Carteret High School English Department

Our high school curriculum consists of a balanced literacy approach. Students are engaged in both fiction and nonfiction reading and writing. Multiple levels are offered for each course and are designed to meet the needs of individual students. Students read a selection of both contemporary and classical works and research is required in all levels. For our students wishing to pursue higher level classes, we offer AP Literature and Composition, as well as AP Language and Composition. To couple the core classes, Carteret offers several elective courses in English including: Mythology, Creative Writing, Freshman Seminar, Senior Seminar, Journalism, Tomorrow’s Teachers, and SAT Prep.

Course Sequence Outline:

ENGLISH Courses of Study: Carteret HS

The English curriculum provides a foundation in each of the language arts. Courses in Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 survey Contemporary/Classical, American, British and World Literature respectively. Elective courses are offered in the areas of journalism/publishing and theatre, art & film to meet the varied interests of students. Summer reading assignments prior to entering all grade level Honors and AP courses are mandatory.

ENGLISH 1:  Grade 9 - 5 Credits

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Grade 8 English 

The Language Arts curriculum for the ninth grade student is designed to enhance the English skills of composition, grammar, literature and vocabulary. The curriculum is designed to ensure that students read classical and modern literature and to be an introduction to various genres of literature with an emphasis on Contemporary/Classical Literature featuring works from outside the United States. The use of a variety of technologies in research activities is integrated throughout the curriculum. Students are required to complete a research paper.

HONORS ENGLISH 1: Grade 9 - 5 Credits

Prerequisite: Successful completion of 8th grade Honors English OR a sufficient score on the school administered essay entrance exam and teacher recommendation. 

The Language Arts curriculum for the ninth grade honors course is designed to complete additional readings, literary analysis and writing. Admission to this course requires the completion of a summer assignment as determined by the English Department. The honors curriculum is designed to ensure that students read classical and modern literature and to be an introduction to various genres of literature with an emphasis on  Contemporary/Classical Literature featuring works from outside the United States. The use of a variety of technologies in research activities is integrated throughout the curriculum. Students are required to complete a research paper. (High intensity)

ENGLISH 2:  Grade 10 - 5 Credits

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Language Arts 1 or English I. 

Students engage in a review of the fundamentals of writing effectively and refine their skills through practices of written compositions. This course of study serves as the foundation of American Literature, tracing the origins and growth of various pieces of literature and examining common themes, determining author’s intent, theme and intended message. Students are required to complete a research paper. A continuous focus for this course is study skills.

HONORS ENGLISH 2: Grade 10 - 5 Credits

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Honors English 1 OR a sufficient score on the school administered essay entrance exam and teacher recommendation. 

English II Honors expands upon the skills introduced in English I Honors and serves as the foundation of American literature. Students will engage in various modes of writing with emphasis on prose writing, including analytical essays and critical analyses. The students engage in outside research and read supplementary novels and plays. Students must complete a research paper as a requirement of this course. A summer assignment, as determined by the English Department, must be completed prior to entering this course. (High intensity) 

ENGLISH 3: Grade 11 - 5 Credits

Prerequisite: Successful completion of CP English 2 

The English III course expands upon the skills introduced the preceding school year. Students will engage in various modes of writing with continued emphasis on exposition and style. This course will survey major works of British Literature, both fiction and non-fiction. In addition, the course reinforces NJSLA, SAT, and other standardized test-taking skills. Students must complete a research paper.

HONORS ENGLISH 3:  Grade 11 - 5 Credits

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Honors English 2 OR a sufficient score on the school administered essay entrance exam and teacher recommendation.

