2013-14 Guide for Academics and Student Life - Tampa Preparatory ...

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS - FOREIGN AND CLASSICAL LANGUAGESEnglish Literature:Renaissance to Twentieth Century (11, 12)This semester course continues the study of Englishliterature from the first semester of English 12 Honors, alongwith the emphasis on critical reading to analyze, interpret,and evaluate major works of English literature. The courseliterature includes poetry, drama, fiction, and non-fiction bya variety of authors - from Dickens to contemporary authors.Writing includes essays of literary analysis and reflections onliterature, as well as creative pieces. Prerequisite: English 10English 12: Sports Journalism (12)This semester course engages students in a concentratedstudy of journalistic style writing and reporting. By studyingPulitzer Prize winning writers and their articles, studentswill acquire a comprehensive look at how athletic eventsinfluenced history. The class will partner with the Tampa BayTimes, hosting their writers as guest speakers and touringtheir facilities. After gaining a journalistic foundation studentswill submit one story a week. Students will also be responsiblefor completing two major projects that incorporate historicalperspectives, journalistic techniques and technology.Film Writing (11,12)This one-semester course introduces students to the art offilm writing and teaches the format, techniques and conceptsassociated with it. Students will read scripts and watchsections of films to analyze the use of dialogue, transitionsand character development. After reaching an understandingof the basics, students will embark on writing a full-lengthscript, complete with treatment, proposals, character logs andstoryboards. Students will analyze and evaluate peer scripts inassociation with completing their own full-length work. FOREIGN AND CLASSICAL LANGUAGES Students who earn lower than a B in the first semester oflanguage study and lower than a C in the second semester areat risk of decreasing success if they move on to the next level.As such, all at-risk students, but most especially those in level1, are strongly encouraged to follow teacher recommendationsregarding retaking the course prior to moving ahead.Prima Lingua (6)Prima Lingua is a course designed for students who are aboutto begin their first year of foreign language study. PrimaLingua familiarizes students with key grammatical conceptsthat English shares with other languages, and introducesgrammatical elements that are not present in English but thatstudents will encounter when they begin foreign languagestudy. Prima Lingua also gives students an understandingof linguistic terms, a strong foundation in derivatives acrossmany languages, an appreciation of the cultural aspect oflanguage, and knowledge of the historical development oflanguage groups, particularly French, Latin, German, Greek,and English.French 1A (7)This course is designed to introduce students to theFrancophone world. Students will study basic Frenchstructures and explore cultural themes. A major emphasisis placed on developing listening, reading, writing andspeaking skills. Students will take Le Grand Concours level 1examination in the spring. This is not an exploratory coursebut the first half of level one French. It is intended to preparethe students for continuing on to French 1B in the eighthgrade. Students who take French 1A in the seventh grade areexpected to take French 1B in the eighth grade.French 1B (8)This course is a continuation of French 1A. This is not anexploratory course but the second half of level one French.Students will review content learned in French 1A. Advancedgrammar concepts will be presented and cultural themesrelating to the Francophone world will be explored. Therewill be a continued emphasis on listening, reading, writingand speaking skills. Students will take Le Grand Concourslevel 1 examination in the spring. It is the recommendationof the department that a student with a grade below B- at theend of this course repeat French 1 in the ninth grade.French 1 (9)An introduction to the basic skills in speaking, reading,writing, and understanding spoken French, this coursesupplements its textbook with audio and videotapes, culturalstudies, and elementary French conversations. Studentslearn the present and passé composé tenses while developinga strong vocabulary. Students take Le Grand Concours level 1examination in the spring.French 2 (9,10)This course continues the use of audio and videotapesupplements and cultural studies, continues to build a strongvocabulary, and increases its emphasis on oral, listening,reading, and written proficiency. Students learn the imperfectand future tenses as well as the subjunctive mood. Studentstake Le Grand Concours level 2 examination in the spring.French 3 (10,11)This course continues the use of coordinated textbook,workbook and audio activities that build vocabulary, cultureand grammatical knowledge of French. There is increasedemphasis on spoken French and aural French. Students viewFrench films and answer questions based on what they haveseen and understood. The remainder of conversational Frenchgrammar is covered, as well as a literary tense. Studentsincreasingly write and speak in French and take the level 3 LeGrand Concours examination in the spring.French 4 (11,12)The focus of the course will be on developing students’capacities to use the French language in both oral and writtenexpression, and to appreciate Francophone culture, its historyand its influence in the world. This course is designed toGUIDE FOR ACADEMICS AND STUDENT LIFE | 51