Academics > Course Descriptions > Humanities
ENGLISH
111, 112 Lit/Comp 9
H, CP1, Literature/Composition 9
Grade 9
Credit 1
This course concentrates on the fundamentals of grammar and composition, vocabulary, literary terms, and genres. The student will read literature based on universal themes and will study a novel in depth. Composition will concentrate on sentence structure and paragraph development, leading to the longer essay. A full-year vocabulary course is included. The study of grammar, vocabulary, and literary selections will be based on the skill level of the student.
113 Lit/Comp 9
CP2, CPA – Literature/Comp 9
Grade 9
Credit 1
This course is designed to enable students who are below grade level to reach grade level. Individual instruction, tutoring, and small class sizes enable the student to challenge herself and find comfort in the learning environment. Students participate in an in-depth study of the fundamentals of composition, vocabulary, and literature. A variety of literature is read, supplementing reading and writing skills. Composition concentrates on sentence structure, paragraph development, and essay writing.
121, 122, 123 Am Lit/Comp 10
H, CP1,CP2, CPA –American Literature/Composition 10
Grade 10
Credit 1
This course will use a chronological approach to American Literature, surveying every genre from the Colonial Period to after World War II. Composition and grammar instruction will move students from the essay to preparation of a research paper. A full-year vocabulary course is included. Special consideration will be given to the needs of CP2 students.
131, 132, 133 Br L/Comp 11
H, CP1, CP2 – British Literature/Composition 11
Grade 11
Credit 1
This course surveys British Literature in every genre from the Anglo-Saxon Period to modern literature. Instruction in grammar and in composition will be designed to meet the needs of the class. A full-year vocabulary course is included. Preparation of a research paper is a course requirement.
141, 142, 143 Wld L/Comp 12
H, CP1, CP2 – World Literature/Composition 12
Grade 12
Credit 1
This course emphasizes studies in World Literature and in women in literature. The first semester uses a chronological approach to World Literature, starting with ancient cultures. The second semester will concentrate on the modern and contemporary world, illustrating the woman’s place in worldwide literature. Instruction in grammar and in composition will be designed to meet the needs of the students. A full-year vocabulary course is included. A research paper must be completed.
115 Reading 9
CP2, CPA
Grade 9
Credit 1
This course is designed for students who need to strengthen their reading and study skills before beginning foreign language. The purpose of this course is to help students improve their reading comprehension, word attack skills, vocabulary understanding, study skills, and writing skills. Appropriate literature, skills lessons, and supplementary materials will be incorporated, including textbook reading from the students’ other courses.
PREREQUISITE:
Placement Test – HSPT reading below 40th percentile.
125 Reading 10
CP2, CPA
Grade 10
Credit 1
This course is designed for students who have completed Reading 9 and who need additional work to strengthen reading skills. The course will emphasize study and research skills, reading comprehension, and vocabulary. Students will work toward reaching grade level in their reading skills.
PREREQUISITE:
Completion of Reading 9.
144 Reading and Writing for Success
Grades 11, 12
Credit 1
This course is designed for students who desire to strengthen their reading and writing skills in preparation for college. The course allows each student to work at her own level and to focus on reading comprehension, composition, and study skills.
152 Newspaper
CP 1– Newspaper
Grades 10, 11, 12
Credit 1
This course has two objectives. First, it develops journalistic skills and techniques from how news is researched to how it is delivered. This is done in class using textbooks and references materials. Emphasis is placed on traditional values of personal ethics, community concerns, hard work, personal integrity, and true journalism. Second, it provides the student with an avenue for staffing the school newspaper, publishing several editions during the year. Microsoft Publisher is used extensively in this process.
PREREQUISITE:
Application plus an average of B in English.
153 Yearbook
CP1 – Yearbook
Grade 11, 12
Credit 1
This course is designed to go beyond the specifics of Journalism 1. Students will have individual deadlines, but they will also assist in the instruction of other students; they will also have input into the overall design and production of the The Troubadour. Members of this class will serve as editors and will create and implement yearbook procedures. Editors must attend weekly after-school meetings and be able to work on the yearbook after school.
PREREQUISITE:
Application plus an average of B in English
155 Journalism 3
Grade 12
Credit 1
This course is offered to students who successfully completed Journalism 1 and 2. Students will accept editorial roles including the supervision of staff members in order to create the newspaper. Students will enhance and practice the skills needed for communicating in the printed media which includes leading, reporting, reacting, and writing. An after-school commitment is required.
160 Creative Writing
1 Semester
Grades 11, 12
Credit 0.5
This course is designed for students who desire to strengthen their creative writing skills. The course will provide an overview on a variety of creative genres, will teach positive critiquing methods, and will allow time for the students to concentrate on areas of particular interest. Reading of the various genres will be included to serve as examples of well-written works.
PREREQUISITE:
B or higher in English and submit an acceptable writing sample.
161 Creative Non-Fiction Writing
1 Semester
Grades 11, 12
Credit 0.5
This course has two objectives. First, it is designed to guide students through the non-fiction writing process in order to improve their abilities to express ideas in a manner necessary for success in college and the work place. Second, it will provide instruction in personal writing in the form of memoirs and biography. The course will provide an overview on a variety of non-fiction genres, will teach positive critiquing methods, and will allow time for students to concentrate on areas of particular interest. Reading of the various non-fiction genres will be included to serve as examples of well-written works.
PREREQUISITE:
B or higher in English and submission an acceptable writing sample.
