English

Welcome to the English Department at Wakefield High School!

Our department is dedicated to fostering a love for literature, enhancing writing skills, and developing critical thinking abilities in our students. We offer a diverse curriculum that includes classic and contemporary works, creative writing, and advanced placement courses.

Our passionate and experienced teachers are committed to providing a supportive and engaging learning environment where every student can thrive. Join us on a journey of exploration, creativity, and academic excellence!

The English Language Arts Program in Arlington Public Schools focuses on communication and multimodal literacies, reading, writing, and research skills students need for success in school and beyond. Concept-based curriculum is built around literature study in which students are expected to read, write, speak, listen, and think critically and extensively. Curriculum at all grade levels is aligned with the Virginia English Standards of Learning.

Four English credits are required for graduation from high school in Virginia. At all high schools, students may select from a full range of courses, including, but not limited to, English, Intensified, Advanced Placement, Dual Enrollment, and electives.

Note: Courses that have fewer than 15 students may not be offered based on student interest and budget considerations. In some cases, additional budget considerations may require that courses may not be offered in any given year and impacted students should select an alternative course. Additionally, courses with insufficient enrollment may be offered through distance learning or online learning.

English Language Arts Courses

English 9

Full Year (21130)

Level: High School

Content Area: English Language Arts

Credits: 1.0

“Identity” is the central theme at Grade 9. Core curricular units are designed around enduring understandings and essential questions and align with the SOLs for ninth grade.

Emphasis is placed on reading comprehension by comparing fiction and nonfiction texts. In fiction texts, students will apply knowledge of literary terms and analyze a variety of genres. In ninth grade there will be an increased emphasis on nonfiction reading, and students will make inferences and draw conclusions using explicit and implied textual evidence.

The student will expand vocabulary using the structural analysis of roots and affixes to understand complex words.

The student will plan, draft, revise, and edit while writing in a variety of forms with an emphasis on analysis and persuasion while defending a position using counterclaims, reasons, and evidence from credible sources.

Students will analyze and interpret the social, commercial, and/or political motives behind media messages. Students will use multimodal tools to create presentations both independently and in small groups.

The student will apply research techniques to analyze information gathered from diverse sources by identifying misconceptions, and possible bias citing both quoted and paraphrased information using either MLA or APA style.

Students will continue to work in collaborative groups assisting with setting rules and working toward consensus.

English 9 Intensified

Full Year (22132)

Level: High School

Content Area: English Language Arts

Credits: 1.0

This course is designed for the needs of gifted and advanced students, and requires extensive reading and writing, intensive grammar and vocabulary, rigorous study of fiction, nonfiction, drama, and poetry, and high-level performance all strands of English language arts beyond what is required in English 9. Students read a wide array of canonical and contemporary literature related to the theme of “identity” and develop robust writing skills to showcase their understandings and prepare for future AP/IB/DE course expectations.

English 10

Full Year (21140)

Level: High School

Content Area: English Language Arts

Credits: 1.0

Grade(s): 10,11,12

“Community” is the central theme at Grade 10. Core curricular units are designed around enduring understandings and essential questions and align with the SOLs for tenth grade.

There is a continued emphasis on reading comprehension by comparing fiction and nonfiction texts. Students will analyze the cultural and social function and universal themes of fictional texts from different cultures. Tenth grade students will analyze and synthesize information from nonfiction texts to solve problems, answer questions, and generate new knowledge.
The student will continue development of vocabulary using roots and affixes, with attention to connotations, idioms, classical allusions, and figurative language.
The student will use the writing process to write/compose with an emphasis on persuasion and analysis while showing relationships among claims, reasons, and evidence from reliable sources.
Students will create media messages and analyze the cause-and-effect relationships between mass media coverage and public opinion trends. Students will continue to use multimodal tools to create presentations both independently and in small groups.
The student will continue to build research skills presenting information gathered from diverse sources, identifying misconceptions and possible bias while crediting sources using MLA or APA style.
Students will continue to become skilled communicators, working both independently and in collaborative groups while presenting alternate views and working toward common goals.

