Academics

Fall 2016

Freshman Courses

Civics
Civics in Renaissance is a course that emphasizes both the understanding of our government structure but also stresses the importance of influencing and engaging our community through art.  Students will learn and practice civic responsibility and demonstrate ways to participate in civic life in our community.  Richards

Freshman ELA
ELA as s Freshman will introduce you to not only important pieces of literature but also familiarize you with the practice of a seminar style learning structure. There will be weekly reading and writing assignments that have the artist in mind and much of the class will be based on small and large group discussion.  Through the year there will also be several project that challenge the artist in the class to tap into her or his talent as well as intellectual aptitude. Richards 2x

Honors Freshman English
This class is designed to the accomplished, independent, college-bound student who desires a more challenging approach to reading and writing. Students are expected to possess a strong, independent work ethic, as well as above-average reading, writing and study skills. Students apply reading skills and strategies to a variety of quality literature and informational texts. The course focus is based on the concept of the individual as well as interpersonal relationships. The goal of the selected texts and activities is to provide students with experiences that will enable them to understand self-esteem, self-awareness, and personal style. In the rigorous English language Arts 9 course, expectations are higher in both the instructional delivery and materials. Teachers will provide students with less scaffolding in their instruction, release responsibility to students sooner, provide opportunities for greater breadth in skills and strategies and text complexity, and have higher workload expectations for outside of class. Lichttenegger 2x

Health is available through eSchool offerings. Students may enroll at any time. Requests will be processed and they can start as soon as the class is opened for students. Students can enroll in any of the eSchool courses by completing an enrollment form and counselor form that are available on the eSchool website. The forms include the address to which the form is sent. To get to the site from the AASD website, select “High Schools” and it is on the bottom of the list. Counselors also have hard copies of the forms.

Sophomore Courses

Honors Humanities
Artists, philosophers and writers are all children of their times and must represent their world as they see it. This course engages our intellectual, intuitive, and emotional selves by studying civilizations over the last five thousand years and the unfolding of the human experience. All assessments in this course are essay-based and the textbook is college level.  Richards

Honors Sophomore English

This is a challenging course that prizes students’ ability to connect through their writing the philosophy in the works of Franz Kafka, Charles Dickens, Sherwood Anderson, John Steinbeck, Mary Shelley and George Orwell to their lives as young artists. Facility with thought and the written word are essential for success in this course.  Richards

*Junior and Senior Courses (AP Strand)

AP Language & Composition Junior & Senior
Students in AP English Language and Composition will read and carefully analyze a broad and challenging range of fiction and nonfiction prose selections (many from American Literature), deepening their awareness of rhetoric and how language works. Students will be introduced to the rhetorical triangle and its importance in connecting the writer, the reader, and the text, through ethical appeal (ethos), emotional appeal (pathos), and logical appeal (logos). This triangle establishes the basis for all forms of argumentation that will be analyzed and practiced throughout the year. Through close reading and frequent writing, students will enhance their ability to work with language and text with a greater awareness of purpose and strategy, while fostering a genuine understanding of establishing a purpose, identifying an audience, and creating an argument while developing their own writing. Course readings feature expository, analytical, personal, informational, and argumentative texts from a variety of authors and historical contexts. Students examine and work with essays, letters, speeches, images, and creative literature. In addition, students will analyze both primary and secondary sources and they will learn to synthesize the information from these sources in their own compositions. This course prepares students to take the CollegeBoard AP English Language and Composition test in May. 

This class meets once a week as a large group dedicated to test prep and lecture. Students that sign up for this class must also sign up for either Lab A or Lab B for AP Literature. (See below) Lichttenegger  2x

AP Literature Junior & Senior Lab A or Lab B
This class meets once a week as a smaller lab to engage students in discussion and analysis of texts. Lichttenegger 

AP US History
This course provides a sophisticated look at America’s history and the strategies of historiography. Students will develop their skills in studying and writing about our nation’s history. Historical issues are examined in depth, using primary source materials. Students are expected to prepare papers and presentations regarding significant dimensions of our nation’s development and ongoing change. Students will explore how an individual contributes to, and is affected by, the actions of others. The course is designed to assist students in preparing for the Advanced Placement History tests. Peckham 2x

AP Art History

AP Art History is a challenging full year course covering the fascinating artistic history of mankind from Prehistoric to Contemporary times. You may take the AP exam at the end of the year if you choose. Come to class ready to read, write, and talk about Art that represents the many ways the world has changed. This class is important for anyone planning a future in art studies and anyone else who enjoys a fun way to learn about both History and Art. T. Westby 2x

*Junior and Senior Courses (Honors Strand)

American Studies Junior English
American Studies English is one part of a course integrating American Literature and Composition with United States (U.S.) History. It examines both great events and important themes in American history and literature. The course cultivates an understanding of the connections between the economic, political, social, cultural, and intellectual development of the U.S. in the continuing creation of U.S. culture. The course engages students in becoming analytical readers of text written in a variety of periods, disciplines, and contexts, and in becoming skilled writers. McClellan 2x

American Studies Junior History
American Studies History is one part of a course integrating American Literature and Composition with United States (U.S.) History. This course provides a close look at America’s history and the nation’s development and ongoing change. Students will develop their skills in studying and writing about our nation’s history. Historical issues will be examined using primary source materials and filmstudents will explore how an individual contributes to, and is affected by, the actions of others. Peckham  2x

Honors World Literature and Composition (formerly called Senior English)

This class is designed for the college-bound, academically motivated student who wishes to expand reading, writing, discussion and interpretive skills through classics of world literature. There will be an emphasis on improving study and expository writing skills in preparation for college classes. The major focus is learning to comprehend world texts through a variety of reading skills and strategies. Students apply these skills and strategies in a variety of quality literature and informational text. Students will be provided with class syllabus and expectations, and must be prepared to do assigned reading and writing independently between classes. As a college prep class, many units will incorporate discussion on real life application of textual themes and ideas, as well as research and independent, creative thought. Lichttenegger 2x