572 SAT Prep
CP1 – SAT Test Preparation
Grades 11, 12
Credit 0.5
This course offers students a review of the academic skills necessary for success in the verbal, math, and writing portions of the SAT. Test techniques are reviewed and practiced. This course is primarily designed for juniors who will be taking the SAT test in the spring. A limited number of seniors may take the course in the fall semester.
SOCIAL STUDIES
211, 212, 213 World Civilization 1
H, CP1, CP2
Grade 9
Credit 1
This course covers the study of major cultural, economic, political, and social events from ancient times through the Renaissance, as well as, the geographic settings in which they occurred. Students will study the rise and fall of empires and the development of nation states. A correlation will be made between past events and the modern world. Emphasis will be placed on critical thinking, deductive reasoning, independent research, writing skills, and primary sources.
221, 222, 223 US History
H, CP1, CP2 – United States History
Grade 10
Credit 1
This course is an integrated survey of the development of our nation. The course examines the historical, political, social, religious, constitutional, and geographic aspects of the United States. An emphasis will be placed on the development of research skills, critical thinking, and deductive reasoning. Writing and other independent work will be expected of each student.
PREREQUISITE:
Successful completion of World Civilization 1.
230 AP Govt
AP – Government
Grade 11, 12
Credit 1
This course includes the study of general concepts used to interpret U.S. government and politics and the analysis of specific examples. It also requires familiarity with the various institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that constitute U.S. government and politics. While there is no single approach that an AP United States Government and Politics course must follow, students should become acquainted with the variety of theoretical perspectives and explanations for various behaviors and outcomes. Certain topics are usually covered in college courses.
PREREQUISITE:
Concurrent placement in Honors English. There is a fee to take the AP exam.
261 U.S. History through Films
Credit 1
This course utilizes films and text-based primary sources to study, interpret, and understand the motion picture’s significance as a primary source in investigating American History. This course not only shows history as politics but also the social aspect of history. Students will call upon critical thinking, independent research, analysis, and writing skills. This course is writing intensive.
PREREQUISITES:
World Civilization, U.S. History, and Government. Seniors only.
263 Russian History
Credit 1
This course surveys Russian History from its diverse beginnings to modern times. It will cover the Romanov ascendancy through the Russian Revolution and Stalinist repression. It will explore the role of the new Russia in modern times. Focus will also emphasize the unique character of the Russian people. Critical thinking, independent research, and writing will be emphasized.
271 Twentieth Century America
Credit 1
This course surveys the Twentieth Century in American History. It covers topics such as World War I and World War II, the Cold War, and the Vietnam War, their effects on society and the nation, the many cultural and economic changes of the time, and the significance of key events. The students are able to demonstrate an understanding of the patterns of change and continuity in the History of the United States, to identify the unique qualities of the different types of primary sources, to interpret, to analyze and to evaluate primary and secondary sources related to core historical themes and topics. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking, independent research, deductive reasoning, and writing skills.
281 The Middle Ages
Credit 1
This course surveys the period from the decline of the Roman Empire to the fifteenth century. It will emphasize the integration of cultures during the Germanic migration, the development of distinctive medieval civilization, high medieval culture, and the development of national monarchies, European expansion, and declines. Students will examine primary and secondary documents of the aforementioned events and people such as Charlemagne and Joan of Arc. Emphasis will be placed on critical thinking, independent research, deductive reasoning, and writing skills.
291 Introduction to Islam and the Middle East
Credit 1
This course covers the basic beliefs of Islam and the milieu in which the religion began, including the religious influences and the social and the political condition of the Arabian Peninsula and the broader Middle East. From the spread of Islam to its Golden Age, the decline of Middle Eastern power, the colonial period, and finally, today’s issues in the Middle East, the course will look at the role of religion in Middle Eastern culture and politics from the year 500 A.D. to the present. Special emphasis will be placed on topics of the Palestinian/Israeli crisis, the politics of oil and water, and the rise and impact of Fundamentalist Islam in the world.
231, 232, 233 Govt/SS11
H, CP 1, CP 2– United States (U.S.) Government
Grade 11
Credit 1
This course looks at English origins of our government: federal, state, and local. An examination of the what, how, and why of the changes that have occurred in the formation of our present American system of government will be made. Students will evaluate how our government works through participation in real world applications and simulations that will help to analyze different aspects of democracy. Being a good citizen and an effective member of a participating democracy will be stressed throughout the course. An emphasis is placed on independent research, critical thinking, in-depth writing, and constitutional development according to the abilities and the interests of the students.
PREREQUISITE:
Comparable placement in English course.
210 U.S. History – On-Line
AP Quality Points – U.S. History
Grades 11, 12
Credit 1
This is a self-paced, asynchronous course offered in collaboration with Anne Arundel Community College. Through readings and electronic discourse with the instructor, students explore a series of historical issues that have faced our country since its inception. Grading is based on student essays and analysis of readings in several assigned textbooks. The course is completed entirely over the Internet.
PREREQUISITE:
Approval of the Principal and the Director of Technology.
PSYCHOLOGY
250 Psychology – On-Line
AP Quality Points – Introduction to Psychology
Grades 11, 12
Credit 1
This is a basic course intended to expose students to major psychological theories and concepts and related research findings. Topics include learning, physiological bases of behavior, motivation and emotions, human development, personality and abnormal behavior.
PREREQUISITE:
Approval of the Principal and Director of Technology
252 Human Dev
CP1 – Human Development
Grades 11, 12
Credit 1
This course in introductory psychology emphasizes the growth and development of the child from conception to adulthood. Information is based on biological, psychological, social, and moral concepts of development. The course will also include a study of psychological theories in order to gain the knowledge needed to address life’s problems.
