This course provides rigorous and challenging experiences for the student in the areas of critical reading, critical thinking, effective discussion, note-taking, essay test-taking, expository writing and research. The core of the curriculum is a chronological or thematic study of American literature, its literary periods and major writings. Outside reading focuses on broader philosophical ideas, encouraging wider reading including classics by American authors.

This course is designed for students who enjoy being challenged in literature and writing classes and who are prepared to accept the responsibilities of that challenge. Like the American Literature course, the cores of the honors course is a chronological or thematic study of American literature, its literary periods and its major writers; however, the honors course will include more extensive reading, writing (both timed and process essays) and analytical thinking. Furthermore, students in the honors program are expected to invest significantly more academic energy into the course and to work more independently than students taking American Literature and Writing.

AP Language and Composition is one of the options for English classes at the 11th grade level. 

 Known as APLaC, this course is designed to develop and challenge students' writing skills. It is an AP-level course and demands more time, energy, focus and thought than most other classes. Writing is as much an art as a skill, and it will be through dedicated practice and close attention that students will improve and achieve.
  

American Focus:

The 11th grade is focused on the American tradition of writing. APLaC will remain grounded in the American tradition, but will also branch out to see a world-wide perspective on rhetoric and communication.
 
You will read core, canonical texts that your fellow juniors in other 11th grade English classes will read so that you will be ensured a common, basic experience for future grade levels.
 
Skills Addressed:

• Summarizing – a critical way of demonstrating understanding of a key text
• Synthesizing – connecting ideas from multiple sources
• Analyzing – evaluate claims and be aware of counter arguments and apply them to your own writing
• Organizing – understand how texts are put together, and how to create your own texts

Texts:

• The basis of the course will be numerous non-fiction texts.
• The Narrative of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave
• The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
• Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger