Students are required to successfully complete one English course per year.  Classes are organized by the PA Common Core English standards. In grades 9 and 10, students will choose from the four English 9/10 courses.  In grades 11 and 12, students will choose from the four 11/12 English courses. Because of the inquiry style of classes, all the electives are mixed grades and mixed ability. Starting in 11th grade, students may opt to apply for admission to AP Literature, AP Language, or English Composition.

The English department revised the curriculum to meet three goals: improve state test scores, connect English content to contemporary culture, and create lifelong readers and writers. Students need English courses that meet their needs socially, emotionally, and academically. By the time students leave Donegal School District, each of their English courses will have prepared them for the real-world Language Arts skills that are vital to becoming a successful citizen, including:

1. Communicate with a variety of audiences: peers, authority figures, subordinates, and formal audiences.
2. Construct ideas through writing, understanding how the rhetorical situation shapes writing tactics.
3. Build increasingly sophisticated use of age-appropriate grammar and vocabulary.
4. Evaluate the validity of speech, print, and advertising in a variety of sources to form fact-based opinions.
5. Study literature, literary non-fiction, and poetry to broaden the human experience by giving access, understanding, and empathy to other cultures and perspectives.
6. Share their stories and experience peers’ stories to answer big questions with nuance and empathy.
7. See themselves represented in the texts studied and be exposed to multiple perspectives to deepen their understanding of others.
8. Both read independently with ease and enjoyment and persevere through more complex texts. 

Regardless of topic, each class will address the same standards and skills. Texts of a variety of reading levels will be held in conversation with other articles, novels, poems, short stories, non-fiction essays, and speeches to help answer key essential questions in an inquiry style of learning.

107431 Literature 9-10:  People and the Environment (Weight – 1.1)                                  1.0 credit

Beginning with the mythology of indigenous peoples, moving through literature from various cultures, and ending with contemporary argument and rhetoric, this course will explore how humans developed the natural world and how those changes shaped humans in turn. It will review how we impact our surroundings collectively and individually, and what our ethical responsibilities are to our global and local communities. The course will end with an argumentative project that will allow students to make a case for what humanity’s relationship with nature should be. Course requirements will include projects and writing that encompass the ELA 9-10 standards.  The following link provides a list of the books that will be read as part of the course: Lit 9/10 Book Titles and Authors

107531 Literature 9-10: Power and the Justice System (Weight – 1.1)                                   1.0 credit

This course will focus on literature and non-fiction surrounding questions of human systems of justice. Students will use the pieces from a variety of cultures and historical periods to decide when justice is successful or unsuccessful, why people should or should not pursue justice, and when the individual pursuit of power can lead to injustice. The literature will especially highlight justice in the courtroom and penal system. Course requirements will include projects and writing that encompass the ELA 9-10 standards. The following link provides a list of the books that will be read as part of the course: Lit 9/10 Book Titles and Authors

107631 Literature 9-10:  Sci-Fi and Horror (Weight – 1.1)         1.0 credit

This course examines the relationship between Horror and Science Fiction and the societies, cultures, and ideologies from which they are born. Students will exchange with both classic and contemporary Horror and Sci-Fi literature, with a focus on connecting themes from these texts to the real world advances, apprehensions, and fears that birth them. Students will answer a variety of big picture questions to build an understanding of this genre of literature. What makes us afraid? Who decides what is monstrous and what isn’t? How does fear influence us as people and as a society? Is the reality of our world or the fiction of our imaginations more terrifying? These topics and more will be thoroughly explored through a variety of texts.  Course requirements will include projects and writing that encompass the ELA 9-10 standards. The following link provides a list of the books that will be read as part of the course: Lit 9/10 Book Titles and Authors

107831 Literature 9-10: Coming of Age in a Dystopian World (Weight – 1.1)                                                                                              1.0 credit