English 10 Intensified

Full Year (21142)

Level: High School

Content Area: English Language Arts

Credits: 1.0

Grade(s): 10,11,12

This course is designed for the needs of gifted and advanced students, and requires extensive reading and writing, intensive grammar and vocabulary, rigorous study of study of fiction, nonfiction, drama, and poetry, and high-level performance all strands of English language arts beyond what is required in English 10. Students read a wide array of canonical and contemporary literature related to the theme of “community” and develop writing skills to showcase their understandings and prepare for future AP/IB/DE course expectations.

English 11

Full Year (21150)

Level: High School

Content Area: English Language Arts

Credits: 1.0

“National Perspectives” is the central theme at Grade 11. Core curricular units are designed around enduring understandings and essential questions and align with the SOLs for eleventh grade.

There is a sustained emphasis on reading comprehension of fiction and nonfiction texts. Students will conduct comparative analyses of multiple texts that address the same topic to determine how authors reach similar or different conclusions. The students will examine and analyze fiction texts by American authors describing the contributions of other cultures and identifying prevalent themes and characterizations, which are reflective of American history and culture.
The student will continue development of vocabulary, with attention to connotations, idioms, classical allusions, and figurative language.
The student will continue to use the writing process to write/compose with an emphasis on persuasion and argumentation for multiple purposes and audiences to create focused, organized, and coherent writing.
Students will create media messages and analyze the cause-and-effect relationships between mass media coverage and public opinion trends. Students will create persuasive multimodal presentations that address alternative perspectives.
The student will produce a research product synthesizing information from primary and secondary sources while maintaining ethical and legal guidelines for gathering and using information.
Students will continue to build communication skills working both independently and in collaborative groups. Students will continue to demonstrate the ability to work within collaborative groups while presenting alternate views and working toward common goals.

The following alternative course uses the basic structure and content of English 11 but offers more rigorous study

English 11, (College Composition) Dual Enrollment

Full Year (91150W)

Level: High School

Content Area: English Language Arts

Credits: 1.0

Grade(s)11

Quality Points: 1.0

Designation: Dual Enrollment

This course will address the Virginia Standards of Learning for Grade 11 English and introduce students to critical thinking and the fundamentals of academic writing. Through the writing process, students will refine topics; develop and support ideas; investigate, evaluate, and incorporate appropriate resources; edit for effective style and usage; and determine appropriate approaches for a variety of contexts, audiences, and purposes. Writing activities will include exposition and argumentation with at least one researched essay that requires students to locate, evaluate, integrate, and document sources and effectively edit for style and usage.

English 12

Full Year (21160)

Level: High School

Content Area: English Language Arts

Credits: 1.0

Grade(s): 12

“iPower” is the central theme at Grade 12. Core curricular units are designed around enduring understandings and essential questions and align with the SOLs for twelfth grade.

There is a sustained emphasis on reading comprehension of fiction and nonfiction texts. Students will review multiple texts to identify and evaluate resources to make decisions and solve problems. The students will examine and analyze fiction texts by British and world authors evaluating how authors use key elements to contribute to meaning and interpreting how themes are connected across texts.
The student will continue development of vocabulary, with attention to connotations, idioms, classical allusions, and figurative language.
The student will continue to use the writing process to write/compose with an emphasis on persuasion and argumentation for multiple purposes and audiences to create focused, organized, and coherent writing. Students will write to a standard acceptable to both the workplace and postsecondary education.
Students will create media messages and analyze the cause-and-effect relationships between mass media coverage and public opinion trends. Students will create persuasive/argumentative multimodal presentations both independently and in collaborative groups.
The student will produce a research product synthesizing information from primary and secondary sources while maintaining ethical and legal guidelines for gathering and using information.
Students will continue to demonstrate the ability to work within diverse teams and collaborative groups working toward common goals.

The following alternative courses use the basic structure and content of English 12 but offers more rigorous study.

English 12, (College Composition) Dual Enrollment

Full Year (91160W)

Level: High School

Content Area: English Language Arts

Credits: 1.0

Grade(s): 12

Quality Points: 1.0

Designation: Dual Enrollment

This course will address the Virginia Standards of Learning for Grade 12 English and introduce students to critical thinking and the fundamentals of academic writing. Through the writing process, students will refine topics; develop and support ideas; investigate, evaluate, and incorporate appropriate resources; edit for effective style and usage; and determine appropriate approaches for a variety of contexts, audiences, and purposes. Writing activities will include exposition and argumentation with at least one researched essay that requires students to locate, evaluate, integrate, and document sources and effectively edit for style and usage.

