English Department Course Offerings

Diman's English Language Arts curricula are integrated literature based courses in which students of all four years are grouped heterogeneously. All four levels concentrate on reading comprehension through strategies for active readers, literary analysis, critical thinking skills, vocabulary development, and the writing process. In addition, for enhancement and enjoyment all four levels are supplemented with novels that correspond to each year of study.

3001 - ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 9 - The Freshman English Language Arts Curriculum introduces selections of various genres including: Fiction, Nonfiction, Ballad, Lyric Poetry, Personal Essay, and Mystery Story and Drama, and Shakespearean Drama. Critique Writing, Narrative Writing, Descriptive Writing, Persuasive Writing and Expository Speech Skills are also developed. Author studies are also explored.

3201 - HONORS ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 9 - The Freshman Honors English Language Arts Curriculum focuses and extends the students' understanding of the various genres offered in the Freshman English Language Arts Curriculum. Six novels will be assigned during the Shop Cycle Interim which will be the basis for in depth literary analysis presentations before a critical audience for discussion and debate. In addition, emphasis is placed on developing greater proficiency in paragraph development and vocabulary of the writing process.

3081 - READING LANGUAGE ARTS 9 - The Freshmen Reading Language Arts Curriculum initially tests all students with the Stanford Diagnostic Reading and Writing Test. This test enables the Reading instructor to tailor each individual student's instruction and work on skills needed to improve. The curriculum introduces selections of various genres including: Fiction, Nonfiction, Ballad, Lyric Poetry, Mystery Story, Drama, and Shakespearean Drama. The media is covered trough Current Events on a weekly basis and often debates ensue. The Essay is practiced until students master the format and continuously used as a tool for assessing reading comprehension. Author studies are also explored. Students are post-tested in May to record gains and those who have reached grade level are mainstreamed into the English Language Arts Program.

7001 - ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 9 - Students requiring specially designed instruction follow the Freshman Language Arts Curriculum modified according to their Individualized Educational Program.

3002 - ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 10 - The Sophomore English Language Arts Curriculum encourages students to grow as critical readers and thinkers while supporting the Frameworks for MCAS strategies. The genres studied are: Fiction, Science Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Nonfiction, Mystery Story, Poetry, Sonnets, Greek Drama, and Shakespearean Drama. In the Sophomore year an integrated Expository Writing/Speech Project is required. An Author study of a Science Fiction writer is investigated. The writing process includes Critique, Narrative, Descriptive and Persuasive Writing.

3202 - HONORS ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS - 10 The Sophomore English Language Arts Curriculum reinforces and expands competencies initiated in Freshman English Language Arts. Students read the various works of the Sophomore English Language Arts Curriculum and analyze, form, and purpose of these genres. Six novels will be assigned during the Shop Cycle Interim which will be the basis for in depth literary analysis presentations to demonstrate considerations of audience, purpose and information conveyed. There is also greater emphasis on organization, precision of expression and wider use of vocabulary to demonstrate their understanding of answering open-ended research questions, different sources of information and research techniques.

3082 - READING LANGUAGE ARTS 10 - The Sophomore Language Arts Curriculum tests any new student with the Stanford Diagnostic Reading and Writing Test for placement in the program and encourages students to grow as critical readers and thinkers while supporting the Frameworks for MCAS strategies. The genres studied are: Fiction, Nonfiction, Mystery Story, Poetry, Sonnets, and Shakespearean Drama. They also continue to work on specific skills such as Reading For Concepts, Drawing Conclusions, Finding The Main Idea, and Using Context Clues. They also continue to study the 104 Literary Terms in a MCAS workbook. Sophomores work on open response questions and persuasive essays. The media is covered through Current Events on a weekly basis and often debates ensue. In the sophomore year an integrated Expository Writing/Speech Project is required. Students have vocabulary drills, timed readings and write weekly essays. Students are post-tested with the Stanford Diagnostic Reading Test in May to record gains and those who have reached grade level are mainstreamed into the English Language Arts Program.

7002 - ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 10 - Students requiring specially designed instruction follow the Sophomore English Language Arts Curriculum modified according to their Individual Educational Program.

3003 - ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS - 11 - The Junior English Language Arts Curriculum gives students knowledge of American writers for a sense of the diversity of our country. This course provides students with an awareness of cultural and historical influences on literature. American Literature genres include: Myths, Songs, Folktales, Poetry, Sermon, Primary Sources, Legend, Fiction, Nonfiction and Historical Narrative. Four Author studies are also examined. Students also complete an integrated Expository Writing/ Speech Project, as well as Critique Writing, Narrative, Descriptive and Persuasive Process Writing.

