English Language Arts

English Language Arts


English Elective Courses


Support programs are available for some courses. The pathways above illustrate recommended movement within a sequence of courses. Students interested in moving between levels should discuss the options with their counselor and teachers. In an effort to accommodate individual student needs, movement between levels can be made with Department and building administration approval.





Reading and Composition
Open to: 9
Prerequisite: Diverse Learner with IEP recommendation
Credit: 1.0 English 1.0 Other
This course improves reading skills for students who need the most intensive level of reading support. Students use a research-based program proven to increase foundational reading skills. *This is a two-period class.


Reading and Communication
Open to: 9, 10
Prerequisite: Diverse Learner with IEP recommendation
Credit: 1.0 English 1.0 Other
This course improves reading skills for students who are below grade level. Students use a research-based program designed to improve reading skills. This course provides students with the opportunity to improve their writing. *This is a two-period class.


Reading and Communication II 
Open to: 9, 10
Prerequisite: Diverse Learner with IEP recommendation
Credit: 1.0 English 1.0 Other
This course is a continuation of Reading and Communication. It is designed to improve reading skills for students who are well below grade level. Students use a research-based program. This course provides students with the opportunity to improve their writing as well. *This is a two-period class.


Literature Lab 9
Open to: 9
Prerequisite: Placement based on intervention
Core Credit 1.0
Literature Lab 9 supports students who have shown evidence that literature comprehension and literacy skills are areas where growth is needed in order to meet grade level targets. The course is a Tier 2 Intervention class, which means it is designed to be a temporary (one or more semesters) support to transition students into grade-level achievement, improving their skills with evidence of competency before exiting the class. Literature Lab is not a core class, but it is required for those enrolled in the course, and will impact grade point average (GPA) and earn graduation credits.


Literature/Composition 9
Open to: 9 
Prerequisite: None
Credit 1.0 - English Core Credit *NCAA
Literature/Composition 9 is a transitional course, which concentrates on reading and writing. The reading component of the course works toward developing students as “strategic readers.” Specific strategies seek to improve comprehension, expand vocabulary and enhance critical thinking by exploring a range of literary genres and nonfiction materials. The writing component of the course focuses on each step of the writing process as students learn to improve their writing. Both formal and informal writing assignments allow students to develop skills of organization, support and elaboration of ideas, and grammar and mechanics. This course is offered in English for students enrolled in the Dual Language Program (DLX). 


Literature/Composition 9 Honors
Open to: 9
Prerequisite: Placement criteria. 
Credit 1.0 - English Core Credit *NCAA
Literature/Composition 9 Honors focuses on the skills in the core regular course, and in addition, advanced composition, listening, and speaking skills. Students will study literature at a greater depth and with the opportunity for more independent work. This course is offered in English for students enrolled in the Dual Language Program (DLX). 


Literature Lab 10
Open to: 10
Prerequisite: Placement based on intervention
Core Credit 1.0
Literature Lab 10 supports students who have shown evidence that literature comprehension and literacy skills are areas where growth is needed in order to meet grade level targets. The course is a Tier 2 Intervention class, which means it is designed to be a temporary (one or more semesters) support to transition students into grade-level achievement, improving their skills with evidence of competency before exiting the class. Literature Lab is not a core class, but it is required for those enrolled in the course, and will impact grade point average (GPA) and earn graduation credits.


Literature/Composition 10
Open to: 10 
Prerequisite: None
Credit 1.0 - English Core Credit *NCAA
Students in Literature/Composition 10 will improve their reading skills, develop research and presentation skills as they build vocabulary, and refine writing mechanics. Students will explore a range of literature, including drama, novels, poetry, and nonfiction. Developing speaking skills and literary analysis are central components of this course. The course emphasizes the writing process and provides opportunities for students to improve their writing skills.


Literature/Composition 10 Honors
Open to: 10
Prerequisite: Placement criteria 
Credit 1.0 - English Core Credit *NCAA
Literature/Composition 10 Honors focuses on the skills above in addition to advanced composition, listening, and speaking skills. Students will study literature in greater depth and with the opportunity for more independent work. Extensive out-of-class work is required.


