Janus Liberal Arts High School
​The Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Formal Sciences, & Fine Arts

Course: English 9 

Scope and Sequence 

Grade Level: 9  Duration: 2 Trimesters Credits 1.0 

Overview: English 9 is the introductory course for high school English. This course focuses on the study of literature, writing and oral communication.  Students learn the basics of the writing process including constructing thesis statements and writing essays. Students will read and analyze short stories, poetry, drama, novels, memoirs, and a play.   The course also emphasizes vocabulary development, grammar and sentence construction skills.  In terms of literature, students typically look closely at each author's style, theme, and plot. Students will learn about and practice research and public speaking skills. 

 

Course: Honors English 9 

Scope and Sequence 

Grade Level: 9  Duration: 2 Trimesters Credits 1.0 

Overview: This course focuses on the study of literature, writing and oral communication.  Students read and analyze short stories, drama, novels, and mythology.   Students will write essays and study vocabulary, grammar and sentence structure, advancing in their versatility as writers.  The course incorporates research techniques, critical and creative thinking, logic and reasoning, and argumentation techniques for both written and oral communication. Students in Honors English 9 are expected to engage in a higher level of analysis and with greater self-direction than in English 9. 

 

Course: American Literature 

Scope & Sequence  

Grade Level: 10  Duration: 2 Trimesters Credits 1.0 

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Overview: English 10 continues to build on the major principles taught in English 9.  Designed to give the student an introduction to important American literature from a variety of eras, this course focuses on multiple genres which students examine through the lens of unit essential questions.  Students will be expected to read stories, novels, essays, and poetry, to participate in discussion of these materials, and to write papers and create oral presentations dealing with specific aspects of literature. Students focus on expanding their formal and informal forms of written expression.  

 

Course: Honors American Literature 

Scope & Sequence 

Grade Level: 10  Duration: 2 Trimesters Credits 1.0 

Overview: Designed to give the student an introduction to important literature from a variety of eras, this course includes works by major American authors. Students will be expected to read and analyze stories, novels, essays and poetry, to participate in discussion of these materials, and to write papers dealing with specific aspects of literature. Students in Honors American Literature are expected to engage in a higher level of analysis and with greater self-direction than their counterparts in American Literature.  

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Course:  English Language and Composition 

Scope & Sequence 

Grade Level: 11 Duration: 2 Trimesters Credits 1.0 

Overview:  Language and composition engage students in becoming skilled readers of prose written in a variety of rhetorical contexts and in becoming skilled writers who compose for a variety of purposes.  Students will analyze media, and learn how language choices contribute to effectiveness in writing personal narratives, college essays, argumentative and persuasive essays, and literary analysis essays.   

 

Course: Honors English Language & Composition 

Scope & Sequence 

Grade Level: 11 Duration:  2 Trimesters Credits 1.0 

Overview: An Honors course in English Language and Composition engages students in becoming skilled readers of prose written in a variety of rhetorical contexts and in becoming skilled writers who compose for a variety of argumentative and persuasive purposes.  Both their writing and their reading should make students aware of the interactions among a writer’s purposes, audience expectations, and subjects, as well as the way genre conventions and the resources of language contribute to effectiveness in writing. Students will read one play and one novel but the majority of the course focuses on nonfiction texts.  Students should expect college-level rigor. 

 

Course: English Language & Seminar-Non-Fiction Text 

Scope & Sequence 

Grade Level: 11 Duration: 3 Trimesters Credits 1.5 

Overview: English Language and Composition engage students in becoming skilled readers of prose written in a variety of rhetorical contexts and in becoming skilled writers who compose for a variety of argumentative and persuasive purposes. Both their writing and their reading should make students aware of the interaction between a writer’s purpose and audience, as well as the way genre conventions and the resources of language contribute to effective communication. Students will read one play and one novel but the majority of the course focuses on nonfiction texts. Students should expect college-level rigor. 

 

Course: English Literature and Composition  

Scope and Sequence 

Grade Level: 12  Duration: 2 Trimesters Credits 1.0 

Overview: Students will become skilled, insightful readers of fiction, dramatic literature and poetry written in a variety of eras and will become skilled writers who can compose original, drafted and polished essays as well as well-crafted essays written on demand.   

Both as readers and writers, students will become increasingly aware of the interplay between writers’ purposes, audiences, and subject matters, as well as the ways genre conventions and language choices contribute to meaning and effect in original writing. 

