English
English classes for grades 7-12 all require summer reading from a mandatory
list available in the late spring from Nolan’s main office and library
website (library.nolancatholichs.org). Good writers and thinkers develop language
awareness by reading both classic and contemporary writers with challenging
views. The goal of the English department is to create an enlightened, literate,
and persuasive graduate who reads, thinks, writes, and speaks effectively.
(Consequently, in the first week of school, student accountability for summer
reading will occur in compositions, tests or class discussions.) The department
recommends that specific notes be taken by the student as the reading occurs.
In addition, the four-year sequence provides an emerging philosophical focus
from the initial quest to an evolution of a personal ethic by each student.
Course placement of a new, incoming student is determined by the department
chairperson, who uses all pertinent data available at the time of registration.
If a student is placed in an advanced course, the level of required selections
demands a socially, emotionally and spiritually mature reader and thinker.
Parents/guardians need to be aware of the maturity level of their students
before agreeing to advanced placement reading lists. For all honors courses,
teachers have high expectations and rigorous homework requirements.
203 - Literature
7
Literature 7 is designed to help the student adjust from a basal approach
to reading to a literature approach. The major types of literature are studied
along with literary analysis and literary terminology. Word attack skills,
vocabulary development, and the many skills of comprehension are emphasized.
Students will be taught to use common reference materials for research.
Grade: 7 All Year
Prerequisite: None
Summer Reading is required for this course.
206 - Literature
7 Accelerated
Literature 7 Accelerated includes the content of Literature 8 as well as requiring
in-depth analysis of content, with emphasis on application of knowledge. All
students enrolled in this course must be enrolled in 208 Grammar & Composition
8.
Grade: 7 All Year
Prerequisite: Departmental Approval
Summer Reading is required for this course.
207 - Grammar
and Composition 7
Seventh grade grammar and composition is designed to re-emphasize the fundamentals
and usage of the parts of speech through a structured study of grammar utilizing
complex sentence structure concluding with complex diagramming patterns. Writing
skills will be developed through the use of descriptive and expository paragraph
formation as well as forms of oral presentations.
Grade: 7 All Year
Prerequisite: None
204 - Literature
8
Literature 8 is designed to improve student vocabulary and comprehension.
Emphasis is placed on the analysis of all genres of literature along with
the appropriate literary terminology. Research procedures, study skills, logic,
and reading in the content areas are all emphasized.
Grade: 8 All Year
Prerequisite: Literature 7
Summer Reading is required for this course.
208 - Grammar
and Composition 8
Grammar and Composition 8 is designed to provide each student with learning
opportunities which will further develop his oral and written communication
abilities through a structured study of traditional grammar, oral expression,
narrative, descriptive, and expository composition.
Grade: 7 and 8 All Year
Prerequisite: Course #207 or
Departmental Approval
210 – English
8 Accelerated
This course uses advanced reading to teach the genres of short story, drama,
poetry, and non-fiction. Students begin their study of Shakespeare by reading
Romeo & Juliet. Students continue their study of the novel by reading
Great Expectations. Students also review 7th and 8th grade grammar concepts.
Composition is linked to the literature and emphasizes the final product of
coherent and cogent five-paragraph essay. Vocabulary from the SAT word list
and Greek and Latin roots are studied in order to improve speaking and writing
skills. The goal of this course is to prepare students for advanced English
courses in high school.
Grade: 8 All Year
Prerequisite: Course #206 Credit: 1
Summer reading is required for this course
205 - English
I, Quest
The Quest begins with an overview of grammar involving parts of speech, sentence
structure, diagramming, mechanics, and usage. Grammar study is integrated
directly with composition skills to develop clarity in all forms of discourse.
Multi-paragraphed compositions of narration, description, exposition, and
argumentation are included throughout the year. In addition to studying classics
like the Odyssey and the Tempest, literary study from various genres focuses
on authors from the countries studied in World Geography. Composition is fused
to literary study throughout the year. Thus, the goal of this quest is to
enable each student to initiate his/her own search for literary acumen. Weekly
vocabulary study is required.
