The Campus English Department is dedicated to empowering students with the critical thinking and communication skills necessary to achieve success not only in their post-secondary educations, but also in their roles as productive members of the global community. Within the language arts classroom, students learn to express themselves in articulate, concise, and convincing language, garnering the skills for all forms of oral and written expression. In addition, students develop analytical abilities that will endow them with the means to comprehend nuances not only in text, but also in daily real-world experiences. They reflect on assumptions and biases as they are exposed to various cultures and opinions through literature and discussion. Our commitment is to develop literacy and promote a love of learning, equipping our students with the resources to become thoughtful, constructive members of society.

Language Arts Education Course Selections

NOTE: Student placement in English courses will be based upon the high school leveling rubric!

8152 HONORS ENGLISH 10 1.0 Credit Grade 10
8154 ACADEMIC ENGLISH 10 1.0 Credit Grade 10
Designed to meet the proficiency and mastery of the PA academic standards, students will study literature such as novel, drama, poetry, and short story. Other aspects of this course include: grammar, vocabulary, Greek and Latin roots, essay, composition, and research components.

9140 AP ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION 1.0 Credit Grade 11
(prerequisite: Honors English 10 and teacher recommendation)
This course aims to operate at a high analytical level while maintaining a mature classroom atmosphere. AP Language and Composition focuses on the study of Rhetoric and Composition techniques. The core of this course revolves around various non-fiction pieces – both long and short. The class focuses on the critical/analytical study of this literature through writing and discussion. Most composition work is based on the techniques studied in class. This course also prepares students to take the national Advanced Placement Exam which may lead to students being excused from required freshmen English courses in college. Sitting for the AP exam in May is not required. 

9142 HONORS ENGLISH 11 1.0 Credit Grade 11
9144 ACADEMIC ENGLISH 11 1.0 Credit Grade 11
This course will concentrate on reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills mandated by the PA State standards. Major aspects of this course center around American literature, vocabulary, essay, composition, and research methods.

9150 AP ENGLISH LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION 1.0 Credit Grade 12
(prerequisite: AP or Honors English 11 and teacher recommendation)
Students must be recommended for this course - it is not an elective. AP Literature and Composition aims to focus on the critical/analytical study of world literature through writing and discussion. This course also prepares students to take the national Advanced Placement Exam which may lead to students being excused from required freshmen English courses in college. Sitting for the AP exam in May is not required.

9152 HONORS ENGLISH 12 1.0 Credit Grade 12
9154 ACADEMIC ENGLISH 12 1.0 Credit Grade 12
Reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills as mandated by the PA State standards will be honed. Major aspects of this course center around English literature, vocabulary, essay, composition, and research methods.  

ESL Grades 9-12
Full-year courses provide direct instruction in oral and written American English for non-native American English speakers. Students are assessed and placed in one of four levels of ESL based on test results and teacher recommendations. Depending on the level of the ESL course, it may replace the
student's regular English course and may also provide flexibility in meeting local graduation requirements in some subjects - see the list on page 3. Students will also receive support for all academic subjects.

9105 FILM AS LITERATURE I 0.5 Credit Grades 10-12
Earn a 0.5 credit in Humanities by studying films as works of literature and art. Learn the aspects of filmmaking and the evaluation of film as literature through creative writing and various communication skills. This course concentrates on writing, listening, and speaking skills. Good attendance is a requirement for academic success.

9106 FILM AS LITERATURE II 0.5 Credit Grades 10-12
Earn a 0.5 credit in Humanities by continuing the study of films as works of literature and art. This course continues to build on listening skills and writing skills begun in Film as Literature I. Good attendance is a requirement for academic success. This course may be taken concurrently with Film as Literature I.

9107 SPORTS LITERATURE 0.5 Credit Grades 10-12
Anchored by the notion that sports are a metaphor for life, this course will explore the influential role that sports play in American culture and the effects they have on our beliefs, morality, identity, and politics. Instruction and assessment will be Keystone Exam-driven, as books such as Friday Night Lights, Heaven is a Playground, The Boys of Summer, Shoeless Joe, and Everybody’s All-American will be used to promote higher-level thinking. With sports being a fundamental aspect of our society, literature selections will function as tools for analysis, responsive writing, and open-ended discussions.

9171 ELECTRONIC JOURNALISM 1.0 Credit Grades 10-12
(prerequisite: at least 75% in English 10 or English 11) Students in this course will learn how to perform on television and to operate television equipment. The course includes script writing for commercials, news, sports, features, and editorials. Students learn to operate portable and studio television equipment and are required to complete a service project.

9173 ADVANCED ELECTRONIC JOURNALISM 1.0 Credit Grade 12

(prerequisite: Electronic Journalism with teacher recommendation and at least 80% in English 11) These students are members of WCHS-TV and produce two news programs: The Morning Report, aired at the main campus each day and Update, a program on Cable TV. WCHS is conducted as a workshop course with rotating responsibilities. Students may also produce other television specials for personal satisfaction and area competitions. Students are required to complete a service project.

8111 CREATIVE WRITING 0.5 Credit Grades 10-12

Designed to increase writing skills, this course will focus on a variety of genres, including: fiction, personal essays, and poetry. Students will be asked to submit a variety of literary pieces for workshop classes where classmates will constructively criticize and respond to their peers’ works. Students will be expected to revise and edit their own writing based upon techniques learned from the workshops. Students will also read, explore, and discuss the motivations behind various authors’ writings.

9167 JOURNALISM/YEARBOOK 1.0 Credit Grades 10-12
(prerequisite: at least 80% in English 10 or English 11) Journalism/Yearbook class is designed to teach the student about the history of mass media/journalism with a focus on creating the school yearbook, Talaria. During the first part of the year, students will learn how to work as a team to develop, design, and create the yearbook for CASH. They will also be involved with marketing and selling the yearbook to students and staff, as well as taking part in the annual patron drive. In addition to creating the yearbook, there will be a strong emphasis placed on learning about marketing, advertising, bias in news reporting and the role the media plays in American life. The student will also study how the mass media covered key events in American history through thorough examination of major news events from 1968 through the present. In addition, students will learn how to write various types of film and television reviews for newspapers. The course will involve writing, editing and proofing assignments for the yearbook and other selected assignments throughout the year.

9169 PUBLIC SPEAKING/FORENSICS (DEBATE) 0.5 Credit Grades 10-12

This course offers the student an opportunity to gain experience in small group discussion, formal and informal speeches and debating. A highlight of the course is the Rotary Club Speech Contest with cash prizes for all participants. Students will develop individual video portfolios.