Grades 9-12 Course Catalog - Plano Independent School District

103031 English III - Honors This course is designed for students who wish to have a more
Grade Placement: 11
Prerequisite: English (2 credits)
challenging and rigorous English III experience. In addition to the
emphasis areas listed above, English III Honors students will be
Credit: 1
afforded opportunities to engage in lengthier and more challenging
What’s next? English IV or English IV H or
English IV AP
reading and writing experience with more sophisticated levels of
instruction and more advanced skill work. This course, in combination
with English IV Honors, prepares students to take the AP Language or
Literature exam.
103051 English III – AP LANG This course is designed for students who wish to have a more
Grade Placement: 11
challenging and rigorous English III experience. This course instructs
Prerequisite: Teacher recommendation and students in the reading of complex text and the writing of rich and
English (2 credits)
complex prose. This course will emphasize the writing process by
Credit: 1
What’s next? English IV or English IV Honors or having students write essays that proceed through several stages or
English IV AP
drafts. Students will become acquainted with a wide variety of prose
styles from many disciplines and historical periods, and will gain
understanding of the connections between writing and interpretive skill
in reading. The use of research materials and the ability to synthesize
a variety of sources are integral parts of this course. (College Board,
2011). This course prepares students to take the AP Language exam.
S14251
American Studies
(English III AP LANG
and AP U.S. History)
Grade Placement: 11
Prerequisite: None
Credit: 2
What’s next? The Human Experience: Culture,
Media and Perception
American Studies combines AP US History and English III AP
Language to create a daily two hour cultural experience enabling
students to simultaneously explore the connections between
literature and history. Students will explore the history of the United
States with special emphasis placed on the study of rhetorical
styles and structures of important historical documents and
readings. This course focuses on the cultural accomplishments as
manifested in art, architecture, literature, music, and other visual
media. Students will learn and practice the craft of writing through
various products, specifically focused on the essay formats
necessary for success on both the AP US History and AP English
Language exams. US Literature of all genres will be incorporated
into the curriculum within the structure of the historical study, and
used as a method of enhancing the depiction of historical time
periods. At the culmination of the class, students can take both the
AP US History and the AP English Language exams in the hopes of
earning college credit.
104001 English IV In this course, students will read and write on a daily basis. Text
Grade Placement: 12
Prerequisite: English (3 credits)
Credit: 1
studies focus on the comparing and contrasting of universal themes in
contemporary and traditional works from a variety of cultures and
countries, including traditional British works. Students will analyze the
effects of literary devices in literary non-fiction, expository, and
persuasive texts, and will conduct an advanced study of media literacy,
including the development of a visual media. The course emphasizes
self-selected texts and collaborative discussions focused on studentdirected
comprehension, interpretation, and analysis work. Students
will develop multi-draft and multi-page essays, including an argument
essay, interpretive response, and philosophy essay.
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All courses may not be offered on every campus.