Welcome to the Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High School English Department. The English curriculum offers a balanced and academically rigorous program that includes English Honors at all grade levels, Advanced Placement Language and Composition, Advanced Placement Literature and Composition, and dual enrollment English courses.  These courses focus on helping students hone their skills in analyzing all forms of literature and media and responding to these forms.  College and career readiness is key to our curriculum design and implementation.  Studying world cultures and various perspectives is an integral part of this process.  

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Students are immersed in a rich, engaging learning environment that promotes lifelong investigation into literature and the humanities.  Every course incorporates reading comprehension, writing, listening, and speaking skills. The courses are sequenced so that mastery of skills at one level will prepare students to succeed at the next level. BDCHS students are provided opportunities with out-of-classroom experiences such as field trips and innovative approaches such as oral performances, graphic presentations, and kinesthetic activities.

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Course Offerings and Descriptions

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Classical Literature Honors, Course #1005340 (0.5 credits)

The purpose of this course is to enable students, using texts of high complexity, to develop knowledge of classical literature through integrated educational experiences of reading, writing, speaking and listening, and language. Emphasis will be on representative classical literature, with its varied cultural influences, highlighting the major genres, themes, issues, and influences associated with the literary period.

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Contemporary Literature Honors, Course #1005330 (0.5 credits)

The purpose of this course is to enable students, using texts of high complexity, to develop knowledge of contemporary literature through integrated educational experiences of reading, writing, speaking and listening, and language. Emphasis will be on representative contemporary literature, with its varied cultural influences, highlighting the major genres, themes, issues, and influences associated throughout the literary period.

 

English Honors I, Course #1001320 (1 credit)

The purpose of this course is to bridge the literary gap for students from the middle school level to the high school level, instill necessary skills to succeed at a collegiate high school, and prepare for college and beyond. This honors level course will provide integrated educational experiences in the language arts strands of reading, writing, listening, speaking, language, and literature, and will be designed based on the Common Core State Standards in conjunction with the current Sunshine State Standards.

Students will be using a wide variety of reading, writing, and speaking strategies to construct meaning from informative, technical, and literary texts, including short stories, novels, poetry, real-world reading, and various forms of popular media such as film and online mediums. While dealing with grade-level texts and above, students will learn the recursive process of writing and presenting their ideas in a mature, complex way that is geared toward a specific purpose and audience. They will also be exposed to texts that stretch across various cultures and historical backgrounds in order to develop respectful, empathetic principles that are crucial to the BDCHS family and the global community.

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English Honors II, Course #1001350 (1 credit)

The purpose of this course is to provide integrated educational experiences in the language arts strands of reading, writing, listening, viewing, speaking, language, and literature.

In this course students use active reading strategies such as questioning, summarizing, predicting, making connections, and sharing personal responses to construct meaning from informative, technical, and literary texts. Students will have exposure to short stories, novels, plays, poetry, and nonfiction with a strong focus on textual analysis and literary elements. There is also a focus on acquiring an extensive vocabulary through reading, discussion, listening, and interactive, cooperative vocabulary activities. Students will receive exposure to a variety of writing circumstances as well, both formal, with a focus on process, and informal. Additionally, the students gain experience using speaking, listening, and viewing strategies in formal presentations and informal discussions.

 

English Honors III, Course #1001380 (1 credit)

English Honors III is an honors level course that is designed to prepare students for college.  This course focuses on American literature and students are expected by the end of this year to be able to comprehend, analyze, and evaluate various forms of literature including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, and narratives.  Students will learn how to develop thoughtful responses to literary text in terms of descriptive language, theme, author’s style, structure, etc.  

English Honors III strongly focuses on formal written expression through essays and literary analysis.  Students will demonstrate the ability to write in a variety of expressive forms using a wide range of strategies and techniques.  Student work will be graded based on the ability to properly communicate understanding of organization, audience awareness, details and support, voice, structure, fluency, and grammar usage.  Finally, students will be expected to successfully complete an MLA style research paper along with numerous oral presentations.

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English Honors IV, Course #1001410 (1 credit)

English 4 Honors promotes excellence in English language arts through enriched experiences in communication skills and instruction in the literature of Great Britain. Instruction will cover the written and oral analysis of major British literary works of various genres in relationship to cultural influences and to the development of the literary traditions of the English language. Writing assignments will develop students’ abilities to interpret literature and analyze it critically. All phases of the writing process will be utilized where appropriate (prewriting, drafting, editing, revising, and publishing). Students will also extend their speaking, listening, and observing skills. Language study should include vocabulary and grammar in the context of literature and writing and an overview of the history of the language as reflected in literature.

 

Advanced Placement English Language and Composition, Course #1001420 (1 credit)

The purpose of this college level course is to provide students with an understanding of the semantic, structural, and rhetorical resources of the English language as they relate to the principles of effective writing.  The course also provides a variety of writing opportunities calling for the use of different styles and tones.

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The content of this course includes analyzing rhetoric in a variety of fiction and nonfiction texts and recognizing the significance of the use of particular rhetorical strategies. Students will also write narrative, descriptive, persuasive, and rhetorical analysis essays using the writing process, writing workshops, and peer editing. The course focuses on understanding the importance of rhetoric and applying it to individual writing, but the learning process is primarily cooperative, based on discussion and peer reviews.

This course description, as well as the content of the course, includes the benchmarks from the Common Core State Standards that are most relevant to this course.