Grade: 9 All Year
Prerequisite: Credit: 1
Summer Reading is required for this course.
202 – English
I Honors
This course is designed for students who have demonstrated superior skills
and motivation and are willing to spend extra hours reading and writing to
achieve mastery in both literature and composition. Genres and works studied
are the same as regular literature and composition with additions in the content
area. Composition study includes material covered in literature and composition
with concentration on unity through transition usage and paragraph hooks.
Vocabulary is a structured weekly study and is expected to be reflected in
original composition. Thus the goal of
the honors quest is to enable each student to initiate his/her own search
for literary acumen and expertise. A mastery of basic grammar skills is a
prerequisite. Additional outside reading is required.
Grade: 9 All Year
Prerequisite: Departmental Approval Credit: 1
Summer Reading is required for this course.
220 - English
II, Journey
The Journey continues the search for literary acumen begun in the "quest."
An overview of grammar focuses on mastery within compositions, which are multi-paragraphed
in four discourses. Because vocabulary is a structured weekly activity, acquisition
of those words should be evidenced in
the composition. Much of the composition is fused to literary study. Classic
literature such as JULIUS CAESAR and HUCK FINN, as well as other genres of
short story, drama, non-fiction, and poetry comprise the literary content
of this course. The chronological study of world literature beginning with
the ancient Greeks and ending with modern times corresponds with the students’
chronological study of world history. Thus, the goal of the journey is the
enhancement of knowledge and the application of connections to previous study;
therefore, the student develops a continuum of personal literary and historical
experience.
Grade: 10 All Year
Prerequisite: Nolan’s Course #205 Credit: 1
Summer Reading is required for this course
225 - English II, Honors
This course is designed for students who have demonstrated superior skills
and motivation and for those who illustrate insight and critical thinking
skills beyond the average student. The content in literature is similar to
regular Journey. Emphasis on audience and tone is stressed in composition.
The goal for an honors student is the development of critical analysis from
the journey literature with applications in composition for a particular audience
or tone. Additional outside reading may be required.
Grade: 10 All Year
Prerequisite: Yearly average of 93% or Credit: 1
above in course #202 or #205
Summer Reading is required for this course.
228 - English
III, American Literature
American Literature includes a survey of the literature of the United States
with literature-based compositions including essays and a term paper. Literary
selections are presented chronologically to enhance the study of American
history through emphasis on the progressive development of American literature
in relation to historical circumstances.
Grade: 11 All Year
Prerequisite: English II Credit: 1
Summer Reading is required for this course.
229 - English
III, Advanced Placement
Language and Composition
This is a college level course, and students can, by good performance on the
Advanced Placement Examination, college credit hours based on the university’s
criteria. The course includes both reading and analysis of discursive prose
and the study of the process of writing. Students will study examples of prose
and poetry from various fields and periods. These examples will be used for
the study of different styles and tones of authors. Students will discover,
analyze, and use complex discursive patterns such as semantic, structural,
and rhetorical resources of the language. Through study and practice students
gain an understanding of the principles of effective writing and become effective
writers themselves.
Grade: 11 All Year
Prerequisite: A yearly average of 93% or Credit: 1
above in Course # 220, 225, and
Departmental Approval
Summer Reading is required for this course.
250 - English IV, British Literature
This course is designed to introduce the student to the major authors of British
literature. Through the use of the anthology, the student will examine the
various genres and periods of British literature from the Anglo-Saxon period
to the twentieth century. An introduction to each literary period will be
provided in order to establish the historical context and clarify the relationships
of an individual writer to the intellectual and literary movements of his
age. The student will be expected to demonstrate his knowledge of the course
content through tests and various assignments including documented research.
Grade: 12 All Year
Prerequisite: English III Credit: 1
Summer Reading is required for this course.
