Courses* To take an English honors course a student must have a cumulative 3.5 GPA in English or a
teacher recommendation from the current-year, second-trimester English teacher.
Requirements - Grade 9:
Values Symposium (year long)
All required English courses have a summer reading component. Summer reading lists will be made
available to students and posted on the school Web site: www.cretin-derhamhall.org.
VALUES SYMPOSIUM – English Grade 9 students are pre-registered for this course.
This ninth grade interdisciplinary course provides all students with a common academic and affective experience
as they begin their secondary school education. Based expressly on the CDH values of academics, service, leader-
ship, Catholicity, community, equity, and diversity, this year long course is team taught through the religion,
English and social studies departments, and is supported by technology integration. It is our goal that students
will learn more effectively by connecting traditionally separate subjects, providing a more natural educational
process in preparation for life-long learning. Students will practice basic writing skills including paragraph and
essay structure, as well as, personal, descriptive and narrative essay styles. Important aspects of this course
include the building of relationships among the students and between students and their teachers, developing
critical thinking and communication skills and encouraging informed citizenship and active participation in the
CDH community.
Grade 9
Requirements - Grade 10:
English 10 (year long) OR
English 10 - Honors (year long)
All required English courses have a summer reading component. Summer reading lists will be made
available to students and posted on the school Web site: www.cretin-derhamhall.org.
ENGLISH 10 Year long – 20228T1
Chief components of this course are units on the novel, comparative mythology, Shakespeare and oral presenta-
tion. There will be a strong emphasis on writing, and at least two papers per trimester will be required with focus
on, but not limited to are, comparison, persuasion, literary and personal analysis. In addition to reading novels,
short stories, plays and poetry, each student will be required to read and to be tested on at least one additional
novel. This 10th grade course continues the development of communication skills.
Grade 10
ENGLISH 10 – Honors Year long – 20258T1
Each student stands both as a local and global citizen. The tenth grade curriculum creates an opportunity for
students to read novels, short stories, poetry and plays, which spring from cultures other than their own. These
areas of study will include Shakespeare, diverse mythological and imaginative pieces, and a variety of other per-
spectives that will allow students to become acquainted with other peoples and worlds. By year’s end, students
will see their world with new eyes, appreciating and recognizing what experiences are common to us all.
Students will learn to both comprehend what they read with greater depth and express their insights through
class discussion and in presentation. Extensive writing is a strong component of this honors course. Each student
will write three formal essays per trimester; including analysis, comparison and persuasion. Students who wish to
earn the highest grade are required to independently read one extra assigned novel per trimester.
*Grade 10Requirements - Grade 11:
United States Literature/Composition (year long) OR
United States Literature/Composition - Honors (year long) All required English courses have a summer reading component. Summer reading lists will be made available to students and posted on the school Web site: www.cretin-derhamhall.org. UNITED STATES LITERATURE/COMPOSITION Year long – 21328T1 Think you can’t relate to a hundred-year-old American classic? Want to improve your reading comprehension
and writing composition? This multi-cultural course introduces U.S. Literature thematically or chronologically.
Pieces include history, autobiographies, essays, short stories and plays. Students will understand the scope and
purpose of U.S. writers and their stories. Two formal essays per trimester, as well as a variety of shorter writing as-
signments will be included. Literary analysis, comparison, persuasion and personal essay styles, as well as prepa-
ration for college entrance essays, will be emphasized in writing. Quality, not quantity, of work is emphasized. An
extra novel as speci?ed during the year will be required for those students who wish to earn a higher grade.
Grade 11
UNITED STATES LITERATURE/COMPOSITION - Honors Year long – 21358T1 Students in this honors English course will study U. S. writers from the 1600’s to the present. Students will do ex-
tensive reading of U. S. novels, short stories, plays, poetry and essays. Extensive writing is a strong component of
this honors course, including; mastery of analysis, comparison, persuasion and personal essay styles. To succeed
in this course, students should be able to carefully read 30-40 pages per night. An additional novel, as speci?ed
during each trimester, will be required for those students who wish to earn an “A”. Students will be tested on
this assigned novel. This course is designed for students who are passionate about reading and writing.