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Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition, Course #1001430 (1 credit)

Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition is a college level course focused on the development of higher level reading, writing, and communication skills.  According to the College Board, this course is “designed to engage students in the careful reading and critical analysis of imaginative literature.  Through the close reading of selected texts, students can deepen their understanding of the ways writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure for their readers.   As they read, students should consider a work’s structure, style, and themes, as well as such smaller-scale elements as the use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism, and tone.”  AP students must be self-motivators, able to work at a rigorous pace in order to experience, interpret, and evaluate literature at the college level.

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During this course, students will be exposed to a variety of literary genres and periods of work from the 16th to the 21st century that are recognized to have literary merit.  Some of the authors and poets that will be studied include Mary Shelley, Robert Louis Stevenson, Vladimir Nabokov, William Shakespeare, James Joyce, Edgar Allen Poe, Dylan Thomas, Emily Dickinson, and Kate Chopin, among others.  In this course, students will analyze, interpret, and evaluate literary works through close and deliberate reading.

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ENC1101 Freshman Composition I (1 credit college semester-long course)

(3 credit hours) focuses on the writing process of various rhetorical strategies
with consideration of the writer's situation, including purpose, limitations of time, and audience.  Students must write unified, coherent, and developed essays that include strong theses as well as introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs. Students must demonstrate effective sentence structure and observe conventions of standard English grammar and usage.  Prerequisite requirements: College level reading and writing skills required (description taken from https://www.hccfl.edu/media/3509871/e.pdf).  

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ENC1102 Freshman Composition II (1 credit college semester-long course)

A continuation of ENC 1101. Instruction is persuasive and literary-based critical and evaluative skills in English composition. Documented research paper required.  Prerequisite: C or higher in ENC1101.

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Intensive Reading, Course #1000410

This reading intensive course takes an in-depth look at the variety of genres represented in academic reading in order to provide students the greatest opportunity for success. This rigorous class follows the Common Core State Standards to provide instruction that enables students to enhance and strengthen reading skills and develop independent reading endurance so they may be college and career ready. This course is designed for students who need specialized improvement in reading and focuses on how to fix areas of deficiency in order to meet expected accomplishments on standardized testing.

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Students in Intensive Reading will learn reading strategies that will develop their thinking and language processes. These reading strategies can translate to other classes and provide added assistance to understanding course work. Students will go over a variety of reading comprehension tools such as main idea, word parts, context clues, text structure, author’s purpose, point of view, characterization, figurative language, developing inferences, and plot. Students will also have regular vocabulary checks in order to promote fluency and textual understanding. To promote endurance while reading, students have the opportunity to choose an enjoyable independent reading book and participate in Silent Sustained Reading. Students will demonstrate understanding through a variety of projects like alternative book reports, Reader’s Theatre, PowerPoint presentations, and Jigsaw lessons. Innovative testing and differentiated lesson delivery provides the best ultimate outcome for student reading development and information retention.

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Creative Writing Honors, Course #1009331 (1 credit) (Not being offered in the 17-18 academic year)

The purpose of the course is to develop writing and language skills needed for individual expression in traditional poetic forms.

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Journalism 5 Honors, Course #1006331 (1 credit)

The purpose of this course is to perform advanced skills in the production of journalism across print, multimedia, web, and broadcast/radio platforms and to develop advanced knowledge of journalism history, ethics use, and management techniques related to the production of journalistic media.  Students in this course cooperate to create the school newsletter and the yearbook in addition to other media publication activities.

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Literature in the Media Honors, Course #1005365 (1 credit) (Not being offered in the 17-18 academic year)

The purpose of this course is to enable students to develop knowledge of the narrative parallels between traditional (print) literary texts and 21st century (multimedia in all its digital platforms) texts. Through integrated educational experiences of extensive viewing and reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language, students will study a variety of digital platforms, film, and television, including the use of graphics in these formats.

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Reading for College Success, Course #1008350 (0.5 Credits)

This course incorporates reading and analysis of informational selections to develop critical reading skills necessary for success in college courses. This course prepares students for successful completion of Florida college English language arts courses requiring extensive grade-level reading. The benchmarks reflect the Florida College Competencies necessary for entry-level college courses.

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Research 1, Course #1700300 (1 credit)

The purpose of this course is to enable students to develop fundamental knowledge of the steps in the research process.  Students investigate the nature and purpose of research; research questions and hypotheses; research methods and procedures; how to effectively organize time and material; report formats, styles, and content; and other research skills.

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Research 3, Course #1700320 (1 credit)

The purpose of this course is to enable students to develop proficient knowledge and skills in the research process with emphasis on appropriate research design. 

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Theatre History and Literature 1, Course #0400350 (1 credit) (Not being offered in the 18-19 academic year)

Students’ coursework focuses on the origins of western theatre from ancient civilizations through the Renaissance period into modern day. Students research and investigate the dramatic forms and practices of the times through the reading and analysis of plays and related literature. Public performances may serve as a resource for specific instructional goals. Students may be expected to attend one or more performances outside the school day to support, extend, and assess learning in the classroom.

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Writing for College Success, Course #1009370 (0.5 credits)

This course incorporates language study, the practice of writing craft strategies, and the analysis of writing selections to develop critical writing skills necessary for success in college courses, preparing students for successful completion of Florida college English courses requiring extensive grade-level writing. The benchmarks reflect the Florida College Competencies necessary for entry-level college courses.

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