CREATIVE WRITING                        One Term                                   Grades 11-12

Creative Writing is designed to allow highly motivated students to try their hands at various types of writing – stories, poetry, journals, and personal essays.  It is designed for students who enjoy writing and for those who wish to increase their knowledge of various techniques.  This course focuses upon the student’s ability to apply creative thought in writing.  It provides the student with the opportunity to write about real and imagined experiences.  The student learns the characteristics of a creative writer as well as the five elements of creative writing, including structures, devices, vehicles, foundations, and catalysts.  The student will be encouraged to enter writing contests and to submit original works for publication.

AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE      One Term                  Grades 11-12

Prerequisites:  Satisfactory completion of 9th and 10th grade English.

African American Literature is a one term elective English course that supplements and extends the chronological survey of American literature required in the 11th grade.  The course offers a wide selection of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and drama drawn from material ranging from the oral tradition of African proverbs through the Harlem Renaissance and into the writing of contemporary African Americans.  Also included is

the reinforcement of the understanding of literary devices, terms, and concepts.  The readings provide many opportunities for student response in terms of original, formal, and informal writing assignments.

SPEECH                                                     One Term                                     Grades 9-12

After learning basic interpersonal speaking skills, students will research, write, and deliver a variety of speeches.  After a study of basic public speaking, the students learn the techniques involved in debate, drama, oral interpretation, parliamentary procedure, group discussion, and radio and television production.

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Publications

YEARBOOK*                        One Term                                    Grades 10-12

This course includes producing, editing, and financing a yearbook.  First year classes focus on writing copy, taking photographs, and designing layouts.  Advanced classes edit and process copy, process and print photographs, set typography, design style, develop theme and continuity, and manage finances.

*Sponsor approval is required.

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MATHEMATICS IN SOCIETY      One Term                                     Grade 11-12

Prerequisite:  Algebra I, (or Algebra Part A and B) and Geometry.

Mathematics in Society is a study of real-world applications of mathematics, which are important to us in our everyday lives.  The course uses the skills and knowledge developed in mathematics, algebra, and geometry to help students become wise consumers.  Emphasis is given to analyzing and interpreting a variety of information from familiar societal contexts.  Topics such as investments, insurance, loan and lease purchases of homes and autos, personal budgets, credit cards, appreciation, depreciation, and inflation are explored.

ALGEBRA II                                            One Term                                     Grade 10-12

Prerequisite:  Algebra I, (or Algebra Part A and B) and  Geometry

Algebra II is an in-depth extension of topics begun in Algebra I.  It is the third year of academic math required for an Academic Diploma.  Emphasis is placed on functional notation and on understanding the use of algebraic structures and techniques.  Also covers elementary trigonometry, exponential and logarithmic functions, complex numbers and matrices.  Essential for college bound students.

ALGEBRA II, HONORS                     One Term                                          Grade 10

Suggested Prerequisites:  Algebra I, (or Algebra Part A and B) Honors Geometry. See Honors/AP application form

This course should be taken in Grade 10 for those planning to take AP Calculus as a senior.  Honors Algebra II is a more in-depth study of the topics in Algebra II with emphasis on proof, theory, and graphing.

ALGEBRA II REVIEW                       One Term

AND APPLICATION

 This course may be taken by two groups of students: 

·        (1) Advanced Diploma- Those who take Algebra I in the 8^th Grade, Geometry in the 9^th Grade, Algebra II in the 10^th Grade, and Precalculus in the 11^th, but who are not adequately prepared and take Calculus AP or their 4^th year Math for the Advanced Academic Diploma .  They must have a C or lower in Algebra II  with Precalculus along with a math teacher’s recommendation stating that Algebra II Review is the appropriate class for this student.

·        (2) General Academic Diploma- those students who are college bound may take Algebra II Review following Algebra II or Precalculus. This will be most helpful in getting students prepared for college level math.

PRECALCULUS                                     One Term                                     Grade 11-12

(Previously Trigonometry/Precalculus)

Prerequisite:  Geometry, Algebra II

This course covers circle and triangle trigonometry, properties of the number system, vectors, matrices, conic sections, logarithms, techniques of equation solving and

graphing, limits, sequences and series, derivatives, and use of the scientific calculator.  It contains background material essential for college mathematics and is highly recommended for all college-bound students.

