Summer Reading – Students in all mandatory high school English courses are required to complete summer reading(s) on which they will be tested.  Please see the THS website for the most recent list of required summer reading for each course.

Applied English is designed to help students improve reading, vocabulary skills, and writing proficiency using the ELA required readings as they strive to achieve our school’s academic standards in preparation for a two-year college, trade school or the work force.  In order to prepare for challenges after high school and to achieve our school mission, students in Applied English work toward meeting the standard for all six of our academic expectations but focus on the following during the duration of the course: (1) communicate effectively and (2) use independent reading skills.

Academic English provides students working at or above grade level the opportunity to continue to improve reading, vocabulary skills, and writing proficiency using the ELA required readings as they strive to achieve our school’s academic standards in preparation for a four-year college and the work force.  In order to prepare for challenges after high school and to achieve our school mission, students in Academic English work towards meeting and exceeding the standard for all six of our academic expectations but focus on the following through the duration of the course:  (1) communicate effectively, (2) use independent reading skills, and  (4) think critically.

Honors and Advanced Placement English are designed for the motivated learner and feature a rigorous reading and writing schedule.  This program is for students who have an internalized work ethic and strong academic skills that include: superior writing and reading comprehension skills, drive and ability to work independently, academic accountability and responsibility, and the willingness to be proactive concerning academics, i.e. requesting a meeting with the teacher after school to clarify content or an assignment and taking measures to manage one’s time with assignments and readings that are to be completed both at home and in school in order to avoid procrastination leading to lower achievement.

To be initially enrolled in or to maintain placement in our ELA honors/advanced placement program, students will be screened through our honors placement process which is designed to determine if students consistently demonstrate aptitude and effort through a variety of means.  A student clearly demonstrates aptitude and effort if s/he earns a B+ or better in his/her current honors course, earns a B+ or better on the final examination and receives a teacher recommendation.  Other factors that may be considered are: the maintenance of a B+ or better for the duration of an ELA honors course; an advanced or high proficient score on the most recent ELA MCAS test; a B+ or better on all summer reading examinations; a 3 or better on an ELA AP examination; and a passing score on a departmental ELA placement test.  Incoming ninth graders will take a placement test in the spring of their eighth grade year.

In order to prepare for challenges after high school and to achieve our school mission, students in AP/Honors English work towards exceeding the standard for all six of our academic expectations but focus on the following through the duration of the course:  (1) communicate effectively, (4) think critically, and (5) employ creative literacy.

English I                    5 Credits

013      Honors English I                   

014      Academic English I                   

015      Applied English I                   

Honors English I Prerequisite:  Please read the honors guidelines for parental consideration on page 5. 

  Each English I course introduces a four-year vocabulary in context, grammar and literature program using a thematic approach.  The students will study the basics of persuasive, expository, descriptive, and narrative writing and will become acquainted with literary genres and terms.  Literary terms are taught through analysis of literary works and should be reviewed at home independently on a regular basis.  Opportunities for practical, analytical, and creative expression using writing skills are provided.  Group work and peer evaluation are required.  Every effort is made to accommodate various learning styles.  All students are required to use the library and its resources to study and adhere to the research process as they complete a research project using MLA Manuscript format.  Students in all English courses are required to complete summer reading(s) on which they will be tested.  Please see the THS website for the most recent list of required summer reading for each course.

Composition                         5 Credits

017      For students who select Honors English I

018      For students who select Academic English I

019      For students who select Applied English I

Designed to help prepare freshmen for the demands and high standards of high school writing across the curriculum and enhance each student’s experience in English I, this course focuses on grammar, mechanics, and the process of writing effectively.  Grammar techniques and methods of development will be reinforced and emphasized as strategies for better writing in school and on the MCAS tests.  Students are required to adhere to the process of pre-writing, writing, revision, peer-revision and publication.  Every effort is made to accommodate various learning styles.  As they study techniques of persuasive, informative, descriptive, narrative, and creative writing in addition to writing about literature, students are required to use technology to create a writing portfolio.

English II                  5 Credits

023      Honors English II                 

024      Academic English II                  

025      Applied English II                  

Honors English II Prerequisite:  Please read the honors guidelines for parental consideration on page 5. 

Each English II course consists of the exploration of universal themes as represented by various literary genres including classical drama.  The literature is also analyzed from the perspective of basic generic elements and style.  Grammar, mechanics, and usage are incorporated into the presentation as is practice of composition skills.  Students respond to open-ended questions routinely and are expected to master many types of written expression, including research papers.  Cooperative learning projects are arranged to reinforce the fundamentals of the course as well as motivate students to be resourceful and creative.  Vocabulary is studied in context and is geared to preparation for MCAS and SAT’s.  Practical implementation of language, composition, and critical thinking skills are stressed in preparation for MCAS tests.  Every effort is made to accommodate various learning styles.  Students in all English courses are required to complete summer reading(s) on which they will be tested.  Please see the THS website for the most recent list of required summer reading for each course.  It is recommended that students who successfully complete Honors or Academic English II take the PSAT/NMSQT.

