2023-2024 Junior Course Descriptions

Sophomores, Class of 2025: 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 

English:

The AP English Language and Composition Course provides 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 advanced researching and synthesizing 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 course prepares students for the AP English Language and Composition test as well as for college-level readiness in writing and textual analysis. 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 both fiction and non-fiction 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. 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 not only the historical influences on literature, but also the societal impact both past and present. Students will study non-fiction pieces of literature from noteworthy Americans, such as Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, and how many non-fiction works and speeches have influenced societal reform. Students will also analyze fundamental fictional pieces of American drama, poetry, and short stories. They will continue to develop skills in narrative, argumentative and expository essay writing as well as literary analysis. In addition, the course will include resume writing and research assignments following MLA guidelines. SAT preparation and independent reading, through the Accelerated Reader Program, are part of the class.

Science:

Students in this honors chemistry course will cover concepts including atomic structure, chemical equations, the periodic table, chemical bonding, stoichiometry, gasses, solutions, kinetics, thermodynamics and nuclear chemistry with an understanding of algebra. This is a course for students who complete Honors Biology I and II.

Note: A student earning an average of 70 or below at the end of the year will be required to meet with the Science Department Head in order to discuss a possible course level change for the following year. 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 rigorous college preparatory course will cover concepts including atomic structure, chemical equations, the periodic table, chemical bonds, stoichiometry and gases. An understanding of algebra is necessary to be successful in this course. This is a course for students who have completed Advanced College Prep Biology I and II.

This college preparatory course will cover concepts including atomic structure, chemical equations, the periodic table, chemical bonds, stoichiometry and gases. An understanding of algebra is necessary to be successful in this course. This course is for students who have completed college prep Biology I and II.

This college preparatory course will cover concepts including the study of motion, electricity, magnetism, the periodic table, states of matter and chemical reactions. 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 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.

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.