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| Why Study English? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| At RIS, English is the medium of instruction in most classes. Many students will be heading to an English medium university, therefore a solid foundation in English is very important. The English Department at RIS is dedicated to providing students with experience in reading challenging literature, writing convincing and insightful papers, and developing your ability and confidence to make oral presentations and lead discussion groups. The skills that are developed in the English classes can be transferred to all other subject areas. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graduation Requirements | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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For the year 2003-2004 four (4) years or six (6) credits of English are required for graduation. An English course must be taken each semester of attendance, regardless of the number of English credits students may have acquired previous to and during their experience at RIS. |
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| English 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duration : Full year, class
meets everyday Credits : 2 The freshman English course lays the foundation for the study of language and literature in high school. The course fosters critical thinking and effective self-expression through the development of speaking, reading, and writing skills. Students read and analyze short stories, poetry, non-fiction, plays and novels. Through a variety of methods, students will acquire a better command of grammar usage, sentence structure, and writing mechanics. Vocabulary is developed within the context of the reading texts. Composition skills are developed through both formal and informal writing activities. Poetry and novels are used to develop speaking skills. |
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| English 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Duration : Full year, class meets everyday The sophomore course builds on the skills developed in English 9 in preparation for IB and AP, and other courses in the last two years of high school. Students continue to read and analyze a variety of texts, and to write various forms of narrative, descriptive, informative and persuasive compositions. Students will also be expected to write a major research paper. Through a variety of methods, students will acquire a better command of grammar usage, sentence structure, and writing mechanics. Vocabulary will be developed through the reading texts. Oral activities will be used to develop speaking skills as well as an understanding of literature. |
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| English 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duration : Full year, class
meets every other day Credit : 1 This course brings together a sampling of readings from cultures around the world. Students will gain an appreciation for the diversity of literature from different cultures. Through a careful study of selected texts students will develop the ability to draw links in literature as well as develop an appreciation for the literature studied. Students will be expected to participate in class discussion, write a variety of essays and perform a variety of oral presentations generated by the literature. Through a variety of methods, students will acquire a better command of grammar usage, sentence structure, and writing mechanics. Vocabulary is developed within the context of the reading texts. |
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| English 12 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duration : Full year, class
meets every other day Credit : 1 The purpose of this course is to develop the student's reading and writing skills in preparation for college. The focus of the course will be on the writing process and the critical reading process. Students will engage in a variety of written work and reading texts. Students will also participate in lectures, seminars, oral presentation projects, and writer's workshops, and will independently and collectively read and analyze important works of literature, both fiction and non-fiction. Through a variety of methods, students will acquire a better command of grammar usage, sentence structure, and writing mechanics. Vocabulary is developed within the context of the reading texts. |
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| AP English Language and Composition | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duration : Full year, class
meets every other day Credit : 1 Prerequisite : Current English teacher's approval The AP English Language and Composition course prepares students for the AP English Language exam administered by the College Board in May. Unlike the AP English Literature and Composition course, this course focuses on nonfiction, primarily American. The range of readings include autobiographies, essays, history, political issues, journalism, philosophy, education, and, of course, some drama and fiction. Moreover, the course is designed to develop the student's rhetorical and composition skills through a careful study of the writing process as it applies to literature and the student's own writing. In general, the course can be equated to a freshman college writing course. The various modes of writing the student will participate in include comparison and contrast, exposition, "how to write with examples", "how to write with narration", "how to write causal analysis." Finally, the course introduces the basics of logic and argumentation in an attempt to develop responsible writers. |
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| AP English Literature and Composition | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duration : Full year, class
meets every other day Credit : 1 Prerequisite : Current English teacher's approval This course prepares students to take the AP English Literature and Composition Exam. Unlike the AP Language course, this course is for seniors only and focuses on fiction, poetry, and imaginative writing. The emphasis is on the development of Western Literature from its classical roots up through the 20th Century. Through the careful reading of selected works, students develop the ability to critically analyze individual works and writers in historical context as well as objectively pure literature. Along with genre and period, students study character development, action, structure, language, theme and figurative language. To that end they are expected to write insightful critical analysis of the literature as well as original creative work. Traditionally, a large part of the second semester is devoted to compiling and publishing Eastern Horizons, the RIS arts & literary magazine. Students are expected to pick up the summer reading list at the end of the junior year. Extended supplementary reading is strongly encouraged. |