The English III Honors course expands upon the skills introduced in Honors English II. Students will engage in various modes of writing with emphasis on prose writing, including analytical essays and critical analyses. The students engage in outside research and read supplementary novels and plays. Students must complete a research paper as a requirement of this course. A summer assignment, as determined by the English Department, must be completed prior to entering this course. (High intensity)

ENGLISH 4: Grade 12 - 5 Credits

Prerequisite: Successful completion of CP English 3 

This English Course provides a survey of World Literature.  It emphasizes skill development in the area of reading, writing, speaking, and listening, as well as, an appreciation of world cultures and their influences on society today.  Students prepare a variety of oral and written assignments, including analysis of literature, using primary and secondary sources of information, as well as, computer generated sites. Course activities require study various pieces of literature and examining common themes, and research skills, analysis of college preparation vocabulary, determining author’s intent, theme and intended message. Writing assignments will develop students’ written expression and language skills through the writing process. Students must complete a research paper as a requirement of this course. The use of a variety of technologies in research.

HONORS ENGLISH 4: Grade 12- 5 Credits

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Honors English 3 OR a sufficient score on the school administered essay entrance exam  and teacher recommendation. 

The English IV Honors course expands upon the skills introduced in Honors English III. Students will engage in various modes of writing with emphasis on prose writing, with emphasis on analytical essays and critical analyses. The students engage in outside research and read supplementary novels and plays. Students must complete a research paper as a requirement of this course. A summer assignment, as determined by the English Department, must be completed prior to entering this course. (High intensity)

AP LITERATURE & COMPOSITION:  Grade 12 - 5 Credits 

Prerequisite: Placement based on standardized testing, school administered  essay entrance exam, and previous year’s teacher recommendation.

Advanced Placement (AP) English Literature and Composition is a college-level course that integrates analytical reading, thinking, and writing. Students in AP English Literature and Composition read, discuss, analyze, and evaluate fictional literature from various genres and historical periods. Throughout the course of study, students develop the close reading and writing skills that are necessary in college and in a competitive global market. This course implements the approach to literary study developed by the College Board’s AP program. This approach involves students in “learning how to make careful observations of textual detail, establish connections among their observations, and draw from those connections a series of inferences leading to an interpretive conclusion about a piece of writing’s meaning and value,” (The College Board, English :Literature and Composition Course Description) Unlike other courses, which usually cover the history or development of a specific nation’s literary tradition, AP English Literature and Composition is neither chronologically organized nor confined to texts from a particular geographic provenance; rather literary texts are selected to represent a variety of cultures. The literary texts selected in this curriculum reflect the richness of cultural diversity in our public schools. (High intensity)

AP ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION:  Grade 11 - 12 - 5 Credits 

Prerequisite: Placement based on standardized testing, school administered  essay entrance exam, and previous year’s teacher recommendation.

The Advanced Placement (AP) English Language and Composition course aligns to an introductory college-level rhetoric and writing curriculum, which requires students to develop evidence-based analytic and argumentative essays that proceed through several stages and drafts. Students evaluate, synthesize, and cite research to support their arguments. Throughout the course, students develop a personal style by making appropriate grammatical choices. Additionally, students read and analyze the rhetorical elements and their effects in non-fiction texts, including graphic images as forms of text, from many disciplines and historical periods. Summer work and AP exam required.

READING INTERVENTION: Grades 9 - 12 - 5 credits 

Prerequisite: Placement based on testing.

The Language Arts curriculum is designed to enhance the English skills of composition, grammar, literature and vocabulary. READ 180 is a specialized reading course that is designed to target reading skills that students need to be good readers. This program, combined with teacher instruction will allow students the opportunity to make substantial gains in their reading ability by developing the necessary skills. The course offers instruction and practice in decoding words, spelling words, vocabulary development, comprehension, and fluency.

FRESHMAN SEMINAR: Grade 9 - 2.5 credits

Freshman Seminar prepares ninth grade students for their high school experience as well as preparing them for future endeavors. This will be accomplished by introducing students to Naviance to pinpoint personal and educational goals, learning styles, and interests. This will assist students with their high school experience and college/career choices in the future. Students will also be introduced to school policies, obligations, and organizations available to them to enhance their experience at CHS. Students will receive introductory lessons on note-taking, writing, and completing community service projects.