American Literature/Composition 11
Open to: 11 
Prerequisite: None
Credit 1.0 - English Core Credit *NCAA
Students will study major American writers from the time of the Puritans to the present. Students continue to develop and enhance reading and writing skills as they explore a variety of literature, including poetry, short stories, novels, drama, and nonfiction. Writing requirements include a variety of essay formats including multi-paragraph essays and timed writings. The course emphasizes the writing process and provides opportunities for students to improve their writing skills.


American Literature/Composition 11 Honors
Open to: 11
Prerequisite: Placement criteria. 
Credit 1.0 - English Core Credit *NCAA
American Literature/Composition 11 Honors focuses on the skills above in addition to advanced composition, listening, and speaking skills. Students will study literature at a greater depth and with the opportunity for more independent work. Extensive out-of-class work is required.


Advanced Placement English Language and Composition
Open to: 11
Prerequisite: Placement criteria and Department approval 
Credit 1.0 - English Core Credit *NCAA
AP English Language and Composition engages students in becoming skilled readers of prose written in a variety of rhetorical contexts, and in becoming skilled writers who compose for a variety of purposes. Both their writing and their reading should make students aware of the interactions among a writer’s purposes, audience expectations, and subjects, as well as the way genre conventions and the resources of language contribute to effectiveness in writing. Students enrolling in English Language and Composition can expect significant reading and writing assignments, most of which will be completed outside of class. Students enrolled in this course will be prepared to take the AP English Language and Composition exam in May.


Literature/Composition 12
Open to: 12 
Prerequisite: None
Credit 1.0 - English Core Credit *NCAA
Literature and Composition 12 completes the required four-year cycle of English classes. Similar to Literature/Composition 12 Honors, this course offers representative works of English literature in all genres, as well as instruction in written exposition. The critical research paper is a course requirement.


Literature/Composition 12 Honors
Open to: 12
Prerequisite: Placement criteria 
Credit 1.0 - English Core Credit *NCAA
Literature and Composition 12 Honors completes the required four-year cycle of English classes and provides college-bound students the opportunities to refine the advanced reading, writing, and thinking skills required for post-secondary school studies. The course offers representative works of English literature in all genres, as well as intensive instruction in written exposition. The honors program expands the curriculum through acceleration and enrichment activities. The critical research paper is a course requirement.


Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition
Open to: 12
Prerequisite: Placement criteria and Department approval 
Credit 1.0 - English Core Credit *NCAA
AP Literature and Composition 12 completes the required four-year cycle of English classes. This course presents a wide variety of literature from the 16th to the 21st centuries. Students can expect to read 100 pages and complete one out-of-class writing assignment per week. Designed for students who enjoy reading, analyzing, and discussing challenging literature representative of various genres, cultures, and periods. The critical research paper is a course requirement. Students enrolled in this course will be prepared to take the AP English Literature and Composition exam in May.


American Short Stories 
Open to: 11, 12 
Prerequisite: None
Credit 0.5 – English Elective Credit *NCAA
This course is a study of American Short Stories, with an emphasis on the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Students will learn about the literary elements of a short story as well as develop analytical skills through the comparison of the pieces. This course is open first to seniors needing an English course for graduation and may be used as a replacement for one semester of Literature/Composition 11.


Critical Thinking and Speech
Open to: 9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: None
Credit 1.0 - English Elective Credit *NCAA
The Critical Thinking and Speech activities-based course is divided into three major units of study: public speaking, reasoning and argumentation, and debate. Students are taught basic speaking skills, such as listening, organizing information, and presentational styles, as well as research and reasoning skills, propaganda techniques, persuasive speaking, and debate.


Journalistic Writing 
Open to: 10, 11, 12 
Prerequisite: None
Credit 1.0 - English Elective Credit
Journalistic Writing is for students interested in learning about the writing and production of a newspaper. Students will learn all aspects of journalism from the history of the First Amendment to proofreading, layout, and design. The course emphasizes the writing process and provides opportunities for students to improve their writing. Students will put what they learn to practice by producing a class newspaper for distribution to Waukegan High School students.


