Integrates the study of writing and literature through the examination of a variety of genres. Students will identify the elements of composition in the reading selections to understand their function and effect on the reader. Practice is provided in narrative and expository writing. Topics include comparison and contrast, persuasive, and cause and effect essays, as well as descriptive and figurative language. Lessons are supplemented with vocabulary development, grammar, and syntax exercises, along with an introduction to verbal phrases and research tools. (36 submissions, 8 labs, 4 exams)
(1 Credit) Focuses on using personal experiences, opinions, and interests as a foundation for writing. Skills acquired in English I are reinforced and polished. Literary models are provided to demonstrate paragraph unity and a more sophisticated word choice. A research paper is required for completion of course. Topics include grammar, sentence and paragraph structure, organizing compositions, and the research paper. (36 submissions, 4 exams, 1 paper)
Reading 7 *
American Literature/English III
Improves students’ comprehension skills and introduces the elements of literature. Exercises accompanying reading selections develop habits of careful reading and analysis of both prose and poetry. Students define and learn to recognize and employ literary devices such as metaphors, similes, alliteration, dialogue, point of view, and personification. They are taught to distinguish between fact and opinion in non-fiction. The course provides opportunities for students to improve their own writing and to expand vocabulary. (34 submissions, 4 exams) *Textbook Required
(1 Credit) Surveys American authors and the historical development of literature in America. The course illustrates how the events in history and the cultural heritage of the times influenced the work of authors. The ability to analyze literary works is stressed. Topics include Puritanism, Deism, Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Transcendentalism, Realism, and Naturalism. (36 submissions, 4 exams)
English 8
English Literature/English IV *
Extends the skills developed in English 7 through detailed study of parts of sentences and paragraphs to understand their importance to good writing. Students will also acquire study skills such as time management and test-taking strategies. Other topics include punctuation, word choice, syntax, varying sentence structure, subordination and coordination, detail and elaboration, effective use of reference materials, and proofreading. (36 submissions, 9 labs, 4 exams)
(1 Credit) Studies British literature in order of the historical time periods and shows the influence of cultural and historical change on the authors’ themes. Composition skills are expanded with an emphasis on analyzing literary works. Topics include Chaucer and the Middle Ages, Shakespeare, the Cavalier Poets, and the Romantic, Victorian and Modern eras. (34 submissions, 4 exams) *Requires Shakespeare's Henry V
Reading 8 *
British Literature/English IV
Reinforces and expands the reading skills developed in Reading 7. Emphasis in this course is on critical thinking and understanding the relationships that exist between people, ideas, and events. Readings are excerpts and short selections of fiction and non-fiction, including biographies, autobiographies, and personal essays. The more complex literary devices, such as irony, exaggeration and understatement, allusion, tone, and style are studied. Students continue vocabulary building with special attention to distinguishing between connotation and denotation. (36 submissions, 4 exams) *Textbook Required
(1 Credit) Is a new edition of English Literature/English. It provides a comprehensive look at the evolution of British literature from the Anglo-Saxon period through the Modern Age. The course emphasizes the cultural and historical elements that shape literary movements. Twenty-six of the thirty-four lessons focus on literary analysis. Writing lessons focus on real-world documents, analytical essays, and research papers. Language lessons focus on usage, mechanics, and critical thinking. All course readings and literary texts are provided online. (34 submissions, 4 exams)
English I
World Literature *
(1 Credit) Introduces the elements of writing demonstrated in poems, short stories, plays, and essays. Grammar skills are enhanced by the study of sentence structure and style and by student composition of paragraphs and short essays. Topics include narration, exposition, description, argumentation, punctuation, usage, spelling, and sentence and paragraph structure. (36 submissions, 4 exams)
(1 Credit) Provides the student with a selection of the world's best and most well-known literature. Lesson notes supplement reading assignments and emphasize common themes found across cultures and historical timelines. Submissions use a combination of objective multiple choice and short answer questions, as well as subjective questions that require students to support their opinions. Finally, two full-length paper assignments ask students to apply their knowledge in essay form. (23 submissions, 4 exams) *Textbook Required
Spanish I
Structure of Writing
Spanish I represents the initial entry in a planned program of multi-levels of languages and introduces a wide variety of new instructional features to our system. Through the study of Spanish I, students will have an opportunity to learn to speak the language and to experience the culture of Spanish-speaking countries. The primary focus of the course is to foster skills that will enable students to interact in daily life with other Spanish speakers and to communicate when traveling to Spanish-speaking regions.
