2022-2023 Junior Course Descriptions

Sophomores, Class of 2023: It is time to choose your Junior courses. 

Selections must add up to 36 Credits:

» 18 Shop Credits, 3 English Credits (1 course), 6 Related Credits (2 Course), 3 Math Credits (1 Course), 3 Science Credits (1 Course), 3 History Credits (1 Course)

• CVTE SHOP-Mandatory 
• English 11-Mandatory 
• Algebra II-Mandatory 
• Chemistry or Physical Science * Mandatory.  Students must choose 1. (Please Read Course Description and Requirements)
• World History I (CP, Honors) or World History II (CP, Honors) * Mandatory.  Students must choose 1. (Please Read Course Description and Requirements)
•  2 CVTE Shop Related Courses-Mandatory 

Senior English:

Students will be automatically placed in the same level as English 11. Any level change must be approved by the Department Head.

The AP English Language and Composition Course is designed to provide students with advanced college-level writing instruction by examining a wide variety of texts, media, and images across genres and literary periods. Students will apply rhetorical and literary theories to deepen their textual appreciation and expand their higher order analytical and argumentative skills. They will develop researching skills as they compose, cite, and revise their work. By studying the structure and style of writing, they will learn to read more critically and write more effectively. The class will abide by the rules of the College Board.

This course, which has a curriculum similar to Junior CP English, requires students to discuss and analyze literature in more depth and with a more rigorous pace. They will be required to work and think independently and participate in student-driven class discussions. Students will also be expected to write with more focus and attention to the requirements of MLA format and standard research requirements. Students may be required to read additional selections from the supplementary book list. Through this course, they will be prepared to transition into the AP Literature and Composition course.

This course is designed to enlighten students with knowledge of great American writers and their lives and work and to explore the historical influences on literature.  Students will study non-fiction pieces of literature from noteworthy Americans, such as William Bradford, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and Frederick Douglass, and they will explore the changes in American life and literature from the early settlement to the present. Students will also analyze fundamental fictional pieces of American literature and poetry. They will continue to develop skills in narrative, argumentative and expository essay writing and literary analysis. In addition, the course will include resume writing and mandatory research assignments following MLA guidelines. SAT preparation and independent reading, through the Accelerated Reader Program, are part of the class. A notebook is required.

Science:

This course in the science honors program designed to challenge motivated and independent science students who wish to prepare themselves for college. This rigorously paced college preparatory course requires thoughtful analysis, synthesis of a great number of concepts including atomic structure, chemical equations, the periodic table, chemical bonding, stoichiometry, gases, solutions, kinetics, thermodynamics and nuclear chemistry with an understanding of algebra. Students are expected to complete longer and more complex assignments nightly as well as outside of class. Strong organizational skills including time-management are required for success in this course. This is a required course for students who complete Honors Biology I and II. Students who successfully complete this course with a grade above 70 will be eligible to select Honors Physics for twelfth grade. Students who have difficulty in this class are encouraged to work after school with the teacher or request further support from the science department head.

This challenging college preparatory course is designed to aid students in further developing the skills they will need to be successful in college. An understanding of Algebra is necessary to be successful in this course. Students will be expected to perform experiments, master proper lab techniques, write detailed lab reports, solve problems, complete homework on a nightly basis and make presentations. Areas of study include atomic structure, chemical equations, the periodic table, chemical bonds, stoichiometry and gases. Students who have difficulty in this class are encouraged to work after school with the teacher or request further support from the science department head.

This college preparatory course is designed to aid students in further developing the skills they will need to be successful in college. An understanding of Algebra is necessary to be successful in this course. This course is designed for students who plan to attend college or technical school after graduation. Students will be introduced to the study of motion, electricity, magnetism, the periodic table, states of matter and chemical reactions. Students will learn to apply algebraic concepts to scientific principles to better understand the physical world.

History:

World History I is a multicultural course that provides students with the opportunity to expand their understanding and appreciation of world cultures and traditions.  This course inspires students to learn about past civilizations while gaining an interest in being a citizen of the world. Students study the development of world civilizations after the fall of the Roman Empire. Students study the history of the major empires and political entities of this period: the Ottoman Empire, the Moghul Empire, the Chinese dynasties, the Byzantine Empire, and the major pre-Columbian civilizations that existed in Central and South America. Students examine the important political, economic, and religious developments of this period, including the development of democratic, scientific, and secular thought in the major events and developments of European history. To the extent practical, students study the origins and development of major civilizations in Africa, India, and East Asia.

This course, which mirrors the content provided in College Prep World History I, emphasizes writing, analysis of primary and secondary sources, and articulate discussions of challenging materials, within a blended classroom setting. This course is offered to students who have demonstrated advanced skills in reading and writing and have previously enrolled in the Social Studies honors courses. Students not previously enrolled in the honors courses program will need approval from the academic department head. Students who are planning to enroll in the department Advanced Placement courses their senior year are encouraged to select this course.

Students study the rise of the nation state in Europe, the French Revolution, and the economic and political roots of the modern world. They will study the origins and the consequences of the Industrial Revolution, 19th century political reforms in Europe, and imperialism in Africa, Asia, and South America. They will examine the causes and consequences of the great military and economic events of the past century, including World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War, and the Russian and Chinese revolutions. Students will also study the rise of nationalism and the continuing political, ethnic, and religious conflicts in many parts of the world.

This course, which mirrors the content provided in College Prep-World History II, emphasizes writing, analysis of primary and secondary sources, and articulate discussions of challenging materials, within a blended classroom setting. Students will demonstrate and master their skills through a capstone and/or extensive research-based class projects. This course is offered to students who have demonstrated advanced skills in reading and writing and have been previously enrolled in Social Studies honors courses Students not previously enrolled in the honors courses program will need approval from the academic department head.