132 - Modern Plays and Short Stories
Semester; 0.5 credit; 2.0 QP; Grades 11, 12
Using the familliar short story genre as a foundation for comparison, the structure of drama from the Grecian, Medieval, Renaissance periods to the present willl be studied. Analysis of play structures, character development, and theme presentation will be emphasied not only in class discussions after students have taken individual parts to present the play. but also within formal essays to enhance students' writing skills to meet or exceed PSSA standards. The course is recommended for the eleventh or the twelfth grade vocational or business education student.

133 - Myth and Legend
Semester; 0.5 credit; 2.0 QP; Grades 11, 12
The past meets the present in this course which explores mythology,and legends from around the world. Students will sharpen their reading and writing skills as they familiarize themselves with narratives which illustrate the ties uniting one culture to another. This course is recommended for the eleventh or the twelfth grade vocational or business education student.

150 - Classical Literature
Semester; 0.5 credit; 2.0 QP; Grades 11, 12, accelerated sophomores
This course is designed to provide the academic and college bound student with the background for modern literature. By studying Home, Virgil, and Dante, and others the student will gain a greater understanding of literature. Selections for this course include such ancient works as The Odyssey, The Illiad, The Aeneid, and The Divine Comedy. Grades will be determined in a variety of style including: objective tests, essays, group projects and oral presentations.

151 - American Literature I
Semester; 0.5 credit; 2.0 QP; Grades 11, 12, accelerated sophomores
This course traces the development of American literary culture beginning with a short evaluation of Native American myths and extending to the Golden Age of Romanticism. The literary types to be studied include the novel, the short story, drama, and poetry. Students will analyze the works of writers such as Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Washington Irving, William Cullen Bryant, Edgar Allan Poe, Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Nathaniel Hawthorne. This course is basically designed for students interested in understanding the spirit and tradition of American literature during its earliest periods. The student's grade will be determined in a variety of ways including: objective tests, essays, individual projects, and oral presentations.

152- American Literature II
Semester; 0.5 credit; 2.0 QP; Grades 11, 12, accelerated sophomores
This course traces the development of American literary culture from the Civil War Period to the Modern Era. The literary types to be studied include poetry, the short story, and drama. American Literature of the 19th and 20th Centuries is basically designed for those students interested in enriching their knowledge of our American literary heritage. Students will investigate the writings of representative authors such as Mark Twain, Robert Frost, Ernest Hemingway, and Willa Cather. The student's grade will be determined in a variety of ways including: objective tests, essays, and individual projects. American Literature I is necessary to complete a sequence. As an elective, either one of the American Literature courses can be taken separately.

153 - English Literature: I (Honors)
Semester; 0.5 credit; 2.5 QP; Grades 11, 12, accelerated sophomores with departmental approval prior to scheduling
This course, a survey of English literature, is strongly recommended for college-bound students. The subject of the first ten weeks of the course is the concept of the hero and how the image of the hero changes with the era. Forming the basis of this study is the epic warrior of the Anglo-Saxon Era, the gallant knight of the Medieval Era, and the psychologically complex hero of the Shakespearean Renaissance theatre. The last weeks of the course are devoted to Chaucer and his Canterbury Tales. Placing the literature against a historical and sociological background, the student is able to see the relationship between history and the arts and gain a valuable understanding of our American literacy heritage. In addition, students will recognize contemporary themes and issues as they appear in English literature from the 8th Century to the 17th Century.

154 - English Literature: II (Honors)
Semester; 0.5 credit; 2.5 QP; Grades 11, 12, accelerated sophomores with departmental approval
A little bit of philosophy, history, and art mixed with a lot of literature, this course provides a basis for the understanding of contemporary literature and thought by focusing on the birth of literacy types such as the biography, the novel, and the short story based on philosophical approaches to life. Various kinds of literature are studied ranging from the witty satire of the 18th Century to the later emotional poetry of the early 19th Century. Because there is no substitute for an understanding of the foundation from which styles and ideas gradually develop, this course is highly recommended for college-bound students.