CALCULUS, AP (IB LEVEL)            One Term                                          Grade 12

See Honors/AP application form

Suggested Prerequisite:  Honors Advanced Math and teacher recommendation.

A college level introductory calculus course.  The course covers differentiation and integration of algebraic, trigonometric, exponential, and logarithmic functions with applications of derivatives and integral.  Course content is established by the College Board.  College credit is contingent upon score on national Calculus AP exam.

TEST TAKING SKILLS           One Term                                Grade 11-12

 This course is designed to provide remediation for the students who fail one or more parts of the Alabama High School Graduation Exam (AHSGE)

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EUROPEAN HISTORY, AP              One Term                                   Grades 10-12

See Honors/AP application form

Advanced Placement European History covers intellectual-cultural, political-diplomatic and social-economic history in the period from 1450 to 1970.  Students should be able to develop an understanding of principal themes in modern European history, analyze historical evidence and express that understanding by analysis in writing.  The impact of European history is placed in world context.  It is characterized by extensive supplemental reading, interpretation of primary sources, development of writing skills and class discussion.  Emphasis is placed on higher order cognitive skills, problem solving, individual research and current events. 

UNITED STATES HISTORY                          One Term                                             Grade 10     

AND GEOGRAPHY:  BEGINNING TO 1900

Tenth Grade students will cover the historic development of American ideas and institutions from the Age of Exploration to the present.  While focusing on political and economic history, students will gain a basic knowledge of American culture through a chronological survey of major issues, movements, people, and events in United States and Alabama history.

UNITED STATES HISTORY                  One Term                            Grade 11

AND GEOGRAPHY: 1900 TO THE PRESENT

This course is a continuation of the US History part I.  It begins with 1900 and goes to the present.

HONORS U.S. HISTORY:                 One Term                                          Grade 10                       

BEGINNING TO 1900

See Honors/AP application form

This is an advanced course that traces the history of this country from The Age of Exploration to the Development of the Industrial United States.  As the course progresses, students will analyze historic, economic, and political issues and relate them in ways that are relevant today.  Completion of this advanced course better prepares the student for the next advanced history course AP U.S. History/Geography (11^th Grade)

UNITED STATES HISTORY, AP  One Term         Grade 11

See Honors/AP application form

Advanced Placement United States History reviews political, economic, social and intellectual life in the United States in its earlier period and concentrates on the period and concentrates on the period from the 1870’s to present.  Emphasis is placed on analysis and interpretation of primary sources, writing skills, significant supplemental reading, higher order cognitive skills, problem solving, individual research, historical interpretation, and current events.

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT/        One Term                                          Grade 12

ECONOMICS                             

American Government is a required one term social studies course for the twelfth grade.  Students draw on the knowledge and skills from their previous study of United States and World History and Geography as background for this course.  Instruction focuses on the nature of individual civic virtue and responsibility.  In addition, students become knowledgeable of the structure and workings of government at all levels in the nation.  The following topics are used as content organizers for American Government:

*Representative Democracy

*Federalism

*Role of the Citizen in American Government

*International Relations

This course includes economics, the study of the workings and institutions of modern day economic systems.

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT         One Term                                          Grade 12

AND POLITICS, AP                            

See Honors/AP application form

Advance Placement American Government and politics is a one semester course designed to give students a critical perspective on government and politics in the United States .  It explores the Constitutional principles of government, political parties and interest groups, institutions and policy process of the national government, civil rights and civil liberties.  It is characterized by extensive supplemental reading, development of writing skills and class discussion.

PSYCHOLOGY                                       One Term                                   Grades 10-12

Psychology examines the following areas: Discovering the world through our senses, learning, thinking, intelligence, and creativity via the cycle of life from birth to death.  Emphasis is also placed on physiology, emotions, motivation, and consciousness.  Also included in the course discussion is the development of human emotions.

SOCIOLOGY                                           One Term                                   Grades 10-12

Sociology includes units on culture dealing with variation, adaptation and conformity.  The socialization unit covers the socialization of the individual from personality development through adulthood.  The unit of social organizations includes social groups, social stratification’s, minorities, and the roles of men and women.  The social institution unit includes marriage and the family, education and religion, economy, and government.  Social change is also discussed by identifying social problems such as crime, ecological problems, urbanization, and population changes.

