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English Department Courses

Guidance for Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors

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English 2

College Prep

Honors

Honors Journalism

"communicate purposefully in various rhetorical situations"

"participating in a writing culture"

"deepen their concern for global issues"

Everything students in English 201/211/221 do is meant to improve their ability to communicate purposefully in various rhetorical situations. Students will do this by studying and emulating exemplar texts; participating in a writing culture; completing the steps of the writing process; acquiring requisite vocabulary; improving grammatical and stylistic conventions; presenting work; and reading independently. By the end of this course, students will appreciate how writing enables self-actualization. Students are also expected to deepen their concern for global issues through improved critical thinking that leads to civic engagement.

In English 2 Honors Journalism, students will learn the writing modes via participation in the reporting process, including interviewing and publication in print or online media. Teachers should stress the importance of interviewing; students who want to refine their interpersonal skills might prefer this course.

Honors and CP courses generally spend the first semester improving their stance as writers, returning to the process of writing and using literature or lived experiences to draft pieces. The second semester shifts students into the demands of academic argument writing with research and evidence.

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English 2�AP �Seminar

for English 2

"Investigate real-world topics"
"Collect and analyze information"
"Develop arguments"
"Work independently and with a team to research a topic and develop a research report"
Present research via multimedia presentation and defend argument on camera in front of live audience

AP Seminar is a foundational course that engages students in cross-curricular conversations that explore the complexities of academic and real-world topics and issues by analyzing divergent perspectives. Students learn to investigate a problem or issue, analyze arguments, compare different perspectives, synthesize information from multiple sources, and work alone and in a group to communicate their ideas.

Students who have a strong preference for nonfiction/reasoning across disciplines as well as independent research might prefer this course. A sizeable portion of the actual AP exam for this course is a group written report and presentation, and the independent written report requires a formal presentation as well. Students who are not interested in group or presentation requirements may find this course doesn't meet their preferences.

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AP Seminar (soph) + AP Research (senior) = Capstone

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20%

45%

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ASSESSMENT OVERVIEW

Students attainment of skills are assessed using TWO through course Performance Tasks during semester 2 AND an End-of-Course exam the first week of May.�

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PERFORMANCE TASK 1: Individual Research Report & Team Presentation

Practice S1 & Test S2

20% of AP Score
Individual Research Report (1,200 words)
Team Presentation (8-10 minutes)
Oral Defense (1 question each from teacher)
Recorded for the College Board

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PERFORMANCE TASK 2: Individual Written Argument & Individual Presentation

Practice S1 & Test S2

35% of AP Score
Individual Written Argument essay (2,000 words)
Individual Presentation (6-8 minutes)
Individual Oral Defense (2 Questions from teacher)
Recorded for the College Board

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End of Course Exam

End of Course Exam

45% of AP score
2022 AP Seminar Exam
Two hours total to complete two sections

Section 1: One source provided -- Analyze an argument using evidence
Section 2: Four sources provided – build your own argument-based essay using at least two of the sources

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AP Seminar: Keys to Success

MINDSET AND APPROACH

"FOOT IN THE DOOR"

Ability to work well with others
Working comfort w/ live presentations (both impromptu & rehearsed)
Willingness for work time needed outside of class i.e. meeting w/ group members, teacher’s office hours & individual work time

FIRST THINGS

Curiosity about the world
Commitment to learning
Continuous communication w/ the instructor & group members

ACADEMIC SKILLS

"FOOT IN THE DOOR"

Capable of comprehending academic language/literature
Ability to stay organized
Reflective in the importance of the revision process �

FIRST THINGS

QUEST framework (see above)
Analyze arguments
RAVEN (credibility/reliability of sources)
Academic Research process

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AP Seminar: Assessments worth Reviewing

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English 3

College Prep

Honors

"survey of American literature"

"important American writers"

" thoughtful and informed democratic citizenship"

As a survey of American literature, this course compels students

to review the major ideas or arguments our nation has considered

throughout its history. Students will read increasingly complex

texts by important American writers, investigating the issues of a

developing and developed nation to foster their inquiry about the

modern United States. Writing in a variety of modes will require

students to analyze the rhetorical or literary devices of major texts in

order to arrive at and interrogate their principal ideas or arguments.

Students will advance their own ideas and arguments through critical

thinking that relies on evidence and reasoning and that recognizes

valid opposing arguments. In this way, the content and skills of this

course serve the same purpose: preparing students for thoughtful

and informed democratic citizenship in the United States.