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| IB Standard Level: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duration : 2 years, class meets
every other day Credits : 1 per year Prerequisite : Current English teacher's approval This course will prepare students to write the IB Language A1 exams. 50% of the IB final grade is based on an external exam, written during May of the senior year. The other 50% of the final grade is based on oral and written work completed during the two years. The teachers assess oral work and the IB examiners assess written coursework. The course is an intensive study of 11 pieces of literature chosen from the IB Prescribed Book List and the IB Prescribed World Literature List. Through the careful study of the selected texts students will develop the ability to draw links in literature as well as develop an appreciation for the literature studied. Students will be expected to participate in class discussions, give formal oral presentations, as well as write a variety of essays generated by genre, theme, style, and period. |
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| IB Higher Level | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Duration : 2 years, class meets every other
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| IB Theory of Knowledge | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duration : One semester, class
meets every other day Offered : Semester 2 Grade 11, Semester 1 Grade 12 Credit : 0.5 Prerequisite : If a non - IB Diploma candidate, a TOK teacher's signature is needed to be in this class. This course is designed to improve students' ability to think critically. Students learn to question what they know and examine what they learn in their subject area classes. The central question of the course is "How do you know what you know?" Active participation in class discussions and presentations is essential for success in the course. Required by IB Diploma students. Grade 11/12 non - IB Diploma students may take this course with a TOK teacher's approval. |
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| Journalism 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duration : One semester, class
meets every other day Offered : Semester 1 and 2 Credit : 0.5 Prerequisite : Journalism teacher's approval This course develops advanced media writing skills through production of the school newspaper, The Risian. Students will learn interview techniques and carry out interviews both within the school and outside. They will write and edit articles in a variety of newspaper styles, such as news reports, editorials and features, and be expected to meet a high standard of grammatical and factual accuracy in their writing. They will use a digital camera, scan print photos and download pictures from the internet. They will use a desktop publishing program to design and lay out text, photos, and graphics, and the course therefore requires previous computer knowledge. Students will be expected to work outside school hours on researching and writing articles, and on designing pages. |
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| Journalism 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duration : One semester, class
meets every other day Offered : Semester 1 and 2 Credit : 0.5 Prerequisite : Journalism I, or previous experience with newspapers in other schools. The course is designed as an extension of Journalism I, but is scheduled to run at the same time so that both classes can be combined. Students will enhance skills acquired in Journalism I, and learn new skills in newspaper advertising, marketing and circulation. Opportunities to learn about broadcast journalism may be provided. The course may be taken more than once. |
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| American Literature | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Duration : One semester, class meets every
other day Offered : Semester 1 and 2 Credit : 0.5 This course is designed to give students a chance to explore the literature of the United States. Through the careful study of selected texts students will be able to draw connections between the literature and various time frames of American society. Students will be expected to participate in class discussions, write a variety of essays as well as perform a variety of oral presentations based on the literature. |
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| Myths and Legends | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duration : One semester, class
meets every other day Offered : Semester 1 and 2 Credit : 0.5 This course is designed to introduce students to World Mythology. A wide selection of myths from around the world, and from different periods, is studied in accessible, modern translations. Students are made aware of cross-cultural links and the significance of mythology for understanding today's problems and values. They will produce a variety of expository, interpretive and creative writing based on their reading and discussion of the myths and legends. |
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| Writing Seminar: Art | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duration : One semester, class
meets every other day Offered : Semester 1 Credit : 0.5 This is a course that combines the visual arts and English. The course will cover Western and Non-Western Art. The student will take a historical approach to the interpretation of art. Written expression will be emphasized. Students will be expected to take part in discussions, carry out research, and keep a written portfolio of work. |
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| Film and Textual Analysis | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duration : One semester, class
meets every other day Offered : Semester 2 Credit : 0.5 This course is designed to analyze film and movies and the impact of this powerful communication tool. The better we know the language movies are using, the better we can understand, appreciate and enjoy them. In this course students will be expected to critically watch, discuss and write about the movies and parts of movies that they will be viewing. They will read a novel and write an essay comparing the novel to a film version of it. They will also write a research paper, film reviews and film scripts. |
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Tuesday, February 15, 2005
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