Each lesson in Spanish I has interactive quizzes and games, and the entire course has audio support with over 1500 audio files. Students will be able to practice and test themselves as they read each lesson before taking the submission. The scope of this course will include mastery of the present tense and essential rules grammar, along with the development of an extensive vocabulary for use in both oral and written expression.
For this course, students and teachers will need computers with either audio speakers or headphones.
(½ Credit) Focuses on the fundamentals of grammar and usage to strengthen writing skills. Journal assignments and expository and narrative writing are required. Topics include vocabulary; spelling; coordination and subordination; simple, compound, and complex sentences; and the construction of clearly written paragraphs and essays. (18 submissions, 2 exams)
Mathematics
Math 6
Algebra I
(1 Credit) Explores basic math concepts and their applications. Students will increase their skill with decimals, fractions, percents, and ratios. The course provides tools for problem solving and includes an introduction to algebra and geometry. Among the topics studied are discrete math and probability, surface area, equations, statistics, and data analysis. (36 submissions, 4 exams)
(1 Credit) Leads the student through elementary algebra using the Saxon method. Students learn how to add, subtract, multiply and divide monomials. Other areas of discussion include integral equations, factoring, fractions, simultaneous equations, quadratic equations, the theory of exponents, and graphing. (38 submissions, 4 exams)
Math 7
Algebra I, Part I *
(1 Credit) Builds on material learned in earlier grades, including fractions, decimals, and percentages and introduces students to concepts students will continue to use throughout their study of mathematics. Among these are surface area, volume, and probability. Real-world applications facilitate understanding, and students are provided multiple opportunities to master these skills through practice problems within lessons, homework drills, and graded assignments within the STARS system. (36 submissions, 4 exams)
(1 Credit) Covers the material of the first semester of Algebra I over a full year (or a 35-lesson) time frame. This course is intended to assist those students who require additional time or practice to grasp algebraic concepts. (16 submissions, 4 exams) *Textbook Required
Consumer/Business Math
Algebra I, Part 2 *
(1 Credit) Focuses on reviewing and applying arithmetic skills utilized at home and in business. Students learn how to budget, spend, invest, and make everyday financial decisions. Topics include budgeting, computing income and property taxes, investing in the stock market, finding interest rates, analyzing statistics, and balancing financial accounts. (33 submissions, 4 exams)
(1 Credit) Covers the material of the second semester of Algebra I over a full year (or a 32-lesson) time frame. This course is intended to assist those students who require additional time or practice to grasp algebraic concepts. (32 submissions, 4 exams) *Textbook Required
Pre-Algebra
Geometry
(1 Credit) Sharpens students’ arithmetic skills and illustrates abstract concepts by introducing linear equations, number patterns, the order of operations, linear inequalities, fractions, exponents, and factoring. Some basic components of geometry are discussed. (36 submissions, 4 exams)
(1 Credit) Introduces the principal concepts of geometric terms and processes, as well as problem solving and logic. Topics discussed are lines, planes, triangles, circles, theorems, constructions, the measurement of solid figures, coordinates, and proofs. (36 submissions, 4 exams)
Pre-Calculus
Algebra II
Pre-calculus is a full-credit course that builds on algebraic concepts to prepare students for calculus. The course begins with a review of basic algebraic concepts and moves into operations with functions. Students will manipulate functions and their graphs. Pre-calculus also provides a detailed look at trigonometric functions, their graphs, the trigonometric identities, and the unit circle. Finally, students will be introduced to polar coordinates, parametric equations, and limits.