* Grade 11
Requirements - Grade 12: Choose One Sequence
English 12 - Reading and Writing with the World (year long) OR
Readings in Literature - Honors (year long) OR
Senior Seminar (year long) OR
Senior Interdisciplinary Symposium - (Spectrum - ICL) - Honors (year long) All required English courses have a required summer reading component. They will be made available to all stu- dents and posted on the school Web site: www.cretin-derhamhall.org. ENGLISH 12 – READING AND WRITING WITH THE WORLD Year long– 21432T1 The year long English course will be taught with relevance, applicability, and engagement as focal points for
curricular materials and course work. Students will be challenged to further develop and use their higher-level
thinking skills as they read, write, and speak.
Reading: Through the examination of novels, world writers, the students will actively comprehend, analyze and
synthesize the material using formal, personal and creative approaches.
Writing: This course will offer further practice and development of formal, informal, creative and practical writ-
ing. Editing and revision as a part of the writing process will also be a heavy focus.
Speech/Presentation: Students will practice formal and informal public speaking, presenting and interview-
ing.
Grade 12
READINGS IN LITERATURE - Honors Year long– 21438T1 The course concentrates on the close reading of provocative, contemplative, unusual, and classic literature.
Classic works covered include Inferno (Dante), Waiting for Godot (Beckett), and Wise Blood (O’Connor). Contem-
porary writers covered run from Raymond Carver (short stories) to Wislawa Szymborska (poems). Students who
take this course are expected to have excellent reading and writing skills, and they should anticipate an average
of at least one hour of homework each night. For students who wish to take the Advanced Placement English
exam in the spring, supplementary study materials are available. Many colleges and universities give credit and/
or advanced standing to students who do well on the exam.
St. Mary’s University will give credit for Readings in Literature OR Senior Interdisciplinary Symposium, not both.
St. Mary’s University has approved Readings in Literature as part of its Program for Advanced College Credit
(PACC). 12th graders who take Readings in Literature and maintain a “C” average in this class may earn three col-
lege credits from St. Mary’s which are transferable to approximately sixty other colleges and universities.
Grade 12
SENIOR SEMINAR Year long – 29338T1 Senior Seminar is an interdisciplinary course that meets the requirements for English and religion. This course
admits approximately forty-?ve students per section, is taught by three teachers and meets for two consecutive
class periods. Advanced credit is possible with additional work.
Senior Seminar will challenge students to think critically about serious issues facing them today. The material
integrates themes from religion and English, considering class, race, gender and the self. Out of school learning
opportunities include mentoring elementary students and completion of a self-designed project. Personal re?ec-
tion will be an on-going feature, especially through prayer, meditation and an overnight retreat.
Students will be encouraged to attend and participate in a Senior Seminar overnight retreat.
Approximate cost: $65.00. Financial assistance is available to students who cannot otherwise
afford to attend the retreat.
Grade 12
SENIOR INTERDISCIPLINARY SYMPOSIUM - Honors Year long– 30000T1 Senior Interdisciplinary Symposium (Institute for Catholic Leadership) is an interdisciplinary course that ful?lls the
12th grade requirements for credit in English, social studies and religion. The course admits approximately forty-
?ve students per section, is taught by three teachers (one from each discipline) and meets for two consecutive
class periods.
The three disciplines in the course are integrated in two primary ways. First the course focuses upon themes that
are common to the three subject areas. The values of Catholic Social Teaching underlie the selection of literature
and guide the approach to each topic. Second, the disciplines are integrated through an emphasis on develop-
ing skills: reading, writing, critical thinking and discussion.
ICL has a focus on service-learning and leadership. When a student registers for ICL, he/she agrees to do a year
of service at one of the program’s designated sites.
Registration for ICL requires a 3.5 cumulative GPA in English, religion and social studies, or recommendation of
teachers in these three subjects.
Students will be encouraged to attend and participate in an ICL overnight retreat. Approxi-
mate cost: $65.00. Financial assistance is available to students who cannot otherwise afford
to attend the retreat.
St. Mary’s University has approved ICL as part of its Program for Advanced College Credit (PACC). Seniors who
take ICL and maintain a “C” average in this class may earn three college credits from St. Mary’s which are trans-
ferable to approximately sixty other colleges and universities.
St. Mary’s University will give credit for Readings in Literature OR Senior Interdisciplinary Symposium, not both.
* Grade 12
ELECTIVES These electives may be taken in addition to the required year long English course for each grade level.