English Literature I is necessary to complete a sequence. As an elective, either one of the English Literature courses can be taken separately.

155 - AP Literature and Composition (Honors)
Full Year; 1.0 credit; 5.0 QP; Grade 12
Prerequisites: A strong background in literature and composition is recommended. Students intending to select this course must have the approval of his or her guidance counselor.
A study of literature conducted in an informal seminar style, this course is designed to prepare students for college level work while providing enjoyable opportunities for in-depth discussion and experiences in critical reading, thinking, and writing. An additional goal is to prepare students for the Advanced Placement test in literature and composition offered each spring by the College Board for possible college credit. In this advanced, year-long course, literature will be chosen from ancient and modern masterpieces representing poetry, short stories, essays drama, and novels.

A strong background in literature and conposition is reccommended.Students preparing for the AP test are advised to elect, in addition to this course, as many of the following as possible: Composition 2 or AP Language and Composition, the American Literatures, and the English Literatures.

159 - Contemporary Literature
Semester; 0.5 credit; 2.0 QP; Grades 11, 12
This course will offer an opportunity for good reading and critical writing as well as for interesting discussion. Students will analyze modern techniques and multi-ethnic viewpoints as they are exemplified by dominant American writers from the 20th Century and by writers working in more recent years. This course is especially recommended for seniors who have done some previous work in literature electives.

161- Detective Fiction
Semester; 0.5 credit; 2.0 QP; Grades 11, 12
This course will involve a study of detective fiction. Interpretation will be achieved through selected readings, filmstrips, and video recordings. Additional exploration will include a tracing of the history of different detective types in literature and a recognition of the elements that make for good detective story-telling. It is hoped that students will develop a desire for further reading. This course is recommedned for the eleventh or the twelfth grade vocational or business education student.

164 - Studies in Shakespeare (Honors)
Semester; 0.5 credit; 2.5 QP; Grades 11, 12, (accelerated sophomores with departmental approval
William Shakespeare's writings exhibit the full range of human experience, human character, and human emotions. Combining poetry and drama, he produced a series of masterpieces unmatched in English literature or, indeed, in any of the world's literatures. In this course students will study the structure of both comedies and tragedies. An emphasis will be placed on the Renaissance culture as well. Students will be encouraged to participate fully in a seminar type of discussion of the major themes and characters. Students will be evaluated in a variety of ways including: essays, objective tests, oral presentations, and projects.

168 - Drama 1 Fall Semester
0.5 credit; 2.0 QP; Grades 10, 11, 12
This fall semester elective course is designed for those who desire to learn about and become involved in the theatre. This class begins with lessons on improvisation, voice and movement, memorization, and acting. The course also visits the areas of technical theatre, as well as theatre history and styles. This is a highly interactive class in which the students will be elvaluated on written work, objective tests, project design, individual and group performances. Students will regularly present in front of their classmates, and THEY ARE REQUIRED TO PERFORM ONCE BEFORE AN OUTSIDE AUDIENCE ( WINTER REVUE) Some after school rehearsal time will also be required. (Note: This course may be taken only once. This course will not count for toward an English Credit, but it will be counted toward the Humanities requirement.)

169 - Drama 2 - Spring Semester
0.5 credit;2.0 QP; Grades 10, 11, and 12
This elective class is designed for those who have already had Drama1 and who desire to learn more about the production and technical aspects of theatre while working actively on the Spring Production. This is a highly interactive class in whic the students will learn to express their creativity through written work, project design, and individual and group performances. This class will work collectively to produce the spring musical. Students must also participate in the spring competition and/or the Night of Scenes and Songs. After school rehearsal time will also be required. Prerequisite: Successful completion of Drama 1 AND audition or permission from instructor is needed for entry into this course. (Note: This course will not count toward an English Credit, but it will be counted toward the Humanities requirement.)