Honors English Courses

Honors English 10                                                           year                                 1 credit

     The course will build upon the College Preparatory English 9.  Students will study all genres of literature in a thematic and integrated approach for literature.  Emphasis in the course will be placed upon writing/responding to literature, vocabulary acquisition, and independent skill development in various areas.  A Writer’s Workshop will be utilized for guided assignments such as:  narrative responses, persuasive paper(s), and critical analysis of setting, character, author purpose, and/or theme. An expectation for writing a guided research paperbe expected of each student.  Students will also create and investigate topics associated with the novel study as assigned.  Students will have a variety of independent reading projects per quarter as well as a regular reading requirement. Weighted course.  Students must meet eligibility criteria  or get approval from the Honors Review Committee to enroll in this course.

 

Honors English 11                                                          year                                  1 credit

     This course will build upon the College Preparatory English 11.  This course follows a chronological approach to American literature with an emphasis on analyzing the effects of historical events on various literary genres and American Society.  Each semester will focus on research-oriented studies and provide opportunities for students to demonstrate their language arts abilities through presentations, discussions, and compositions.  Writing will progress from thematic and expository compositions to in-depth literary analysis.  Readings from a supplemental list will enhance understanding of assignments and is required of students in this course.  Independent reading throughout each grading period is required for this course that may be assessed in literacy quizzes (i.e. Accelerated Reader), reports, papers, or other means to determine proficiency.  Weighted course.  Students must meet eligibility criteria or get approval from the Honors Review Committee to enroll in this course.

 

Honors English 12                                                          year                                  1 credit

     This course is built upon the College Preparatory English 12 course.  As in that course, students study poetry, fiction, non-fiction, drama, and novels by British and world authors.  This course offers an overview of British literature as it reflects period history and the impact that society and the author have on each other.  Students are expected to develop a critical view through writing/discussing writers’ works.  There is an emphasis on the development of the English language as it relates to the literary/social/historical issues.  Students will review/use grammar, mechanics, usage, and style in a variety of writing/speaking/listening situations.  The research process is utilized through a student driven project and related multi-media group presentation.  Students are assigned independent reading and writing coursework. The scope and pace of the class is designed to help the student prepare for college level work and attempts to challenge their level of achievement.  There are independent reading requirements every marking period.  Requirements and assessments may vary each quarter and not limited to Accelerated Reader, report, reaction paper, or speech.  Weighted course.  Students must meet eligibility criteria or get approval from the Honors Review Committee to enroll in this course.

 

HONORS MATH COURSES

Algebra II Honors                                                           year                                  1 credit

      This course is a follow-up to Geometry designed to prepare students for success in advanced algebra.  The course will include additional topics, such as exponential and logarithmic functions and conic sections.  This course differs from Algebra II in that topics will be approached in a much more rigorous fashion; students will be completing additional projects/papers and will be expected to perform at a much more advanced level and faster pace.  (Prerequisite:  Geometry)  Weighted course.  Students must meet eligibility requirements to enroll in this course.  (Grades 10-11)  

 

Pre-Calculus Honors (Dual Enrollment)                     year                                 1 credit

     This course will cover mathematical topics needed for success in higher mathematics.  Students will discuss the basic conceptual functions along with the ideas that pertain to them.  Students will work with various functions including trigonometric, polynomial, and logarithmic.  Students will also discuss advanced algebraic techniques.  This class differs from Pre-Calculus in that topics are approached much more rigorously with additional projects/papers.  Students are expected to perform at a more advanced level.  Additionally, concepts and principles of analytic geometry and basic calculus are explored.  Analytic geometry is a driving force in modern geometry and is widely associated with the fields of engineering and physics, and focuses on the application of the Cartesian coordinate system with respect to geometry.  (Prerequisite:  Geometry)  Weighted course.  Students must meet eligibility requirements to enroll in this course.  Students can also obtain college credit through the dual enrollment program.  (Grades 11-12)

 

Calculus Honors (Dual Enrollment)                               year                                1 credit

     This course will follow the Advanced Placement® Calculus AB curriculum.  Weighted course.  Students must meet eligibility requirements to enroll in this course.  (Prerequisite:  Pre-Calculus)  Students can also obtain college credit through the dual enrollment program.

 

Honors Chemistry                                                              year                                1 credit

     This course is designed for students who have shown an aptitude for the sciences and may be considering science-related careers.  It covers the same topics as Chemistry I (Metric-English conversions, atomic structure, development of the Periodic Table, chemical bonding, writing chemical equations, stoichiometry, gas law calculations and concentration of solutions) but at an accelerated pace with more emphasis on the theory and experimentation that led to major discoveries.

     The course will also include student-initiated discussions on current topics, demonstrations of chemical reactions, laboratory experiments (where they will learn lab safety, terminology and correct lab procedures), written lab reports as well as a 6-8 page report on a science-related topic.  College Preparatory.  Weighted course.  Students must meet eligibility criteria to enroll in this course.  (Grade 10.)

 

Honors Physics                                                                  year                                1 credit

     Honors Physics will utilize advanced mathematics and laboratory problem solving to explore the depth of the nature of forces, motion, gravity, machines, heat, light, and sound.  College Preparatory.  Weighted course.  Students must meet eligibility criteria to enroll in this course.  (Grade 11)

 

Honors Advanced Biology                                                 year                               1 credit

     Advanced topics in biology are selected to prepare students for first-year college biology courses.  The course will include extensive advanced laboratory procedures and research.  It will also connect the levels of biology and areas of science to help students comprehend the main concepts with a deeper understanding.  Students must meet eligibility criteria to enroll in this course.  Weighted course.  (Grade 12)