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English 3 American Studies

(2-period Block)

"synergy of topics in American history and American literature"

"more material, modes, and time for asking essential questions"

"exploring recurring themes in literature and history"

"What is an American?" This question and many more are explored in American Studies, a course where students gain insight into what we've done as a nation and what we've thought, felt, and dreamt. The synergy of topics in American history and American literature provides more material, modes, and time for asking essential questions about our nation's development. By exploring recurring themes in literature and history, students recognize the connectedness of human experience. Ultimately, they gain a better understanding of the development of the United States and their roles as citizens in this nation. Students must enroll in English III American Studies and U.S. History American Studies concurrently. Though not always the case, grades typically are a 2 for one; students need not focus on two separate courses moving at two separate timelines, but they must remain engaged in both. Students may prefer this class if they sense the clarity and focus afforded to studying their country with the disciplines intertwined.

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English 3

AP Language and Composition

for English 3

“become a skilled reader with an awareness of writer’s purposes and audience expectations”

“engage in a variety of writing tasks, both analytical and persuasive, focusing on cohesion, clarity and correctness”

“write essays that proceed through several drafts”

“research materials and synthesize information from various sources”

The AP English Language and Composition course is designed to help you become a skilled reader of a variety of texts as well as becoming a skilled writer. You’ll achieve this through awareness of the interactions among a writer's purposes, audience expectations, and subjects, as well as the ways that writing rules and language use contribute to effective writing.

Skill in writing proceeds from your awareness of your own composing processes: the way you explore ideas, reconsider strategies, and revise your work. This experience of the process of composing is the essence of the first-year college writing course, and the AP English Language and Composition course emphasizes this process. In the course, you will write essays that proceed through several stages or drafts, with revision aided by your teacher and peers. These extended, revised essays are not part of the AP English Language and Composition Exam, but the experience of writing them will help you become a more self-aware and flexible writer (which may help your performance on the AP Exam!).

In addition to engaging in varied writing tasks, you will read and become acquainted with a wide variety of prose styles from many disciplines and historical periods. Due to the increasing importance of graphics and visual images in texts published in print and electronic media, you will learn to analyze images as they relate to written texts and serve as alternative forms of texts themselves.

Using research materials and synthesizing information from various sources are integral parts of the AP English Language and Composition course. You will learn to evaluate the legitimacy and purpose of sources used. One way to do this is through the researched argument paper, which will require you to sort through various interpretations of information to analyze, reflect upon, and write about a topic. When you bring the experience and opinions of others into your writing in this way, you enter into conversations with other writers and thinkers, which in turn helps your writing become more thoughtful and substantive — just what is required in college and careers!

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English 3 AP Language: Synthesis Essay Writing

Model essays, understanding and employing sourcework, They Say/I Say mini assignments, peer review and multiple revisions
Read They Say/I Say, various professional articles
Synthesis Essay - in a timed environment (60 min), review seven sources and develop an argument which employs the sourcework as part of the conversation

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English 3 AP Language: Keys to Success

MINDSET AND APPROACH

"FOOT IN THE DOOR"

Motivation to improve reading and writing skills
Interest in talking about complex ideas

FIRST THINGS

Reading independently
Building writing skills through discrete steps and practice.
Building reasoning skills through class conversations and debate.

ACADEMIC SKILLS

"FOOT IN THE DOOR"

AP VERTICAL SKILLS
Work Independently on complex reading
Work independently on writing and drafting

FIRST THINGS

Rhetorical Analysis Essay (W)
Persuasive (Open Ended) Essay (E)

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English 3 AP Language: Supports and Resources

Summer Reading and Writing Program

Writing Center

After school paper conferences

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English 3 AP Language: The Test

English III AP Writing Prompts

One hour of Multiple Choice Questions and
Three essays written in a total of two hours and fifteen minutes
(link to nationally distributed example of high scoring [passing] essay)

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English 3 AP Language: Assessment worth Reviewing

English Language and Composition has a 53% pass rate nationally.
If you have a good grade in Honors or Seminar, you should think about EIIIAP.
Writing assignments will be persuasive or analytical.
Strong focus on timed writing and revision skills
Creative writing is not offered in this course.
This course features little fiction or poetry; �it is about building one's ability to write persuasive non-fiction.