CONTEMPORARY WORLD AFFAIRS     One Term                 Grades 10-12

Contemporary World Affairs is an elective, one-term course designed to acquaint students with current events of state, national, and international interest.  Students acquire knowledge of key personalities and events.  The course is a study of world issues as they occur, rather than a comprehensive study of world issues from a historical or geographical perspective.

WORLD RELIGION                            One Term                                   Grades 10-12

World Religions is a course designed to help the student understand and appreciate the history and contributions the great religions have given us.  The study includes a study of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Shintoism, Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.  A study of denominations and their history is also included in the course.  Religious faiths differ in many ways and no attempt is made to judge or evaluate the world faiths.  Instead, the course allows students to examine the richness and variety of the major religions in a world context.

STREET LAW                                         One Term                                   Grades 11-12

Street Law is a one-semester elective course offered to eleventh and twelfth grade students.  Instruction focuses on the changes in law and legal procedure that have taken place at the national level, and emphasizes alternative (nonjudicial) forms of dispute resolution.  It is designed to educate students about law that is practical use in everyday life on the streets.

Street Law addresses general problems in the areas of criminal and juvenile justice, torts, consumer, family, housing, and individual rights and liberties.  This course also offers suggestions for victims of crime, the legal rights and responsibilities of parents and children, as well as instructions in voter registration.

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Foreign Language

FRENCH I                                                 One Term                                   Grades 10-12

French I is an introductory level course in which the students engage in reading, writing, listening, and speaking activities as they build an appreciation of the French language.  The course will also include culture learning in order to give students insights into the products, practices, and perspectives of the French culture.

At this level students will participate in tasks designed to develop their communicative skills.

FRENCH II                                             One Term                                   Grades 11-12

Prerequisite:  French I

In French II students build on those skills and vocabulary developed in level I.  Students will continue to engage in reading, writing, listening, and speaking activities in order to increase their communicative competence.  In addition, students will have opportunities to examine the products, practices, and perspectives of French cultures.

At this level students will participate in tasks designed to develop their communicative skills.

FRENCH III                                             One Term                                 Grades 11-12

Prerequisite:  French I, French II

In French III students build on those skills and vocabulary developed in levels I and II.  Students will continue to engage in reading, writing, listening, and speaking activities in order to increase their communicative competence.  In addition, students will have opportunities to examine the products, practices, and perspectives of French cultures.

SPANISH I                                                 One Term                                   Grades 10-12

Spanish I is an introductory level course in which students engage in reading, writing, listening, and speaking activities as they build an appreciation of the Spanish language.  The course will also include culture learning in order to give students insights into the products, practices, and perspectives of the Hispanic culture.  At this level students will participate in tasks designed to develop their communicative skills.

SPANISH II                                             One Term                                   Grades 11-12

Prerequisite:  Spanish I

In Spanish II students build on those skills and vocabulary developed in level I.  Students will continue to engage in reading, writing, listening, and speaking activities in order to increase communicative competence.  In addition, students will have opportunities to examine the products, practices, and perspectives of Hispanic cultures.

At this level students will participate in tasks designed to further develop their communicative skills.

SPANISH III                                           One Term                                   Grades 11-12

Prerequisite:  Spanish I, Spanish II

In Spanish III students will build on those skills and vocabulary developed in levels I and II.  Students will continue to engage in reading, writing, listening, and speaking activities in order to increase their communicative competence.  In addition, students will have opportunities to examine the products, practices, and perspectives of Spanish culture.

At this level students will participate in tasks designed to further develop their communicative skills.  These instructional activities should provide opportunities for students to create sentences that incorporate the vocabulary and grammatical content presented in levels I and II.

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Science

PHYSICAL SCIENCE                         One Term                                            Grade 9

This course is a survey course of the concepts taught in chemistry and physics.  Emphasis is placed on matter, mechanics, heat, energy, light, magnetism, electricity, and chemistry. Laboratory experiences are provided for the reinforcement of concepts and for enrichment.  This course can be used to satisfy the physical science requirement for graduation.

