Communication Arts

 

Introduction
In his office, Edward R. Murrow displayed a statement by Henry David Thoreau which said: "It takes two to speak the  truth - one to speak and the other to hear."
 
This idea represents a common thread in all of the courses listed below. They encompass a wide range of interests and materials, yet they are all centered around a theme of communication.  The improvement of your ability to think critically and communicate effectively through the written and spoken word is the primary aim of this department.

Required Courses

1. Every student must successfully complete a minimum of eight (8) consecutive semesters of Communications Arts for graduation.
2. Students who need special help in the improvement of basic skills in reading, writing or speaking may be required to take Academy courses that are linked with Social Studies.

Once students have successfully completed their 9th grade English course, students have the ability to choose different themed courses that speak to their interests. The Communication Arts department has 3 different types of courses:

1. Literature
2. Writing
3. Theater

All of our courses focus on teaching and learning the same skills, but with a different genre focus.

Regents Requirements
All students are required to take and pass the ELA Regents to graduate. All of our 9th, 10th, and 11th grade courses are aligned to the skills necessary to be successful on the ELA Regents. We also provide Regents tutoring every semester and tutoring as needed.

Common Core Skills
All of the courses offered through the English department are aligned to the Next Generation Learning Standards and fulfill the following requirements:

1. Reading - a balance of literature and informational texts to reflect college- and career-ready expectations.  There is also a greater focus on text complexity and at what level students should be reading.
2. Writing - a strong emphasis on argument and informative/ explanatory writing, along with an emphasis on writing about sources or using evidence to inform an argument.
3. Speaking and Listening - a focus on formal and informal talk, which can be done through presentations and group work

The overall purpose of aligning to the NGLS is to give students a set of tools to think critically, evaluate their readings, and formulate cohesive arguments and opinions.