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The English Department of Plano West Senior High School works to achieve the Plano ISD vision statement to empower our students to proactively adapt to new learning opportunities throughout their lives, collaborate with and contribute to the global community, and be both creative and disciplined in their thinking. Each level’s calendars and assignments may be accessed through mypisd.net
American Studies
Aaron Sands , Kristin Taylor
American Studies is a course designed to maximize student benefit through the use of Gifted and Talented strategies to blend the Advanced Placement US History and Advanced Placement Language courses. This course, the next "step" after Humanities in the PISD PACE program, focuses on the philosophical underpinnings of American writing and thought, along with an understanding of the historical climate associated with that writing. The materials used by the teachers result in cognition on many levels; lecture, inquiry, group activities, and computer assignments address different learning styles. Discussion participation, careful writing and critical reading are significant elements for this course, along with the implementation of Gifited and Talented strategies.
AP United States History - or APUSH - is a survey course that covers the time period from approximately 1492 to the present, concentrating on major political, social, economic, intellectual, and cultural themes. AP Language - or APLANG - is a course designed to help students become skilled readers and writers who compose for a variety of purposes, aware of the use of rhetorical devices, writer's purposes, audience expectations, and subjects. Both of these courses are designed to be the equivalent of first year college courses, allowing students the potential to earn university credit throught he successful completion of the course and the College Board Advanced Placement tests taken in May 2010.
English III
Jan Heck (Team Leader), Valerie Reidling, Rick Hardison, Danielle Thomasson
This course continues emphasis on composition skills and literary analysis through a focus on the American Experience. Fall semester will be a study of the American scene as a quest for independence. Spring semester will be a study of America’s move in new directions. Study will include the exploration of English as a developing and changing language. Students will be studying the development of American Literature and important American authors. All literary study is supported by composition. Students will also be engaged in writing narrative essays and a research paper.
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English III Honors
Melissa Collett (Team Leader, Rafe McCain,
This course is designed for students with an honors background or above average ability in on-level English II. Reading requirements surpass those in on-level English III and demand insightful analysis. This instruction provides the student with sophisticated techniques for success in writing on a college level. This course, in conjunction with English Honors IV, prepares students to take the AP exam.
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English III AP
Lauren Hodum (Team Leader), Judith Elliott, Celine Gomez, Melissa Collett
This course is designed for the serious student of English who works, reads, and writes at the college level, or is willing to do so. This course will prepare students to take the College Board’s Advanced Placement English Language and Composition exam in the spring in order to receive college credit. The AP English Language exam demands the ability to both read and write closely and analytically at the college level. Nonfiction and fiction, American literature and rhetoric, Aristotle through contemporary writers are examples of readings covered in this course. We strongly support the College Board’s philosophy that reading in an AP course should be both wide and deep. It is recommended that students have an Honors English II background coming in to English III AP.
AP English 3 Summer Reading
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English IV
Sharon Townsend (Team Leader), Kara Schectman, Staci Cook, Danielle Thomasson
Students will discover ways to change the world through a critical approach to reading and writing as they connect the meanings of texts across cultures and time. Student’s independent thinking will be fostered through logical and insightful analysis, interactions with literature and visual texts, and reading and writing. English IV curriculum will focus on the philosophy of the reading and writing workshop. The writing workshop will provide students with a substantial amount of time to create new writing, to revise pieces already begun, and to find an audience for their work. The reading workshop enables students to become lifelong readers by combining the study of the required classic literature with self selected reading that builds their readings. English IV prepares students for life after high school whether it be college or the work force.
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English IV Honors
Staci Cook (Team Leader), Sharon Townsend, Kara Schectman
This course is designed for students with an honors background who are planning to enter a four year university upon high school graduation. Students must be willing to complete numerous independent outside reading assignments that include fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. There is a heavy emphasis on writing that requires both critical and rhetorical analysis. Students often work collaboratively in groups on major assignments. This course, in conjunction with English III Honors, prepares the students to take the AP Language and Composition exam.
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English IV AP
Celine Gomez (Team Leader), Lauren Hodum, Judith Elliott
Advanced Placement English IV is designed for the above-average, motivated, college-bound student. The course of study concentrates on British literature in its chronological development but is supplemented by selections from other European authors. Since one of the objectives of the class is to prepare the student to earn college credit through the Advanced Placement Literature and Composition Examination in May, we emphasize writing about literature by analyzing themes and stylistic and rhetorical devices of selected works by a diversity of authors.
Advanced Reading
Jan Heck
This course is designed to help the college-bound reader gain vocabulary growth and increase critical reading and thinking skills. These skills will be practiced and applied on the higher levels demanded by the SAT and other college entrance examinations. Students will have several opportunities to prepare for the SAT though college board online school practice sessions. Students will also develop reading comprehension skills through novel studies.
Bible Literacy
Danielle Thomasson
This course is an elective course on the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and the New Testament which teaches knowledge of Biblical content, characters, poetry, and narratives that impact understanding of contemporary society and culture, including literature, art, music, and public policy. The course follows federal and state laws and guidelines in maintaining religious neutrality and accommodating the diverse religious views and perspectives of students.
Creative Writing
Jan Heck
Students will be introduced to a variety of genre writing and challenged to use language in bold and imaginative ways. Students will be encouraged to engage in self-exploration and experiment with self-expression. Journal writing, quick writes, and pass-around stories are some of the modalities used in class. Creation of an anthology is the culminating activity for this class
World of Ideas
Nancy Lewis
The focus of the World of Ideas class is on philosophy, music, film, leadership, social ideas, and literature. Students experience advanced critical thinking skills; problem-solving; creative interpretation and expression; advanced oral, written and visual presentation skills; self-directed study; and advanced research and expository writing skills.
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