfiction Writing (DC)
Students are able to earn 3 hours of dual credit through Doane. **Students must purchase books and materials for the course
More info can be found at this link.
Modern Fiction (Dual Credit)
Exploration of short fiction and novels from 1900 to present. Consideration of major literary critical theories and trends through the study of both American and international authors.
Class Prerequisites: English Composition I (DC) or Creative Nonfiction Writing (DC)
Students are able to earn 3 hours of dual credit through Doane. **Students must purchase books and materials for the course
More info can be found at this link.
Do I need to go to Doane in order to use the college credits?
NO!
Most colleges and universities will allow you to transfer your earned credits in as a freshman. Talk to an admissions' counselor at your college of preference if you have further questions about this process.
How do these credits transfer to college?
(Once again, it is best to check with the college you are interested in, but here is how they should transfer to some Nebraska colleges.)
Norris | Doane | SCC | Wesleyan | UNL | UNL ACE Category |
English Comp I (Doane) | English 101: The Writing Seminar | English 1010 | English 1010 | Eng 150: Writing and Inquiry | #1 |
English Comp II (Doane) | English 102: Writing in Context | English 1020 | English 1020 | English 151: Writing and Argument | #1 |
Modern Fiction (Doane) | English 237: Introduction to Literary Fiction | English 2100 | English Elective | English 205: 20th Century Fiction | #5 |
Creative Nonfiction Writing (Doane) | English 285: Introduction to Creative Writing | English 1510 | Eng Elective and meets Writing Instructive requirement | English 251: Introduction to Nonfiction Writing | #7 |