This course studies a group often excluded from formal high school study: teenagers! Through the lens of themes like the balance of hope and despair in the human spirit and the dangers of naiveté and cynicism, this course begins by reading literature to discover the threshold between childhood and adulthood. It will explore literature and non-fiction that will help determine whether teenagers are capable of making responsible decisions. By the end of the course, the tone will shift from the individual to the societal, ending with an argumentative piece about the impact teens can have on their world. Course requirements will include projects and writing that encompasses the ELA 9-10 standards. The following link provides a list of the books that will be read as part of the course: Lit 9/10 Book Titles and Authors

107135 Freshman Writing Seminar (Weight – 1.1) (Grade 9 required)        

                                                                                                  0.5 credits

This course provides students with a foundation in the essentials of rhetorical analysis, research, and writing in order to evaluate and form arguments, communicate effectively, and solve problems logically. Throughout each unit of this course, students will participate in reading, research, and discussion while building on their knowledge of informational, narrative, and argumentative writing structures. Students will leave this course having a better understanding of who they are as individuals, how they behave in groups, and what sort of community responsibility we all have. This course is designed to prepare ninth graders for future high school English courses as well as help responsible, critical-thinking community members.

 V107135 Freshman Writing Seminar VIRTUAL (Weight – 1.1)

(Grade 9 required)                                                                    0.5 credits

Developed for students who are ready to take on the challenge of rigorous writing and reading instruction in a self-paced virtual environment, this course provides students with a foundation in the essentials of rhetorical analysis, research, and writing in order to evaluate and form arguments, communicate effectively, and solve problems logically. Throughout each unit of this course, students will participate in reading, research, and discussion while building on their knowledge of informational, narrative, and argumentative writing structures. Students will leave this course having a better understanding of who they are as individuals, how they behave in groups, and what sort of community responsibility we all have. This course is designed to prepare ninth graders for future high school English courses as well as help responsible, critical-thinking community members.

Prerequisite:  Interested students must secure two recommendations from DSD staff. The evaluator must have interacted with you within the last semester (or last two marking periods). Recommendation forms can be found in the counseling office.

104331  ELA 11/12: Information Overload: Journalism in a Modern World (Weight – 1.1)          1.0 credit

Students in this class will examine the importance of storytelling and the necessity of truth in communication and media. This course will address the fundamental skills associated with journalistic writing and the ethics that surround it while also presenting students with essential issues that surround journalism today. Through the reading of memoirs, true crime, and relevant news stories, students will construct meaningful responses to the following unit questions: At what point does memoir cross the line into fiction? How important is objectivity in journalistic storytelling? How do we find meaningful patterns out of endless information and draw ethical conclusions? Can being too connected to a story keep you from telling the truth? How can/should journalism use elements of literature? And why is ethical journalism necessary, especially in today’s world when the stakes are so high? Course requirements will include narrative, informative, literary analysis, argumentative writing, and reflection on texts that encompass the ELA 11-12 standards.

104431  ELA 11/12: Master of Two Worlds: The Journeys of Heroes and Villains (Weight – 1.1)  

1.0 credit

Students will examine the evolution of two literary roles that have been essential to our stories for millenia: heroes and villains. Charting the development of heroic myths from the classical era all the way to the world around us, students will evaluate the ways that cultural values impact the figures we place on the pedestals of society. Conversely, students will examine what the forces and people we classify as villains have to say about which ideas we hold dear, and which we revile. In this course, students explore the circumstances that divide heroes and villains, weighing intentions, outcomes, influences, and legacies to determine a spectrum of good and evil. How do we distinguish between misguided vigilantes, heroes who fall from grace, and the truly evil? Furthermore, students will analyze why societies have rallied behind heroic figures in the face of external threat and internal strife. Ultimately, this course seeks to connect larger-than-life struggles between heroes and villains to our own experiences to determine what these figures tell us about ourselves.

104531  ELA 11/12: The Bonds We Form: The Literature of Love, Hate, and Indifference (Weight – 1.1)  

1.0 credit

This course examines the complexities of developing and maintaining relationships and how those connections are portrayed in text and media. We will examine how our personal experiences shape the relationship with one’s self, the dynamics of relationships with others, and the meaning of true connection. Components include narrative, informative, literary analysis, and argumentative writing and reflecting on texts. Units of study will focus on power dynamics in relationships, identifying one’s own emotional needs and the needs of others, the extent to which we have choice in relationships, and how exposure to a variety of cultures and perspectives helps to develop one’s own worldview.