026      Composition II                            5 Credits

Prerequisite:  Deficient scores in Grade 7 MCAS ELA test and/or Grade 9 Stanford 9 ELA tests.

This course focuses on the strategies needed to be successful on all levels of English Language Arts.  Students are initially assessed with a diagnostic test.  The aim of the course is to improve those areas of weakness reflected by this test.  Test taking techniques are studied as well as basic grammar.  Writing skills employing literary devices are studied based on reading selections.

English III                 5 Credits

Advanced Placement & Honors English III Prerequisite:  Please read the honors guidelines for parental consideration on page 5.  

033      Advanced Placement English III                         

Advanced Placement English III is a course designed for those students who are enthusiastic, capable learners and have performed at an exemplary level in their previous English classes.  The course seeks to reflect the requirements and rigors of a college level survey class in both rhetorical readings and American literature with a rigorous reading and writing schedule.  A chronological approach to the rich American literary heritage will be used as students engage in an understanding of the various literary movements of America as well as the principal writers who were a part of each.  Several research projects together with independent reading assignments will be required throughout this course.  Each student who participates in this course of study will be expected to take the Advanced Placement Examination in the spring.  It is also recommended that students who successfully complete AP III take the SAT I Reasoning/Writing test and the SAT II Literature test.

032      Honors English III                

034      Academic English III                

037      Applied Col English III                

Each English III course consists of the exploration of universal themes as represented by a survey of American Literary works in each genre and one Shakespearean play.  The curriculum is developed around thematic units and required readings that consist of a variety of poems, short stories, plays and prose works by American literary artists.  Analytical and interpretive readings and writing skills are a central focus of the course together with vocabulary, analogy, and research assignments.  Cooperative learning projects are arranged to reinforce the fundamentals of the course as well as motivate students to be resourceful and creative.  Practical implementation of language, vocabulary in context, composition, and critical thinking skills is stressed in preparation for SAT’s.  Every effort is made to accommodate various learning styles.  It is recommended that students who successfully complete Honors or Academic English III take the SAT I Reasoning/Writing Test.  Students in all English courses are required to complete summer reading(s) on which they will be tested.  Please see the THS website for the most recent list of required summer reading for each course.       

English IV                 5 Credits

Advanced Placement & Honors English IV Prerequisite:  Please read the honors guidelines for parental consideration on page 5.

040      Advanced Placement English IV                          

Advanced Placement English IV is designed to accommodate superior senior students who demonstrate a high aptitude in language arts, who are highly motivated and who have mastered the skills of writing.  The program operates on three levels simultaneously: a vigorous writing program an in depth study of British literature in all its genres, and a program of independent research and study.  To help students prepare for college and for the AP exam, extensive summer reading (list available on the THS website) and several major research projects are required as well as a variety of writing assignments and independent readings.  Paramount in this course is critical analysis both oral and written.  It is expected, therefore, that the student can reason at different levels of abstraction, use the inductive approach to student and determine the role of form and content in articulating the theme of a studied work.  Each student who participates in this course of study will be expected to take the Advanced Placement Examination in the spring.

042      Honors English IV                

041      Academic English IV                 

047      Applied Col English IV                 

Each English course is designed to prepare students for reading and writing challenges that they will face after high school.  English literature is studied from its origins through the twentieth century, and the opportunity to work with the various types of literature, including drama, poetry, the novel, the short story and the essay is provided.  A major focus of this course is the mastery of writing skills.  This course emphasizes the development of the English language and the importance of Standard English, American and British, throughout the world.  A formal research paper is required in addition to other research assignments.  Grammar, vocabulary and spelling relevant to British literature and SAT enrichment are studied.  Every effort is made to accommodate various learning styles.  Students in all English courses are required to complete summer reading(s) on which they will be tested.  Please see the THS website for the most recent list of required summer reading for each course. It is recommended that students who successfully complete Honors or Academic English IV and have completed the SAT I Reasoning/Writing Test take the SAT II Literature test.

  039   Publications             5 Credits

Prerequisite: In order to qualify for admission into publications, the student must have earned a B or better in his/her most recent English course and must respond to a placement questionnaire that will be used to determine which students are best suited for this course.

The high school publications course is designed for junior and senior students who are motivated learners with superior writing skills.  Featuring a demanding publication schedule, this program is for students who have an internalized work ethic and strong academic skills that include: superior writing and reading comprehension skills, drive and ability to work independently, academic accountability and responsibility, and the willingness to be proactive concerning academics and quality research.  There are three components of the publications program: the study of journalism and journalistic writing; the in-house publication of the Tauntonian, the high school newspaper; and the in-house publication of As You Like It, the high school literary magazine.  In this course, students will focus on learning strategies to write clearly, logically and effectively.  Students will study the techniques of gathering information through responsible research and effective interviews; write news stories, feature stories, and investigative reports; develop effective headlines, layouts and titles; and will refine their proofreading skills and strategies.  As students work on production, they will study a history of American journalism and apply that knowledge as they work on the critical analysis of various types of professional newspaper and news media.  Students will participate in this course for one block during one semester in a given school year, but those chosen to be editors will participate in this course for one block during each semester.