Language Arts Department

The Language Arts program is organized around the following areas of instruction:  reading, writing,  speaking, listening, and critical thinking.  Throughout the four years of study, aspects of each area are presented and emphasized. Basic grammar and vocabulary are an integral part of the English curriculum at all levels.  All of the New Jersey State Department of Education Core Course Proficiencies are addressed in all levels of English each year.  Minimum proficiencies specific to each course are listed beneath the course descriptions.

 NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards for Language Arts Literacy are Implemented in the following approved Curricula

(Reading) All students will understand and apply the knowledge of sounds, letters, and words in written English to become independent and fluent readers, and will read a variety of materials and texts with fluency and comprehension.

 (Writing) All students will write in clear, concise, organized language that varies in content and form for different audiences and purposes.

 (Speaking) All students will speak clear, concise, organized language that varies in content and form for different audiences and purposes.         

 (Listening) All students will listen actively to information from a variety of sources in a variety of situations.

 (Viewing and Media Literary) All students will access, evaluate, and respond to print, nonprint, and electronic text resources.

Students must take English each year in a four-year sequence, selecting College Prep English or Honors English.  Students who score below the minimum accepted standard in the Language Arts Literacy section of the Grade 8 GEPA Test must enroll in a Remedial Language Arts Literacy course for HSPA- 11 preparation (not for English credit) in addition to their required English class.  College Prep English courses are designed to prepare the student for career goals, as well as further study.   Honors courses are for the student who is academically capable and willing to exert extra time and effort to meet the accelerated demands of the curriculum.  The writing of an acceptable research paper is required of all students in Grades 10, 11, 12 in College Prep and Honors English courses.

 A student who has failed English I, II, or III will not be permitted to take the next level of English until he/she has passed the previous course. This means that the student may not be scheduled for two levels of English in one school year.  Therefore, a student who fails English will be behind a year and will not graduate with his/her class unless the English course is made up in summer school.

 In addition to fulfilling the English requirements, the student may take additional English courses as his/her schedule permits.  Semester courses are  available as electives.  They may be taken in addition to English I, II, III, IV, but do not replace them.  They may not be used to make up credits in English. 

 Writing Labs

Writing Lab is a four-year program that is an integral part of each grade level English course.  During the four years, each student will produce the following in the writing lab; expository essay, research report, research essay, thesis paper, and Web based projects.  These projects will incorporate the skills of developing a thesis, outlining, researching on the Internet and online data bases, composing from notes, revising and editing drafts, composing a bibliography or works cited page, and integrating text and graphics for an oral presentation.)