SENIOR ENGLISH 1,2,3,4:  Grade 12 - 1.25 Credits (marking period) 

Prerequisite: Placement based on testing.

This course is a writing intensive course designed to improve critical thinking, reading, and writing skills. Students are placed in this class based on their grade on the NJSLA  assignments. In this class, students will create a portfolio required by the NJDOE to ensure graduation for each student.

English Electives:

MYTHOLOGY: Grades 9 - 12 - 2.5 credits 

This course introduces classical, Norse, and medieval mythology through the study of themes and narratives that emphasize the importance of mythical elements to the modern world. Students will be able to describe some of the most significant literary readings of western mythology and how these texts reflect challenges faced by students in their application of mythological themes to other mediums.

JOURNALISM: Grades 10 - 12 - 5 credits 

This course focuses on the skills and techniques required for publishing in a timely and professional fashion. Students will be required to interview, research, compose, revise, edit and layout articles using technology and a variety of other resources. It is recommended for students who are skilled in composition, computer technology and/or photography and who are able to work independently in a responsible fashion. Objectives include demonstrating knowledge and competent performance in journalism, photography, layout design, computer publishing software and marketing in the creation of publications such as school newspaper, literary magazine and/or the yearbook. Students are graded based upon their contributions and participation towards deadline submissions. (High Intensity)

SAT PREP: Grades 10 - 12 - 2.5 credits 

SAT Prep is a course designed to help prepare students for the SAT test. In addition to reviewing the basic verbal and mathematical skills assessed on the SAT test, students have access to test-taking strategies specific to the exam, real student work samples with explanations, grading rubrics for peer and self-assessment, practice tests with complete multiple-choice assessments, essay prompts, and study resources. Instruction, followed by collaborative, guided, and independent practice, provides the foundation for the course. Students spend nine weeks working on the verbal and writing component of the SAT and nine weeks working on the mathematics component of the SAT. Upon successful completion, students will possess the tools necessary to complete the SAT to the best of their ability.

CREATIVE WRITING: Grades 10 - 12 - 2.5 Credits 

Students in this course will experiment with two creative genres—poetry and fiction—as a means of developing different imaginative approaches to experience. The emphasis will be on generating a lot of raw material, getting familiar with some of the basic strategies for reading and talking about others’ writing, and advancing a portion of your total work toward completion.

SENIOR SEMINAR: Grades 12 - 2.5 Credits 

This course will focus on the completion of requirements inherent to the college application process. Among these will be the completion of the Common Application, the personal essay, preparing a resume/activity sheet, and developing an appropriate college list. Naviance will be integral to the course, as will other online resources that enable students to evaluate themselves as applicants and search for specific programs and scholarships. The class will incorporate writing and vocabulary which will assist in preparing for the SAT exam.

TOMORROW’S TEACHERS: Grades 11 -12 - 5 Credits

Prerequisite: Successful completion of core classes

DUAL ENROLLMENT COURSE: 3 College Credits Offered in Partnership with Kean University

Tomorrow’s Teachers is an innovative course designed to attract talented young people who possess exemplary interpersonal and leadership skills to consider a career in teaching. The program seeks to provide high school students insight into the nature of teaching, the problems of schooling, and the critical issues affecting the quality of education in America’s schools. Through the study of a variety of texts, discussion, and classroom observation, students will learn about the profession of teaching. Tomorrow’s Teachers includes three themes for the school year: Experiencing Learning; Experiencing the Profession; Experiencing the Classroom. The course culminates with a six week field experience program, where the students travel to other schools in the district and work with teachers to gain hands on experience. In addition to the field experience, each student will also create a culminating teaching portfolio. This course is offered to students in their Junior or Senior year and is an Honors level course, with a possibility to extend to the collegiate level. Students who choose to can earn three transferable college credits through Kean University. The University fee of $250, which includes three college credits (credits are listed as elective credits), all fees and the use of college facilities, is paid for by the student and is optional.