Language Arts

OVERVIEW

The Language Arts Department seeks to enhance skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Through literature students explore various worlds and cultures; they investigate the nuances of language and meaning, and they analyze and evaluate thought. Following the writing process, students compose oral and written pieces in various modes: descriptive, expository, narrative, and persuasive; and they develop research and critical thinking skills.

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MAJOR COURSE OFFERINGS

9th Grade Literature & Composition -- integrates writing, grammar, and usage, literature, speaking, and listening. This course stresses the writing process: planning, drafting, revising, editing, and proofing, as well as the study of form in personal narratives, descriptions, and expository papers. Students read multi-cultural literature in a variety of genre: short stories, novels, tales, poetry, mythology, drama, and nonfiction. Course work emphasizes oral and written responses to literature, characteristics of various genre, and vocabulary study.

10th Grade Literature & Composition -- emphasizes descriptive, personal narrative, and expository writing with attention to grammar, mechanics and usage. Students read a variety of selections from world literature including: poetry, short stories, novels, drama, and classical mythology. This course stresses vocabulary development and requires compositions of literary analysis to develop thinking, organizing, and speaking skills.

American Literature & Composition -- offers opportunities to improve reading, writing, speaking/listening, and critical thinking skills through the study of American Literature. This course exposes students to a variety of literary genre and multicultural writers presented in a chronological organization to complement the study of U. S. History. Students develop control over grammar, mechanics, usage, and research skills through composition and move toward precision in personal narrative, descriptive, persuasive, and expository compositions.

World Literature & Composition -- includes literary selections from the entire world of writers and promotes efficiency through exploration of a variety of writing styles. This course is designed to enhance organization and development of written thought and speaking and listening abilities through a variety of activities. Coursework stresses grammar, mechanics, usage, and research skills.

AP Literature & Composition -- conforms to the College Board recommendations for the Advanced Placement Literature and Composition Examinations. Students explore the study and practice of writing and literature; they analyze the modes of discourse, the assumptions underlying rhetorical strategies, connotation, metaphor, irony, syntax, and tone. Students write critical analyses of literature, essays of exposition and argument, and original poetry, drama, and prose fiction.

Applied Communication -- offers workplace communication skills for juniors and seniors. Coursework emphasizes improving and applying reading, writing, speaking, listening and problem-solving skills in occupational and personal areas.

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EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Forensics Competition in Policy and Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Dramatic and Humorous Interpretation, Expository Speaking, and Original Oratory; National Forensic League Membership Drama Club Theatrical Productions, International Thespian Society Membership Writing and editing for various publications: The Southerner, The Orator, The Unmasking, and hallway displays Participation in various writing competitions: Mayor's Scholars Essay Contest, Share the Dream Essay Contest, PTSA Visions Contest, etc. Georgia and National Scholastic Press Association Conferences

National Quill and Scroll Membership

 

STAFF

Marian P. Kelly, Chair

Deedee Abbott, Enoch Gill, Marva Greene, Mario Herrera, Derek Hon, Olympia Jenkins, Larry McCurdy, Janet Milton, Jocelyn Nettles, Maron Sorenson, Scott Stephens, Lisa Willoughby