COMPOSITION 9 and 10 Tri I – 24721T1 or Tri II – 24722T2 or Tri III – 24723T3 This course is for any 9th or 10th grade student who would like to improve his or her writing skills. The course
certainly will help any student who struggles with writing, but it also is meant to hone the skills of more ad-
vanced writers. Students will spend the trimester intensively writing a variety of papers to improve their funda-
mental writing skills. These papers may include descriptive, narrative, persuasive, compare and contrast, and
analytical essays, as well as work from other classes, but they will not be limited to these. Many assignments
will be based on the students’ practical needs. This course is recommended for all 9th and 10th graders.
Grades 9, 10
COMPOSITION 11 and 12 Tri I – 24752T1 This course is recommended for 11th and 12th grade students interested in improving their writing skills. Stu-
dents will write a variety of essays: persuasive, literary analysis, contrast/comparison, personal narrative and
college applications.
Grades 11, 12
CREATIVE WRITING Tri II – 22722T2 Using published pieces of writing as models, students write poems, stories, dramatic scenes, and essays. Evaluat-
ing and revising are essential parts of this course.
Grades 10, 11, 12
ENGLISH TOPICS: WOMEN’S WRITING AND READING Tri II – 22733T2 We are women. We take up half of the world’s space and much less of the world’s power. We help to create
life, we carry life, we give birth to life. We are wise, we are strong, we are generous, we are smart. We are
active, we are aware, we are assertive. We feel joy, sorrow, failure and success. We experience all things as
women, and we understand the world through a woman’s eyes.
This course will be a gathering of women in order that we might read the words which women have writ-
ten which re?ect the experience of our lives. Plays, journals, stories, poems--all by women--will be discussed
with both our heads and our hearts. Then we will write our own words, words that will express who we are as
women, words that will open up what our futures as women will be. Come join us.
It will only be offered during the 2009-2010 school year.
Grades 10, 11, 12
FILM STUDY Tri I – 23621T1 or Tri II – 23622T2 or Tri III – 23623T3 Students will have the opportunity to view classic U.S. ?lms and to learn how to critically analyze a ?lm. Evalua-
tion will be through class discussions and papers written on the ?lms studied.
Grades 11, 12
INDIVIDUALIZED READING Tri II – 24812T2 This is a course for people who either like to read or love to read. With direction from the teacher, students pick
from a wide variety of books: ?ction (novels, short stories, plays) and non-?ction (historical, political, scienti?c).
The course is designed to foster a love for reading. The main activity of the course is silent reading. Assessment
may include the following: reader’s journal, short written re?ections, short conference with the teacher about
the book(s).
Grades 10, 11, 12
MEDIA STUDIES Tri I – 23511T1 or Tri II – 23512T2 or Tri III – 23513T3 Media Studies will focus on the relationship between Americans and their media. This class will explore what
media is (are!), how our culture creates and is shaped by our media world, how advertising dollars affect media
programming, and finally explore the future direction of media. The class will include journaling, analysis, pre-
sentation and an independent media project.
Grades 10, 11, 12
READER’S THEATER Tri II – 30042T2 Reader’s Theater is a study of vocal development. Students learn to revive and to enliven literature through
communication skills. The class will encompass the study of poetry, prose, readers theater, drama and principles
of analysis for interpretation. This class can be taken as a Fine Art elective.
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12
SHAKESPEARE Tri I – 23921T1 This course is for students interested in further study of Shakespeare. Students will take a deeper look at the life,
themes, and language of Shakespeare.
Grades 10, 11, 12
SPEECH Tri III – 24823T3 Students will develop public speaking and communication skills through the study and practice of different areas
of speech communication. Organizational preparation will be stressed. Some oral interpretation of literature will
also be included.
Grades 9, 10, 11, 12
YEARBOOK Year long – 22624T1 This year long course will cover all aspects of planning and producing the yearbook: writing copy, headlines, and
captions, proofreading, editing, graphic design and photography. Above average writing and word processing
skills required. Several hours after school are required at each of the four deadlines. STRONG COMPUTER SKILLS
AND/OR INTEREST REQUIRED.
Prerequisite: Desktop Publishing (may be taken concurrently)
Requires instructor’s approval. Application forms are found in the Guidance Of?ce.
Grades 11, 12