231 -English
IV, Advanced Placement Literature
and Composition
Students in advanced placement literature and composition should expect to
analyze critically classic works of literature as to language, themes, characters,
and action as well as discover structure, meaning, value, and relationship
of said literature to contemporary experience. The advanced placement student
should develop critical standards for the independent appreciation of any
literary work, thus creating student synthesis through scholarly writing.
The goal of this course is an adequate evaluation on the AP test in May, which
should be recognized by participating universities for course credit applied
to college transcripts. In order for the students to be exempt from the spring
semester final exam, they must maintain a 93 or above average during the spring
semester.
Grade: 12 All Year
Prerequisite: A yearly average of 93% Credit: 1 or above in Course #228 or
#229 and
Departmental Approval
Summer Reading is required for this course.
242 –
Speech – Required for graduation
This course is an introduction to the art of public speaking including basic
speaking techniques, speech structure, and outline formation. Through research
and practice students write and present speeches and learn to use note cards
effectively to gain confidence in public speaking.
Grade: 9-12 One Semester
Prerequisite: None Credit: .5
|
A Speech option
½ credit is being offered to the speech members of the Speech
and debate Team. The purpose of the speech and debate competition team
is to develop a student’s oral communication skills in order to
strengthen their leadership abilities. Students learn speaking, analysis,
logic and critical thinking skills. An integral part of this learning
process is research and practice. Students have an opportunity to become
members of the National Forensic League, a speech and debate honor society
eminently respected by universities across the nation. Competition events
range from interpretation and debate to oratory and extemporaneous speaking.
Eighty hours must be logged for ½ credit. Competitions take place
on Fridays and Saturdays. Only ½ Speech credit can be earned
and NOT elective credit. |
273 - Journalism
This course offers instruction in basic reporting, editing, make-up, layout,
design, typography, and
the responsibility of the press. It provides for on-going participation in
school newspaper production for students who show an interest and willingness
to sustain the effort required to produce a newspaper. This may include column
writing, sports reporting, copy-reading and proofreading. More capable students
interested in a career in communication arts will find scope for advanced
work involving interviewing, in-depth research, editorial writing, and the
rudiments of desktop publishing.
Grade: 10-12 All Year
Prerequisite: English I Credit: 1
274 - Advanced
Journalism
This course offers advanced students an opportunity to apply in a systematic
way the principles and techniques of basic journalism to the production of
Out Of The Blue. A willingness to accept the responsibility for producing
a school newspaper and to work on publications outside of the normal school
day are major components of Advanced Journalism.
Grade: 11-12 All Year
Prerequisite: Journalism 273 and Credit: 1
Journalism Teacher's Approval
Back to top
275 - Yearbook
This course offers students an opportunity to apply in a systematic way the
principles of basic journalism to the production of the Nolan yearbook, Lepanto.
Reliability and the willingness to work on the yearbook outside of the normal
school day are major components of Yearbook. This is a graded course.
Grade: 11-12 All Year
Prerequisite: Yearbook Advisor Approval Credit: 1
276 - European
Film Studies
This class begins with the class making a three-minute film during the course
of which students will learn the language and technique of filmmaking. Important
European films will be screened and analyzed. Composition will be required
in this course.
Grade: 11 & 12 only One Semester
Prerequisites: None Credit: .5
277 - American
Film Studies
This class begins with the class making a three-minute film during the course
of which students will learn the language and technique of filmmaking. Hollywood
films will be studied in the context of narrative screenplay structure. Composition
will be required in this course.
Grade: 11 & 12 One Semester
Prerequisites: None Credit: .5
212 – Learning
Lab
This course is designed to remediate and reinforce reading and study skills
for the student that requires extra support. The student will meet daily to
apply skills to various content areas. Students will learn how to study for
tests, improve their reading level and master study techniques that will assist
them throughout their school career. The teacher will consult with the student’s
various course syllabi in order to promote success in all subjects. The enrollment
for this course is restricted and requires the approval of the academic dean.
No credit toward graduation requirements will be given.
Grade: 9 All Year
Prerequisite: Approval of Academic Dean Credit: 1
