English
English 1 College Prep (Grade 9)
Year Course
Fulfills “B” of UC/CSU A-G admission requirements
This class is aligned with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for grades 9-10. It introduces world literature, focusing on exploration of novels, short stories, drama, mythology, and non-fiction. Writing instruction includes expository essays, business and technical writing, and autobiographical/biographical essays. Grammar instruction focuses on the parts of speech and sentences, phrases, punctuation, and sentence construction. There is a specific technology focus at each high school. Summer reading is assigned for all students.
English 1 Honors (Grade 9)
Year Course
Fulfills “B” of UC/CSU A-G admission requirements
This is an intensive honors level class designed to meet the needs of students performing at an advanced level for their grade. Extensive reading and writing are required. Students are expected to have strong critical analysis, reading, and writing skills. Students can expect to complete all parts of the summer assignment, read a minimum of four novels or plays over the course of the year, write a minimum of two essays per quarter, and adhere to high expectations for meeting deadlines, communicating with teachers, and displaying academic responsibility and maturity.
English 2 College Prep (Grade 10)
Year Course
Fulfills “B” of UC/CSU A-G admission requirements
This course bridges ninth grade world literature with eleventh grade American literature in classes aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). It focuses on multicultural literature that reflects the culturally diverse population in our school community. Other novels/plays are selected by the instructor from the district reading list for tenth grade. Writing instruction focuses on expository essays, biographical narratives, character sketches, persuasive essays, and a career research report. Grammar instruction builds upon basic skills taught in ninth grade with an emphasis on subject verb agreement and effective sentence construction and variation. Summer reading is assigned for all students.
English 2 Honors (Grade 10)
Year Course
Fulfills “B” of UC/CSU A-G admission requirements
This is an intensive honors level class designed to meet the needs of students performing at an advanced level for their grade. Extensive reading and writing are required. Students are expected to have strong critical analysis, reading and writing skills. Students can expect to complete all parts of the summer assignment, read a minimum of four novels or plays over the course of the year, write a minimum of two essays per quarter, and adhere to high expectations for meeting deadlines, communicating with teachers, and displaying academic responsibility and maturity.
English 3 College Prep (Grade 11)
Year Course
Fulfills “B” of UC/CSU A-G admission requirements
This course includes a survey of American literature in classes that are aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Teachers use both chronological and thematic approaches. Grammar focuses on the correct use of verbs, phrases and clauses. Writing focus areas include responses to literature, narrative writing, compare/contrast essays, and multimedia presentations. Basic research skills are reviewed. Summer reading is assigned for all students.
English 4 Expository Reading and Writing (Grade 12)
Year Course
Fulfills “B” of UC/CSU A-G admission requirements
This class was developed by the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems and is designed for college-bound seniors who want to prepare for the rigors of college-level reading and writing across subject matter. The emphasis is on rhetorical reading and writing, argumentative writing, critical thinking, and author argument. Extensive writing and reading is done throughout the year with an emphasis on expository reading.
AP Language & Composition (Grade 11)
Year Course
Fulfills “B” of UC/CSU A-G admission requirements
In this college-level course, students will complete all parts of the summer assignment, write at least one essay every 1-2 weeks, read 5-6 books of fiction and nonfiction over the course of the year, and learn to compose and closely analyze a variety of nonfiction text including: exposition, narration, persuasion, speech, film, art, and advertisement. Students will examine the purposes, audience expectations and subjects of a variety of written forms. Close attention will be paid to the conventions and constructions of language as they contribute to effectiveness in writing.
AP Literature and Composition (Grade 12)
Year Course
Fulfills “B” of UC/CSU A-G admission requirements
This college-level course includes an intensive study of British and American Literature. The course covers 9-10 novels, an average of 1-2 weekly essays, critical analysis of poetry, and a focus on literary interpretation. Students are prepared for and are expected to take the AP test in the spring. Passing the AP test makes a student eligible for college credit for this course. Critical thinking and analytical writing skills are emphasized. Extensive reading and writing are assigned throughout the year. Students are required to complete summer reading.
Creative Writing (Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12)
Year Course (SSFHS only)
Fulfills “G” (English) of UC/CSU A-G admission requirements
This course is intended for the students to explore the basic elements of writing including narrative, scene, character, and dialogue, through short stories, poetry, and scripts. Students will read a variety of works as well as essays on writing craft. Frequent writing exercises will generate further discussion on craft and prepare students to participate in workshops in which student work will be critiqued
Journalism 1 (Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12)
Year Course (SSFHS only)
Fulfills SSFUSD graduation requirement only
This is a one-year course introducing students to the field of journalism. This class covers newsgathering techniques, press law and ethics, new trends in journalism, printing methods, different types of newswriting, photography, layout and design, and advertising. The course covers the first steps of newsgathering to the final stages of production.
Yearbook Production (Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12)
Year Course
Fulfills SSFUSD graduation requirement only
This class is responsible for the production of the school yearbook. Students are instructed in basic journalistic skills involving the areas of layout, design, writing, business, and photography. MBRFC