(1 Credit) Extends the algebraic functions learned in Algebra I by bringing in concepts of linear, quadratic, and simultaneous equations; laws of exponents; progression; binomial theorems; and logarithms. Prerequisite – Successful completion of Algebra I and at least one semester of Geometry (35 submissions, 4 exams)
Science
Middle School Biology
Chemistry
(1 Credit) Presents a detailed introduction to life sciences, including ecology and the environment, the basics of the cell, the theory of evolution, kingdoms of life (and viruses), and the human body systems. Students are guided through the scientific concepts and terminology with clear explanations and real-world examples that facilitate mastery. Practice problems and homework assignments reinforce the concepts and provide opportunities to apply new knowledge to personal experience, while labs and other exercises foster critical thinking. (31 submissions, 6 labs, 4 exams)
(1 Credit) Covers chemical theory, descriptive chemistry, and the changes in matter and its properties. Students learn how to classify the different states of matter as well as how atoms and compounds are structured. Additional areas of discussion include chemical energetics, measurements, bonding, stoichiometry, ionization, hydrocarbons, oxidation and reduction. Simple lab experiments are required. (33 submissions, 14 labs, 4 exams)
Physical Science v. 2
Physics
(1 Credit) The new edition eliminates the need for a separate textbook and provides numerous improvements over version one. In addition to units on physics and chemistry, the natural sciences that deal with non-living energy and matter, Version Two extends the study of inanimate matter to topics in astronomy and geology and broadens the student’s understanding of the states of matter by applying them to weather and atmosphere. Each lesson concludes with a real world application of the lesson content so that students will come away from their study able to explain how that aspect of physical science affects their lives or the world about them. Many lessons provide a Try This side-bar section, with hands-on application of the content. (25 submissions, 4 exams)
(1 Credit) Introduces students to the physics of motion, properties of matter, force, heat, vector, light, and sound. Students learn the history of physics from the discoveries of Galileo and Newton to modern-day physicists. The course focuses more on explanation than calculation and will prepare the student for introductory quantitative physics at the college level. Additional areas of discussion include gases and liquids, atoms, electricity, magnetism, and nuclear physics. (24 submissions, 4 exams)
Earth Science
Health
(1 Credit) Surveys basic physical sciences such as geology, biology, meteorology, oceanography, astronomy, botany, and physics and their impact on the earth and its processes. Students are guided to a better understanding of how the earth and the universe are structured. (34 submissions, 6 labs, 4 exams)
(½ Credit) Teaches human anatomy and physiology and increases student awareness of healthy lifestyle choices and the importance of physical fitness. Topics discussed include nutrition; fitness fundamentals; mental and emotional well-being; the effects of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco; the environment; and public health and infectious diseases, as well as safety, accident prevention, and first aid. (8 submissions, 2 exams)
Biology
(1 Credit) Introduces students to the five kingdoms of living organisms and identifies their structure, function, classification, and inter-relationships, as well as their relationship to the environment. Additional topics of discussion include cellular reproduction and respiration, energy and metabolism, photosynthesis, human physiology, ecosystems, and vertebrates and invertebrates. (36 submissions, 3 labs, 4 exams)
Social Sciences
Geography: An Introduction
Geography: A Comprehensive Study
(½ Credit) Introduces students to basic geographic terms and regions of the world. Within each region, the student will examine various aspects of physical and human geography. Special attention will be paid to understanding how the different regions interact in an increasingly global world. Practice exercises provide opportunities for students to apply these concepts to real life scenarios. (17 submissions, 2 labs, 2 exams)
A full credit offering that builds upon Geography: An Introduction, which was released during the 2008 term. The comprehensive study expands the lessons in the introductory course with case studies focusing on specific (and current) geography issues around the globe. Like the half-credit introduction, this newest geography course also includes a number of interactive maps as well as animations that enhance student understanding.
World History V.1
Native American Studies: Historical Perspectives
(1 Credit) Provides a thorough overview of the world’s history from pre-historic times to the present. The focus is on major events, including the growth of political powers, social and economic developments, and the rise of civilization. The course identifies the inventions, historical figures, and ideas of the past which influence the present and future. Topics include the ancient world, the development of major religions, the Renaissance and Reformation, and the World Wars. (35 submissions, 4 exams)
(½ Credit) Examines the history of Native American people and tribes in North America from pre-Colonial times. The primary objective for this course is to enrich the knowledge and understanding of Native American people from a Native American perspective. For too long, the story of the Native American experience has been told from the viewpoint of the colonizer in American text books. In this course, we confront false images, stereotypes, inaccurate myths and distortions. This course is designed for both Native American and non-Native American students so everyone can better understand human similarities and differences as well as recognize the contributions that Native American people and cultures have made to the world. (18 submissions, 4 labs, 2 exams)
World History Before 1815
Native American Studies: Contemporary Perspectives
(½ Credit) In this semester-long course, students study human events from the first use of agriculture 15,000 years ago through the end of the French Revolution in 1815. Included are lessons on the ancient civilizations of Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Later lessons examine the great periods of global exploration and expansion, as well as scientific discovery. Also studied are the revolutions in England, America, and France. Another course, World History Since 1815, continues from 1815 to the present. Both of these courses are independent, stand-alone courses which may be taken separately or in sequence. (20 submissions, 2 exams)