PHYSICAL SCIENCE, HONORS  One Term                                            Grade 9

See Honors/AP application form

This course is intended for those students whose background indicates the ability to work at an advanced level.  This course will cover the same topics as Physical Science with enrichment activities and additional laboratory work to prepare students for future work in advanced science courses.  Topics to be incorporated, but not limited to, include the fundamental principles of physics and chemistry, the metric system, the scientific method, descriptive chemistry, force, motion, transfer of energy, heat, light, electrical energy, organic chemistry, the periodic table, and Newton’s three laws of motion.

BIOLOGY, HONORS LAB                One Term                                            Grade 9

Suggested Prerequisites:  Honors Science 7 and 8.  See Honors/AP application form

This course covers all the concepts taught in a first-year biology course but in more depth.  The course work is planned so that laboratories and student-initiated activities are the primary means of transmitting information.  Students will be required to write essays from time to time, read outside materials related to biology, and engage in research either independently or in a classroom setting.

BIOLOGY, LAB                                      One Term                                   Grades 10-12

Suggested Prerequisite:  Physical Science

This is a required laboratory science, which investigates the concepts and processes associated with living organisms.  Living organisms are classified and their structures and functions are categorized using the five-kingdom system.  The principles of human biology, ecology, and behavior are also included.

BIOLOGY, AP LAB                              One Term                                   Grades 11-12

See Honors/AP application form

Suggested Prerequisites:  Biology and Chemistry (Honors Level if available)

This is a second-year biology course for the highly motivated student.  This course covers material that is generally taught in the college-level introductory biology course for biology majors.  A college textbook is used.  The three major content areas covered are molecules and cells, genetics and evolution, and organisms and populations.

CHEMISTRY, LAB                               One Term                                   Grades 11-12

Should be taken the same year as Algebra II or after.

Chemistry is a complete introductory course designed to help students see how chemical principles and concepts are developed from experimental observations and data.  Chemistry is a multifaceted subject, and this beginning course includes the properties of matter as a consequence of solutions, quantitative and qualitative relationships, kinetics, thermodynamics, organic and nuclear chemistry.  Concepts and processes may be developed through lecture, discussion, computer simulation, group activities, and lab experiences.

PHYSICS, LAB                                       One Term                                   Grades 11-12

Suggested Prerequisite/Co-requisite:  Trigonometry

The material presented in the standard high school physics course is designed to meet two important objectives.  It is first a general introduction to the fundamental disciplines of classical and modern physics including Newtonian mechanics, heat and thermodynamics, waves and optics, electricity and magnetism, and modern atomic and particle theory.  Secondly, it prepares the student for future success in the sciences through practice in the solution of word problems and related laboratory experiments.  Through the exercises in this course, the student's powers of observation and reasoning are strengthened.  The expected results are a respect for the ethic of the scientific method and a greater appreciation of the natural order.

CHEMISTRY IN THE          One Term                                   Grades 10-12

COMMUNITY (CHEMCOM)       

Suggested Prerequisite:  Physical Science and Biology

Chemistry in the Community is a high school chemistry course developed by the American Chemical Society.  Each of ChemCom's eight units center on a chemistry-related technological issue currently confronting our society and the world.  The topic serves as a basis for introducing the chemistry needed to understand and analyze it.  The eight units support the major concepts, vocabulary, thinking skills, and laboratory techniques expected in any introductory chemistry course.  However, the course contains a greater number and variety of student-orientated activities than is customary.  There is less emphasis on mathematics.  This course will not satisfy the science requirements for the Advanced Academic Diploma/major college admission/NCAA.  This course fits the requirements for the Alabama High School diploma.

ECOLOGY                                                                                                        One Term            Grades 11-12

Prerequisite:  Biology

This course presents the study of terrestrial and fresh water ecosystems, environmental issues, laboratory and field techniques, and sources and control of pollution.  Other topics to be studied should include, but not be limited to, abiotic and biotic factors, energy flow, element cycles, bioses, native flora and fauna, and legal issues. This course fits the requirements for the Alabama High School diploma.

ANATOMY AND                                    One Term                                   Grades 11-12

PHYSIOLOGY HONORS LAB

Prerequisite:  Biology

This course provides preparation for careers in the health sciences.  Laboratory dissection includes comparative anatomical studies including a mammal.  The ten systems of the

human body will be studied with emphasis on diseases and disorders.  A unit on medical terminology is included.  May be used for Advanced Academic Diploma.