English 12 World Literature, Dual Enrollment

Full Year (91161W)

Level: High School

Content Area: English Language Arts

Credits: 1.0

Grade(s): 12

Quality Points: 1.0

Designation: Dual Enrollment

This course will address the Virginia Standards of Learning for Grade 12 English and examine major works of British and World Literature. Students will study major English works from the Anglo-Saxon period to the present, emphasizing ideas and characteristics of the British literary tradition. Students will also examine major works of world literature, from canon to contemporary. This course involves critical reading and writing experiences throughout.

Structured Literacy I

Full Year (21122)

Level: High School

Content Area: English Language Arts

Credits: 1.0

Grade(s): 9,10,11,12

Structured Literacy I will utilize systematic, explicit and cumulative direct instruction in two broad areas: word recognition (phonological awareness, decoding and sight recognition) and language comprehension (background knowledge, vocabulary, language structures, verbal reasoning, and literacy knowledge). Instruction in this course will emphasize word recognition. This course will employ diagnostic teaching to target gaps in foundational literacy skills that prevent secondary students from accessing grade level curricula. Reading instruction will follow a research-based sequence and will be guided by student performance on diagnostic assessments and frequent progress monitoring. Lessons will foster a sense of self-efficacy, sense of community, and utilizing literacy to achieve goals.

Structured Literacy II

Full Year (21123)

Level: High School

Content Area: English Language Arts

Credits: 1.0

Grade(s): 9,10,11,12

Structured Literacy II will utilize systematic, explicit and cumulative direct instruction in language comprehension (background knowledge, vocabulary, language structures, verbal reasoning, and literacy knowledge) with some review of word recognition. Instruction in this course will emphasize language comprehension to build students’ vocabulary and background knowledge to become increasingly proficient and strategic in reading comprehension. To enroll, students must have demonstrated mastery (accuracy and automaticity) in skills associated with word recognition (Phonological Awareness, Decoding, Sight Recognition), but may be continuing to work on fluency. Lessons will foster a sense of self-efficacy, sense of community, and utilizing literacy to achieve goals.

Remedial Independent Self-Paced Education (RISE) Writing

Semester (20201)

Level: High School

Content Area: English Language Arts

Elective Credits: 0.5

ElectiveGrade(s): 11,12

Students engage in remedial work in the academic areas for which they have passed the class but failed the SOL assessment. Instructional software and/or on-line programs may be used to supplement instruction. The majority of student work will be completed on an independent study basis, with assistance from the teacher as needed.

Remedial Independent Self-Paced Education (RISE) Reading

Semester (20202)

Level: High School

Content Area: English Language Arts

Elective Credits: 0.5

Elective Grade(s): 11,12

English Language & Composition, AP

Full Year (31196)

Level: High School

Content Area: English Language Arts

Credits: 1.0

Grade(s):11

Quality Points: 1.0

Designation: AP

The Advanced Placement English Language and Composition course is designed to help students become skilled readers of prose written in a variety of American periods, disciplines, and rhetorical contexts and to become skilled writers who can compose for a variety of purposes. Students will become aware of the interactions among a writer’s purposes and rhetorical choices, audience expectations, and subjects, as well as the way literary conventions and the resources of language contribute to effective writing. Class assessments will prepare students for the College Board’s two-part culminating exam, which consists of multiple choice and free response essays.

English Literature & Composition, AP

Full Year (31195)

Level: High School

Content Area: English Language Arts

Credits: 1.0

Grade(s): 12

Quality Points: 1.0

Designation: AP

The Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition course is designed to engage students in the careful reading and critical analysis of imaginative world literature. Through the close reading of selected texts, students can deepen their understanding of the way writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure for their readers. As they read, students will consider a work’s structure, style, narrative perspective, setting, and themes, as well as more nuanced literary elements such as figurative language, imagery, symbolism, poetic meter, syntax, and tone. Class assessments will prepare students for the College Board’s two-part culminating exam, which consists of multiple choice and free response essays.

