English 9 (Introduction to Literary Analysis)
No prerequisites
For all 9th graders
3 credits (one year long)
Introduction to literary analysis is the "gateway" class for all literary analysis courses offered at PSA. This course will serve as a foundation, and point of assessment, for all of the necessary skills required for literature courses at PSA. Students will analyze literature from a variety of cultural, contemporary, and classic authors. All of the texts have been selected to further analyze the theme of self-definition. Throughout this course students will be taking a critical look at different answers to the question: What makes us who we are and who we will become? On top of analyzing literature, students will be preparing themselves for the classroom routines and rigor required in our other literary analysis courses.
Students will participate in and learn a variety of discussion modes including (but not limited to): fishbowl, large group, small group, Socratic, etc. Students will be pushed to think critically about the texts and demonstrate that thinking through a variety of assessments. However, a majority of their assessments (both formative and summative) will be written. Students will learn an introduction to the AEE method that they will use throughout their time at PSA. Finally, as 9th graders, students will prepare for the GRAD writing test in the spring.
Texts
1) A Step From Heaven
2) Assorted Poetry
3) Romeo and Juliet
4) Monster
English 10 (An Evaluation of Ethics through an Analysis of Dystopian Societies)
Prerequisite: English 9
For all 10th graders
3 credits (one year long)
In Literary Analysis, students will continue their analysis of literature and life using everything they have gained in the other literary analysis courses. Students will read from a variety of authors including contemporary, classic, and cultural. Students will take a critical look at three dystopian societies over the course of the year. Using these three dystopian societies as case studies, students will begin to develop a well rounded, specific, and critical definition of ethics. Students will attempt to answer major ethical questions from the year as a final assessment for the year. Using this course, students will not only gain more skill and understanding of literature, they will gain a better understanding of their beliefs. This course will require a lot of deep thinking on moral issues that are not as easy as black and white. Students will work together to develop a class definition of what is "unethical." As they analyze an react to the three dystopian societies, students will amend their definition until they create a final version to be used in the summative debates. Finally students will also conduct research on Supreme Court free speech cases to better understand that fine line between ethical and unethical decisions.
Texts
1) The Giver
2) V for Vendetta
3) Fahrenheit 451
English 11 (A search for meaning through an analysis of differing perspectives)
Prerequisite: English 9 and 10
For all 11th graders
3 credits (one year long)
In Literary Analysis B, students will continue their analysis of literature and life using everything they have gained in the other literary analysis courses. Students will read from a variety of authors including contemporary, classic, and cultural. Students will take a critical look at how humans search for meaning in life. Over the course of a year, students will analyze 4 texts that each represents differing perspectives on the universal search for meaning in life. Through an analysis of each perspective, students will better understand the affects of bias on perspective, and how that (in the end) affects the meaning we come to understand. Students will also develop their own meaning for life, and gain a better understanding of how to develop that meaning using these 4 perspectives. Students will also complete a research essay during the year. This essay will allow them to learn and refine their research techniques, as well as represent a demonstration of their beliefs on personal meaning.
Texts
1) The Alchemist
2) Mary Shelly's Frankenstein
3) Persepolis
4) Fight Club
English 12 (Honors)
Prerequisites: English 9, 10 and 11
For all 12th graders
3 credits (one year long)
Students enrolled in the course will either elect to take it as an Honors English course, or combination of Honors 12 and CiS. Students doing both courses will receive (depending on their grade) college credit through the University of Minnesota in Literature AND High School English credit. Students enrolled in CiS will have to take everything they have learned and more to analyze 7 novels over the course of a semester. The course will focus on critical reading and writing, and place on them the demands of a college freshmen lit course.
Students will complete a critical analysis of the text, three short essays, and notes prior to discussing each book. All of this information will go into their "portfolio," which will be used later for their final project and proof to the U of MN of their hard work (so they can receive college credit).