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English 4

"how the various media influence society"

"evaluates news presentations, studies media-influenced societal change, or produces a scripted short film"

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English 4

Transitional

Contemporary issues

Informed conversations

Multiple writing modes

Avoids developmental education enrollment

Must have 3 English credits

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English 4 Creative Writing

Honors Credit

"express thoughts in effective language"

"Creative genres like the poem, the short story, the nonfiction essay, and the screenplay"

"literature will be examined with a focus upon the author’s purposeful use of language"

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English 4 Humanities

Honors Credit

"Literature, philosophy, religion, painting, sculpture, music, and architecture"

"gain a sense of the depth, grandeur, and universality of the human spirit"

"arts and cultures of the world from the ancient to the present"

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English 4 Broadcast Journalism

Honors Credit,

Requires Application

"production of school newspaper and video announcements"

"developing a variety of media projects focusing on Leyden community news"

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English 4

Print Journalism

"Gathering accurate information"

"interviewing subjects"

"write stories and design yearbook pages"

"demands after-school commitments"

Honors Credit,�R equires Application

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English 4 AP

Research

PICTURE?

"Capstone Diploma"

"Unparalleled research experience"

"Self -selected topic for research"

AP Research, the second course in the AP Capstone experience, allows students to deeply explore an academic topic, problem, issue, or idea of individual interest. Students design, plan, and implement a yearlong investigation to address a research question. Through this inquiry, they further the skills they acquired in the AP Seminar course by learning research methodology, employing ethical research practices, and accessing, analyzing, and synthesizing information. Students reflect on their skill development, document their processes, and curate the artifacts of their scholarly work through a process and reflection portfolio. The course culminates in an academic paper of 4,000–5,000 words (accompanied by a performance, exhibit, or product where applicable) and a presentation with an oral defense.

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English 4 AP Research: Representative "Unit of Study"

Design, plan, and conduct a year-long, research-based investigation to address a research question of interest to you
Connect with outside experts within your field of research; Conduct authentic academic research
Students produce a 4,000-5,000 (20 page) academic paper and defend their research with a 20 minute oral presentation

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English 4 AP Research: Keys to Success

MINDSET AND APPROACH

"FOOT IN THE DOOR"

Investigate multiple disciplines and approaches to study problems
Understand feasibility of research...find the goldilocks zone to study your research question

FIRST THINGS

Make the world yield to your wonder.
Start this course knowing everything, leave this course knowing how little you know.

ACADEMIC SKILLS

"FOOT IN THE DOOR"

Ability to connect academic arguments while recognizing shortcomings within arguments
Identify gaps and limitations of research

FIRST THINGS

Create an ethnography of the Leyden student body
Generate medley of sources regarding topic of interest

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English 4 AP Research: Supports and Resources

All Leyden Databases

Writing Center

Expert within field

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English 4 AP Research: The Test

Your final paper (4,000-5,000 words) and oral defense (15-20 presentation) replace the final exam.
Research begins in September and culminates by end of April.

During the course of your research, you will curate a minimum of 50 sources, design and execute research, contact an expert within your field of study, present findings to panel of faculty.

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English 4 AP Research: Assessments worth Reviewing

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English 4 AP:

Literature and Composition

DUAL CREDIT

"college-level literary analysis"

"imaginative literature"

"consider a work's structure, style, and themes"

"analyze and interpret literary works"

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English 4 AP Literature Dual Credit

AP Literature and Composition is, first and foremost, a literature course.
We read novels, plays, short stories, and poems, and you will be required to read independently a lot.
Your success in this course is dependent on your willingness to read. If you do not enjoy literature and reading, you will find the reading assignments in this course to be a laborious task.
You will have the opportunity to self-select titles from Nobel/Pulitzer Prize winning lists for independent/book club reading assignments.

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English 4 AP Literature Dual Credit:�Supports and Resources

Instructor availability before and/or after school
Optional practice sessions/exams throughout the school year
College Board website offers access to past exams

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English 4 AP Literature Dual Credit: The Test

Exam Overview: The AP English Literature and Composition Exam uses multiple-choice questions and free-response prompts to test students' skills in literary analysis of prose and verse texts.

The multiple choice section tests critical reading skills. Students read several passages and answer questions about the content, form, and style of each.

The free-response section tests students' ability to analyze and interpret literary texts by composing clear and effective essays.

Exam Format (3 Hour Exam):

Section I - Multiple Choice - 55 Questions - 1 Hour - 45% of Exam Score

Section II - Free Response - 3 Literary Analysis Essays (click here) - 2 Hours - 55% of Exam Score

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Sample of AP Lit Exam

In these poetry questions, notice that you’ll need to identify and often differentiate between different types of literary terms. The test tries to trick you, checking your knowledge of not only text structure but also theme, and vocabulary.