 

Course: Creative Writing  

Scope and Sequence 

Grade Level: 11-12     Duration:  1 Trimester Credits .50 

Overview: Creative Writing invites young writers to share their unique point of view in a variety of genres and to craft original works for the purpose of artistic expression.  Shifting from a focus on academic written form, students write journals, poetry, fiction, and spoken word.  Forming a community of writers, students read in each genre, apply literary techniques used by published writers, engage in writers’ workshop, participate in spoken word activities, and publish work both informally and formally. 

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Course: Advanced Creative Writing and Reading Seminar 

Scope and Sequence 

Grade Level: 12  Duration: 1 Trimester Credits .50 

Overview: Students will study advanced writing techniques applicable in both creative and academic contexts. They will read as writers whose purpose is to engage the writing process as original authors, choosing a genre and completing a self-designed writing project. Through genre immersion, study of authors and the art of writing, and guided practice, students will write original work with the intent to publish.  

Students will make choices about genres and subject matter, participate in a writer’s workshop with peers, and learn about writing for a variety of purposes and audiences. 

 

Course: Film as Literature 

Scope and Sequence 

Grade Level:  12      Duration: 1 Trimester Credits .50 

Overview: This writing course requires students to take the skills they have acquired in the area of literary analysis, expository writing and research techniques and apply them to cinematic subjects. Students interested in this course should be prepared to writecollege-level analytical essays, scholarly reviews and research papers with cinematic concepts and observations as the basis for this writing. 

 

Course: Literature Seminar 

Scope and Sequence 

Grade Level: 11-12   Duration: 1 Trimester Credits .50 

Overview: This course is designed to create lifelong readers. The “book club” format will forge connections between literature and the students’ worlds. The students work in groups with the teacher, booksellers, and librarians to choose titles in a variety of genres. Students utilize a variety of strategies to increase reading rate, comprehension, and appreciation. They also learn about discussion and they write to, about, and like the authors whose works they read. Literature Seminar offers students plenty of choice and plenty of time to read and write; therefore, students who choose the course should be able to self-direct in order to succeed. 

 

Course:  Global Perspectives in Literature 

Scope and Sequence 

Grade Level:  12  Duration: 1 Trimester Credits .50 

Overview: This one trimester course offers students an opportunity to explore literature written by authors from diverse backgrounds. Looking through a variety of lenses, students will examine varying perspectives on the human experience as expressed in literature from around the world. While this is primarily a literature class focusing on novels, short fiction, and poetry, students will also engage in synthesis style discussion, interpretation of visual art, reflective writing, and analytical/interpretive writing.  ​

Curriculum Overview:  The mission of World Language Program is to equip all students with transferable skills that encourage them to recognize, respect and respond to cultural perspectives while inspiring a passion to investigate the world as informed global citizens.  

 

French 1 

Scope and Sequence 

Grade Level: 9 - 12  Duration: 2 Trimesters Credits 1.0 

Overview: This course will focus on all four aspects of communication: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students will do vocabulary and grammar exercises, use the Internet, audio, and video materials and explore the culture. Emphasis is placed on pronunciation, basic grammatical structures, and reading for vocabulary building and cultural interest. As in all language courses, success is dependent on the student’s commitment to daily review and independent study. 

 

Spanish 1 

Scope and Sequence 

Grade Level: 9 - 12  Duration: 2 Trimesters Credits 1.0 ​

Overview: This course emphasizes the four domains of language: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students will acquire a basic level of vocabulary and grammar through a variety of in-class and online activities and resources that incorporate cultural awareness of the Spanish-speaking world. Success is dependent on daily review and practice. 

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Heritage Spanish 1 

Scope and Sequence 

Grade Level: 9-12 Duration: 2 Trimesters Credits: 1.0  

Prerequisites: This course is designed for students who come from Spanish-speaking family backgrounds and already have some knowledge of Spanish.  

Overview: The purpose of this course is to further develop students’ verbal and written abilities, and to increase knowledge of grammatical structures and achieve communicative competence.  This course offers Spanish heritage speakers many benefits such as the opportunity to study Spanish in an academic setting in the same way that native English-speakers study English.   Students will polish both oral and written language skills while they learn more about language and their cultural heritage. 

 

Heritage Spanish II 

Scope and Sequence 

Grade Level: 9-12 Duration: 2 Trimesters Credits: 1.0  

Prerequisites: Heritage Spanish 1 ​

Overview: The purpose of this course is to further develop students’ verbal and written abilities, and to increase knowledge of grammatical structures and achieve communicative competence.  This course offers Spanish heritage speakers many benefits such as the opportunity to study Spanish in an academic setting in the same way that native English-speakers study English.   Students will polish both oral and written language skills while they learn more about language and their cultural heritage.