(½ Credit) As a complement to Native American Studies: Historical Perspectives, this course takes a thematic approach to traditions and issues surrounding the Native American experience, including worldviews, spirituality, language, health, socio-economics, art, images in the media, contemporary professionals and organizations, veterans, and modern-day pow- wows. The last lesson expands to examine a global perspective by introducing issues of indigenous people worldwide. (15 submissions, 4 labs, 2 exams)
World History Since 1815
Consolidated Government
(½ Credit) This semester-long course follows human history from the end of the French Revolution until the present day. Topics covered before the midterm include the Industrial Revolution, the African and Asian colonial experience, the rise of European Nationalism, and the horrors of World War I. In the second half students read about the rise of totalitarian ideologies of Fascism and Communism, World War II, the Cold War, Post-Colonial Africa, the Rise of Asian Economies, and the Global War on Terror. We recommend that students take this course after completing our World History Before 1815 course, but it can be taken as an independent course. For states where a full credit is earned for study of the time period covered in this course, teachers may easily supplement the lessons with special projects and research assignments to meet the requirement for additional instructional time. (19 submissions, 2 exams)
(½ Credit) Provides and overview of the operation and development of federal, state, county and city governments. It examines statute making, diplomacy, labor policies, public finance, and the contrasts between national, state and local levels of government. Topics emphasize the branches of government, the checks and balance system of the national government, the separation of power, and the role of the government in promoting the interests of the people and involving itself in current topics. Other areas of discussion include the Constitution; civil rights and equality; the legislative, judicial and executive branches; the Federal Reserve System, and foreign policy. This one-semester course presents the essentials of government. (8 submissions, 2 exams)
World History Since 1500
Career Exploration
(1 Credit) This year-long course follows human history from the Renaissance at the end of the Middle Ages until the present day. Topics covered in the first semester include the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, Industrial Revolution, the African and Asian colonial experience, the rise of European Nationalism, and the horrors of World War I. In the second half students read about the rise of totalitarian ideologies of Fascism and Communism, World War II, the Cold War, Post-Colonial Africa, the Rise of Asian Economies, and the Global War on Terror. (25 submissions, 4 labs, 4 exams)
(½ Credit) This semester course provides students opportunities to set personal and career goals while developing employability skills. Students are guided through exercises that teach them about career clusters and paths, educational options after high school, and practical job-seeking strategies such as completing applications, composing effective resumes and cover letters, and navigating the interview process. Students conduct research throughout the course and present their findings written and oral projects. (17 submissions, 2 exams)
American History
Social Issues
(1 Credit) Examines the founding and development of the United States from the start of European exploration and settling of the original colonies to how they grew and became a powerful united nation. Topics covered include the pre-colonial cultures of Indigenous peoples, the arrival and impact of Europeans in North America, the Revolutionary War, Manifest Destiny, the Civil War, the Industrial Revolution, the United States in the 20th Century, and the influence of immigration on American society and culture. Also incorporated are instruction in the development of economics, politics, society, and the culture of America. (23 submissions, 4 exams)
(½ Credit) Social Issues provides students an opportunity to research and reflect upon the questions and concerns confronting individuals and society today. It requires students to be able to employ higher level thinking skills. Each lesson creates a framework for an objective look at a single contemporary problem and asks students to identify, read, and digest recent literature covering that topic. Students are guided to read critically in order to develop and support an opinion about the issue.
Because the topics studied in this course require some maturity, Social Issues is best suited for juniors and seniors. Teachers are encouraged to study the Note to Teachers and the Table of Contents before enrolling students to determine the appropriateness of the content for their school and students. (16 submissions, 1 lab, 2 exams)
Social Issues is not recommended for Pre-Assessment or CRAM.
American Government
(1 Credit) Introduces students to a comprehensive survey of the operation and development of federal, state, county and city governments. The course examines all aspects of government: its statute making, diplomacy, labor policies, public finance, and the contrasts between national, state and local levels of government. Topics emphasize the branches of government, the checks and balance system of the national government, the separation of power, and the role of the government in promoting the interests of the people and involving itself in current topics. Other areas of discussion include the Constitution; civil rights and equality; the legislative, judicial and executive branches; the Federal Reserve System, and foreign policy. (24 submissions, 4 exams)
Economics
Art History
(1 Credit) Introduces students to how decisions are made in the four areas of production. Topics include saving, spending, and borrowing; the law of supply and demand, the Federal Reserve System; sources of money supply; and how the government plays a unique role in an open market economy. (20 submissions, 4 exams)
(1 Credit) Introduces students to the principles required for an analysis and evaluation of art. The first semester of the course offers a survey of developments in art from ancient India, China, and Japan; the Islamic civilization; Egyptian civilization, and Africa. It also examines Western art, beginning with Ancient Greece and ending with the High Renaissance in Western Europe. The second semester identifies major trends and movements in art and architecture since the Northern Renaissance and examines historical events and social movements that contributed to the development of periods, styles, and approaches to art. There are also lessons devoted to the rapid movement toward abstraction which occurred during the 20th century. Throughout the course, students are provided opportunities to analyze and think about art in critical and intelligent ways. (31 submissions, 4 exams)
