LANGUAGE  A 9 (English 9)
Course Duration: Year
Course Description:
Students will be able to read, write, and communicate effectively through writing, literary analysis and critical thinking as they
explore concepts related to literature from many cultures and traditions, both fiction and nonfiction in a variety of genres,
purposes and styles; demonstrate the foundations of composing and expression in writing with autobiographies, poetry and
dramatic writings from a variety of informational text; develop essential writing skills of style, sentence formation,
usage/grammar, mechanics and spelling; develop reading skills to read, interpret, analyze, discuss and evaluate a variety of
texts, authors and genres; explore and reflect on their learning through independent and group projects; and discuss the
relationships between and among elements of literature including satire, irony, symbolism, plot.

 Language A 10 (English 10)

Course Duration: Year

Course Description:

Students will acquire writing, critical reading, listening, and viewing skills; complete at least eight writing lessons in the

expressive, expository, and persuasive modes; continue the study of literary genres; and develop grammar, usage, mechanics,

and study skills.

 Language A 11 / American Literature (English 11)

Course Duration: Semester

Course Description:

This course develops the student’s skills in reading, thinking, writing, listening, and speaking through in-depth study of

American literature in a variety of genres and through researching informational materials. It is based on the Minnesota

standards for eleventh grade Language Arts. This course is significantly more rigorous and demanding and covers more

material in greater depth than Language A 10.

 Language A 11 / Composition (English 11)

Course Duration: Semester

Course Description:

This course emphasizes the principles of communication, and applications of message development through the writing of

letters, memos, reports, a position paper, and a research paper. In addition, the course reinforces reading, editing, grammar,

punctuation, and vocabulary skills. Students use the essay as the means to perfect writing techniques, correct grammar

mistakes and to achieve clarity. Using essays as examples, students learn to write expository, definitive, and persuasive essays.

In the progression of the writing, students will learn to formulate a thesis, make transitions, vary sentence structure, use

logical progression of thought and employ several tones.

 Language A 12 / Composition II (English 12)

(To be taken in conjunction with Language A 12 –  World Literature)

Course Duration: Semester

Course Description:

This course emphasizes the principles of communication, and applications of message development through the writing of

letters, memos, reports, a position paper, and a research paper. In addition, the course reinforces reading, editing, grammar,

punctuation, and vocabulary skills. Students use the essay as the means to perfect writing techniques, correct grammar

mistakes and to achieve clarity. Using essays as examples, students learn to write expository, definitive, persuasive, and

literary analysis essays. In the progression of the writing, students will learn to formulate a thesis, make transitions, vary

sentence structure, use logical progression of thought and employ several tones for multiple purposes. Successful completion

of this course should ensure students are prepared for college level writing.

 Language A 12 / World Literature (English 12)

(To be taken in conjunction with Language A 12 / Composition II)

Course Duration: Semester

Course Description:

This course develops the student’s skills in reading, thinking, writing, listening, and speaking through in-depth study of world

literature in a variety of genres and through researching informational materials. It is based on the Minnesota standards for

twelfth grade Language Arts. This course also focuses on the development of critical lenses as a way of reading the world.

This course is significantly more rigorous and demanding and covers more material in greater depth than Language A 11.

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COLLEGE IN THE SCHOOLS LANGUAGE A (CIS)

 Language A 11/12 / CIS Writing Studio (English 11-12) Completion of Transitional Writing or instructor's permission

Course Duration: Semester

Course Description:

Students will practice writing frequently and get regular feedback from the instructor; become more proficient and

comfortable writers, including gathering ideas, planning and revising; understand the ways that academics use writing to

communicate, and the expectations of academic audiences; become more skilled at using outside information in their writing:

citing sources, using ideas from others to support and inform your ideas, using correct documentation; become more skilled at

organizing and planning a paper, including choosing and using sources to support their main points; become more skilled at

editing their own writing for grammar, punctuation and style; have opportunities to reflect on personal experiences in

education, the experiences of others, and the ideas that experts offer as they critique American education and make

recommendations for changing it; and write papers, in which they describe personal experience, analyze the experiences of

others, critique ideas in readings, argue for or against recommendations found in articles, and

report on research they have conducted.

 Transitional Writing Completion of ESL IV

Course Duration: Semester

Course Description:

Students will move beyond basic essay writing to more complex writing required in college composition classes; write

regularly for a variety of purposes and genres, and improve their ability to express ideas clearly and organize writing

effectively to communicate ideas; learn actively through reading assignments, class discussions, and analyzing others' writing;

identify, follow, and analyze other writers' meaning, ideas, arguments, and techniques; develop research skills to find outside

sources to support arguments and use sources effectively; and write papers in which they describe their personal experience,

analyze and react to ideas in readings, argue for or against positions, and report on research they have conducted.

 IB HL Language A, Year 1 *Please refer to the IB section for course information.

 IB HL Language A, Year 2 *Please refer to the IB section for course information.

LANGUAGE A - ELECTIVES

 Journalism

Course Duration: Year

Course Description: Students will learn how to write newspaper articles; learn how to organize a newspaper; and understand

the various aspects of journalism.

 Creative Writing

Course Duration: Semester

Course Description: The Creative Writing class presents an excellent opportunity for students to explore culturally relevant

literature and develop their own creative writing process. Our writing explorations include creating graphic novels, short

stories, dramas (playwriting) and poetry, to name a few.

Yearbook

Course Duration: Year

Course Description: Students will produce the Edison yearbook, and assume all responsibilities associated with the production

of a professional publication including photography, graphic design, Journalism, advertising, sales, marketing, and

bookkeeping. 

 Literacy 9 Arts (Grade 9)

Course Duration: Year

Course Description:

The purpose of this course is to develop literacy skills and prepare 9th grade students for life-long academic success. Students

will practice effective reading comprehension strategies through small group instruction, independent reading and written

response to literature. Students will strengthen writing skills through authentic publication projects. Readings will include

self-selected texts, content area texts and teacher-developed readings. Students must be recommended for this course.

 Literacy Arts 10 (Grade 10)

Course Duration: Semester

Course Description:

The purpose of this course is to provide continued literacy support for 10th grade students preparing to take the MCAII

reading assessment. The course will focus on comprehension strategies, literature circles, and independent reading. Students

must be recommended for this course.

 Literacy 11 and 12 (Grades 11 and 12; may be combined)

Course Duration: Semester

Course Description:

The purpose of this course is to increase literacy skills, strengthen academic literacy and prepare juniors and seniors for MCAII

test success. Students will practice effective reading strategies with individual and small group instruction. The course will

emphasize non-fiction text and