Seminar, AP: English 10

Full Year (32111), Full Year (22111)

Level: High School

Content Area: English Language Arts

Credits: 1.0

Grade(s): 10

Quality Points: 1.0

Tenth grade students taking Seminar, AP will receive a graduation credit for English 10. Seminar, AP is a foundational course that engages students in cross-curricular conversations that explore the complexities of academic and real-world topics and issues by analyzing divergent perspectives. Students develop skills such as analytical reading and writing, research, collaboration, presentation, and time management by exploring topics and themes of interest. Using an inquiry framework, students practice reading and analyzing articles, research studies, and foundational literary and philosophical texts; listening to and viewing speeches, broadcasts, and personal accounts; and experiencing artistic works and performances. Students learn to synthesize information from multiple sources, develop their own perspectives in research-based written essays, and design and deliver oral and visual presentations, both individually and as part of a team. Students will learn to analyze and evaluate information with accuracy and precision and craft and communicate evidence-based arguments.

Elective English Language Arts Courses

Dynamic Communication

One semester (21517)

Level: High School

Content Area: Elective English Language Arts

Courses Credits: 0.5

Grade(s): 9,10,11,12

This course emphasizes the dynamics of the communication process: speaking, listening, and interacting. Voice development, use of gestures, and audience awareness are stressed as important components of this process. Students will learn techniques to develop confidence in effective discussions, presentations, speeches, interviews, and other social/business speech experiences.

English 11 Extension

Full Year (21185)

Level: High School

Content Area: Elective English Language Arts

Courses Elective Credits: 1.0

Elective Grade(s): 11,12

This course is designed for students who are currently enrolled in English 11 and need additional English language development support in reading and writing to succeed on the end-of-course required assessments. Students will develop analytical reading and writing skills required for success in high school and beyond.

Film Study

Semester (21446)

Level: High School

Content Area: Elective English Language Arts

Courses Credits: 0.5

Grade(s): TBD by school

This course will provide students with grounding in film appreciation, production, and history. Students will be introduced to the major concepts and techniques filmmakers employ in producing a motion picture. After learning the technical aspects of film, students will also be exposed to classic movies and will evaluate their importance as works of art. The course will also hone students’ oral and written communication skills as these are the keys to film analysis.

Journalism: Broadcast

Full Year (21218)

Level: High School

Content Area: Elective English Language Arts

Courses Credits: 1.0

Grade(s): 9,10,11,12

Students in this class work to produce a school-specific news show that is regularly broadcasted. Students in this class will explore methods and techniques for reporting, producing, and delivering news and news programs via radio, television, internet, and video/film media. Instruction will explore the responsibilities of professional broadcast journalists, editors, producers, directors, and managers. Students will also have hands-on experience of the principles of broadcast technology; broadcast reporting; program, sound, and video/film editing; program design and production; and professional standards and ethics. Exact course expectations vary by high school; please consult with instructor for details.

Journalism: Literary Magazine

Full Year (21207)

Level: High School

Content Area: Elective English Language Arts

Courses Credits: 1.0

Grade(s): 9,10,11,12

Students in this class work to publish a magazine of student literary writings and accompanying artwork. Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, and musical scores are composed and/or edited throughout the publication cycle. Visual art, photography, and layout design is digitally curated and refined throughout the publication cycle. Exact course expectations vary by high school; please consult with instructor for details.

Journalism: Newspaper

Full Year (21205)

Level: High School

Content Area: Elective English Language Arts

Courses Credits: 1.0

Grade(s): 9,10,11,12

Students in this class work to produce a regularly published school-specific print newspaper and/or website. Expository writing is the main emphasis of this course. The writing includes but is not limited to news, features, editorials, sports, column, and critique writing. Interview and research techniques are employed used to prepare the copy. The mechanics of newspaper production, including copy-editing, layout and design, typography, headline writing, photography and digital picture editing, and various publishing techniques are presented. Exact course expectations vary by high school; please consult with instructor for details

Journalism: Yearbook

Full Year (21209)

Level: High School

Content Area: Elective English Language Arts

Courses Credits: 1.0

Grade(s): 9,10,11,12

Students in this class work to publish the yearbook. Students use expository writing skills in most aspects of the work, including feature, headline, and caption writing. Students learn and practice the mechanics of magazine production: layout styles, central theme, copy editing, typography, photography, picture editing, layout, and printing techniques. Exact course expectations vary by high school; please consult with instructor for details.