3203 - HONORS ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 11 - Students read the various genres of the Junior English Language Arts Curriculum and analyze style, form and historical content. Students develop an understanding of literature as a basis for, social commentary, inquiry and critical analysis. Students will be required to present informal and formal speech presentations. Six novels will be assigned during the Shop Cycle Interim which will be the basis for in depth literary analysis presentations to demonstrate considerations of audience, purpose and information conveyed. Students improve organization, content, paragraph development, level of detail, style, tone and word choice in their own writing through the writing process. SAT vocabulary and word analogies preparation are an integral part of this course. Students will be required to experience informal and formal speaking presentations.

3083 - READING LANGUAGE ARTS 11 - The Junior Reading Language arts Curriculum continues to work on skills to enable students to pass the MCAS and to become independent readers. The genres explored are Fiction, Nonfiction, Mystery Story, Poetry, Shakespearean Drama, Myths, Folktales, Legends and Historical Narratives. Students work on specific skills such as Drawing Conclusions, Reading For Concepts, Finding the Main Idea and Using Context Clues. Literary Terms are practiced and the Current Events magazine is read and discussed. An Integrated Expository Writing/Speech Project is required. Students are post-tested with the Stanford Diagnostic Reading Test in May to record gains and those who have reached grade level are mainstreamed into the English Language Arts Program.

7003 - ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 11 - Students requiring specially designed instruction follow the Junior English Language Arts Curriculum modified according to their Individual Educational Program.

3004 - ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 12 - The Senior English Language Arts Curriculum focuses on classic British Literature from the Anglo-Saxon Periods, The English Renaissance, The Restoration, The Romanticism and Victorian Eras to Contemporary Times. The genres are: Epic Poetry, Romantic Poetry, Victorian Poetry, Framework Stories, Sonnets, Shakespearian Drama, Novel, Diary and Fiction. In addition students complete an Author study on Chaucer. Process Writing includes Narrative, Descriptive, Expository and Persuasive Writing.

3204 - HONORS ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 12 - Students develop an understanding of literature as a basis for enjoyment, social commentary, inquiry and critical analysis of British authors. Students interpret the meaning of literary works through their critical reading and refined research skills. Students learn formal techniques of revision for the thinking and writing process to prepare them for the transition to post-secondary classes and courses. Students improve organization, content, paragraph development, level of detail, style, tone and word choice in their own writing through the writing process. SAT vocabulary and word analogies preparation are an integral part of this course. Students will be required to experience informal and formal speaking presentations.

3084 - READING LANGUAGE ARTS 12 - The Senior Reading Language Arts Curriculum continues to reinforce those skills that will be needed to interpret technical and functional language used in the work force. The genres explored are Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Shakespearean Drama, Myths, Fables, American and European Literature. In addition, Current Events magazine is read and discussed. The Writing Process includes Critique, Narrative, Descriptive and Persuasive Writing. Students are taught how to write a research paper and through teacher modeling write several short research papers. Communication skills are also a part of the curriculum. Students are post-tested with the Stanford Diagnostic Reading Test in May to record gains. Many of the students in this program at this level are ESL students, at risk students or students with special needs.

7004 - ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 12 - Students requiring specially designed instruction the Senior English Language Arts Curriculum modified according to their Individualized Educational Program.

Favorite External Links for English/Language Arts

• Bartleby
  “Publishes the classics of literature, non-fiction, and reference free of charge for the home, classroom, and desktop of each and every participant.”
• CIESE - Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education
  Projects using primary sources and archived collections: “Historical Treasure Chests,” “Movie in the Making,” “Population Growth”.
• High School Hub
  Free online learning center that features subject guides for English, foreign languages, math, science, and social studies.
• Ibiblio, the public’s library and digital archive: Poetry and Reading
  One of the largest online collections of collections," a conservancy of freely available information, including software, music, literature, art, history, science, politics, and cultural studies. Links include Project Gutenburg, a collection’s index, Wikinfo, also known as the Internet-Encyclopedia, & a search feature.
• Linda’s Links to Literature
  Free links to reading resources – hundreds of links to websites that provide general information about children’s and young adults’ literature, authors and illustrators, etc. Lesson plans and activities for books are available by subscription.
• Nancy Keane’s Booktalks
  A searchable collection of booktalks suitable for K-12.

Please note: Diman is not responsible for the content of any of these links. Please let us know if any links are inaccurate.

Click here to see all of Diman's external links.