Creative Writing 
Open to: 10, 11, 12 
Prerequisite: None
Credit 0.5 - English Elective Credit *NCAA
Students enrolled in Creative Writing will create poems, short stories, and other imaginative works, and explore markets for the publication of his efforts. Students will also examine what has been written and published. This course is for students who like words and language, truly appreciate imaginative literature, and strongly desire guidance in the production and publication of their poetry, stories, or plays. The course emphasizes the writing process and provides opportunities for students to improve their writing.


College Preparatory Writing Honors
Open to: 12
Prerequisite: Placement Criteria 
Credit 1.0 - English Elective Credit
College Preparatory Writing is a writing-intensive course intended for college-bound seniors who have completed three previous years of Literature/Composition. This course provides students with college preparatory writing experience in a variety of expository, narrative, persuasive, and analytical modes, beyond that provided in core English courses. Pre-writing activities, the analysis of models, research, practice with citing sources in a variety of formats, peer evaluation, and self-evaluation are among the strategies students will explore as they develop increasing mastery of organization, development, style, and mechanics.


Contemporary Composition 12
Open to: 12
Prerequisite: Placement Criteria
Credit 1.0- English Elective Credit *NCAA
This two-semester senior course emphasizes the process of reading current and classic short works of nonfiction and responding through discussion and writing. Through the writing process, students will demonstrate a command of vocabulary, standard English conventions, research and organizational skills, an awareness of audience and purpose, and the application of effective strategies. Students will write in various genres including nonfiction narratives, argumentative essays, informational essays, and researched essays. The senior research paper is a requirement for the second semester.


Humanities
Open to: 9, 10, 11, 12
Prerequisite: None
Credit 1.0 - Fine Arts Credit *NCAA
This course provides students with a critical understanding of the creative arts and what they can tell us about the cultures that created them. Students will explore historical surveys and analytical assessments of prehistoric art, paintings, sculpture, architecture, American Roots music, theater, photography, and film. Select field trips supplement curricular goals and provide an enhanced experience of the variety of art forms the Chicago area offers. The Humanities course earns Fine Arts credit.


CMM 121: Fundamentals of Speech Dual Credit
Open to: 11, 12
Prerequisite: CLC placement criteria
Credit 1.0 
For students interested in improving their oral communication competency. This course combines a theoretical basis with practical verbal and nonverbal skills to enhance public speaking effectiveness. Students learn how to develop, research, organize, adapt, deliver and critique messages.


HUM 127: Critical Thinking Dual Credit
Open to: 11, 12
Prerequisite: CLC placement criteria
Credit 1.0 
This course is an introduction to critical thinking skills (i.e., formal logic), including the following: problem-solving, diagramming and evaluating arguments, constructing sound reasoning skills and habits, detecting fallacies, and reasoning from a variety of disciplines such as science, business, law, and the arts.


ENG 121: English Composition I Dual Credit
Open to: 11, 12
Prerequisite: CLC placement criteria
Credit 1.0 – English Elective Credit and college credit *NCAA
This dual-credit English course is designed to help students develop their competence in college-level writing and in the analysis of texts so they can enter the dialogue of the academic community. This course includes the analysis and practice of argument and the use of critical thinking to read, analyze, and produce college-level texts.

Note: This dual credit course should not be taken by a student who has received a 3 or higher on the AP Language exam since that score exempts the student from ENG 121 at CLC.


ENG 122: English Composition II Dual Credit
Open to: 11, 12
Prerequisite: CLC placement criteria & successful completion of English Composition I
Credit 1.0 – English Elective Credit and college credit *NCAA
This course furthers the work done in English Composition I by providing students more experience as academic writers, readers, researchers, and critical thinkers. To help students construct their own meaning while engaging with the texts of others, they will develop the ability to collect, evaluate, and incorporate varied sources in thoughtfully-written analyses and arguments. Students’ work should demonstrate the ability to position themselves within the context of academic and societal conversations using a variety of texts, which may include literature, arguments on various issues, news articles, films, advertisements, and websites.


Website by SchoolMessenger Presence. © 2024 SchoolMessenger Corporation. All rights reserved.