104631  ELA 11/12: Escape From Reality: Finding Meaning in Mythology and Fantasy  (Weight – 1.1)  

1.0 credit

Human beings have always used mythology as a way to understand, and sometimes escape from, the world around them. The class will begin by exploring how the commonalities of ancient myths revealed universal human truths. Then, students will connect their understanding of mythology to our contemporary mythos. Students will study literary fantasy paired with realistic fiction to understand how fantasy is useful as an escape from reality. The course will end with an argumentative project that will allow students to make a case for ways that fantasy can inform more hopeful societal ideals in the face of the darkness of humanity. Components include narrative, informative, literary analysis, and argumentative writing and reflecting on texts. Course requirements will include reading, writing, and projects that encompass the ELA 11-12 standards.

103631 World Dramatic Literature (Weight – 1.1) (Grade 12)   1.0 credit

Using an overview of theater conventions, stagecraft, and cultural context, students will study dramatic literature beginning with ancient Greek theater and ending with contemporary American drama. Students will build on their knowledge of informational, argumentative, and narrative writing structures. Students will continue their study of Greek and Latin roots. Course requirements will include a play review of a theater performance and production of an original drama.

101111 Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition (Weight – 1.3)                                                                             1.0 credit

 (This course will be scheduled to meet every other day for the full year)

Course Overview as published by College Board: “The AP English Literature and Composition course aligns to an introductory college-level literary analysis course. The course engages students in the close reading and critical analysis of imaginative literature to deepen their understanding of the ways writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure. As they read, students consider a work’s structure, style, and themes, as well as its use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism, and tone. Writing assignments include expository, analytical, and argumentative essays that require students to analyze and interpret literary works.”

Prerequisites: Teacher approval required. To qualify for AP Literature at Donegal High School, students will need to earn an A or B in an honors English course in tenth or eleventh grade and also satisfactorily complete an admission essay. Prospective students should see Mrs. Brackbill to receive a copy of the assignment prior to registering for the course.

Summer Reading Requirement: Over the summer, accepted students will read three novels and keep a reading journal which is due on the first day of class. Materials will be distributed prior to summer break.

101311 Advanced Placement English Language and Composition (Weight 1.3)                                                                                1.0 credit

(This course will be scheduled to meet every other day for the full year)

Course Overview as published by College Board: “The 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 or 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.”

Prerequisites: Teacher approval required. To qualify for AP Language at Donegal High School, students will need to earn an A or B in an honors English course in tenth or eleventh grade and also satisfactorily complete an admission essay. Prospective students should see Mrs. Brackbill a copy of the assignment prior to registering for the course.

Summer Reading Requirement: Over the summer, accepted students will read three novels and keep a reading journal which is due on the first day of class. Materials will be distributed prior to summer break.

101511 English Composition (Weight 1.3) (Grade 11 or 12)                                         1.0 credit

(College in the High School Course) - Approval of school counselor and principal required.

This Harrisburg Area Community College, Lancaster Campus course focuses on the development of fluency in writing clear, forceful, and effective prose.  Students will learn and utilize the writing process for many modes of writing, including analytical, narrative, evaluative, argumentative, and explanatory writing.  Deep understanding of the grammatical concepts of the English language as well as proper form and citation will also be studied. In short, the course prepares the student for the many types of writing required in a college setting. Completion of this course results in the awarding of 3.0 college credits, transferable to any college or university that accepts transcripts from HACC. A nominal registration and course fee is required by Harrisburg Area Community College in order to participate.

Prerequisites: Must have taken an honors-level English course in 10th or 11th grade and submit a qualifying essay to Mrs. Stokes for approval prior to registering. Students will also need to pass HACC’s entrance exam to take the course. Students who have applied in 11^th grade and were not accepted are encourage to apply again for their senior year.

625345 Literature I (Weight – 1.1)                                            0.5 credits

625445 Literature II (Weight – 1.1)                                                                                              0.5 credits