1100A ENGLISH 1 (Introduction to Literature)
(b) UC Approved, NCAA Approved
This is a 9th grade college preparatory course introducing students to the fundamentals of reading and writing about literature. The course focuses on the skills necessary for success in college: reading comprehension, critical thinking, literary analysis, writing about literature, essay writing, creative writing, grammatical accuracy in writing, vocabulary development, and communications skills. Students are placed in English 1 according to the verbal, reading, and language scores on their Santa Margarita Catholic High School Entrance Exam. Length of Course: Year
Open to Grade: 9

1200A ENGLISH 2 (World Literature)
(b) UC Approved, NCAA Approved
This is a 10th grade college preparatory course focusing on world literature. It continues to focus on the skills necessary for success in college: reading comprehension, critical thinking, literary analysis, writing about literature, essay writing, grammatical accuracy in writing, vocabulary development, research skills, and communication skills. Students will be introduced to the skills used in finding and using literary criticism in writing literary analysis.
Length of Course: Year
Open to Grade: 10

1300A ENGLISH 3 (The American Experience in Literature)
(b) UC Approved, NCAA Approved
This is an 11th grade college preparatory course focusing on American literature from the Colonial period to the present. Students continue their development of the skills necessary for success in college: reading comprehension, critical thinking, analyzing and writing about literature, grammatical accuracy, vocabulary development, research skills, and communication skills. Students will learn rhetorical strategies/devices and will write argumentative/persuasive essays.
Length of Course: Year
Open to Grade: 11

1400A ENGLISH 4 (The Heritage of British Literature)
(b) UC Approved, NCAA Approved
As a grade 12 college preparatory course, English 4 focuses on British literature from the early Anglo-Saxon period to the present, relating the progression of the literature to the evolution of the English language. Students continue to cultivate the skills necessary for success in college: critical reading and analysis of literature; developing ideas about literary works; writing critically and creatively; communicating ideas in written and oral forms; developing sophisticated vocabulary and grammatical accuracy; developing research ideas and conducting research. Utilizing information gained from examining various schools of literary criticism, students evaluate literary works through specific critical lenses and create analytical responses to the literature which incorporate and synthesize academically substantial interpretive perspectives.
Length of Course: Year
Open to Grade: 12

1100C ENGLISH 1 HONORS (Introduction to Literary Analysis) (b) UC Approved, NCAA Approved
This course is designed for academically talented 9th grade students who intend to prepare for entrance to competitive colleges and universities. It is the first building block in the series of English Honors courses leading to Advanced Placement English and International Baccalaureate Language A1 Program in the Junior and Senior years. The course introduces the student to literary analysis through the study of literary terminology and writing about literature. In addition, it focuses on the skills necessary for success in college: reading comprehension, critical thinking, literary analysis, writing about literature, essay writing, grammatical accuracy in writing, vocabulary development, and communication skills. It also provides the foundation for much of the literature to be studied in the Junior and Senior years through study of mythological allusions in literature.
Length of Course: Year
Open to Grade: 9
Prerequisites: Placement is based on the SMCHS entrance examination and/or the English Department Placement Essay.

1200C ENGLISH 2 HONORS (Literary Analysis & Masterpieces of British Literature)
(b) UC Approved, NCAA Approved
This course is designed for academically talented 10th grade students who intend to prepare for entrance to competitive colleges and universities. It is the second building block in the series of English Honors courses leading to Advanced Placement English and the International Baccalaureate English A: Literature HL Program in the Junior and Senior years. This course focuses on masterpieces of British literature and continues the development of skills necessary for success in college: reading comprehension, critical thinking, literary analysis, writing about literature, essay writing, creative writing, grammatical accuracy in writing, vocabulary development, research skills, and communication skills. Students will be introduced to the skills used in finding and using literary criticism in writing analytical essay, and will write several essays using and correctly documenting literary criticism.
Length of Course: Year
Open to Grade: 10
Prerequisites: Completion of English 1
*Note: To move from Academic to Honors classes requires an “A” both semesters & a passing score on the placement exam in May.

1301E AP ENGLISH LANGUAGE & COMPOSITION
(b) UC Approved, NCAA Approved
This course is designed for academically talented 11th grade students who intend to prepare for entrance to competitive colleges and universities. It is the first year of the continuing two-year International Baccalaureate English A: Literature Higher Level Program as well as the Advanced Placement Language and Composition course. The content focuses on the study of language and the dialogue that occurs between the writer and his craft using American and World Literature that is enduring and inventive. Throughout the thematic organization of the course, students will examine literary genres, writing styles, and narrative techniques in depth. The aim is to gain insight into similar and unique approaches to human concerns across cultures. Skills that will be emphasized are critical thinking, reading comprehension, style analysis, oral and written commentary, and research methods. Students will be reading and analyzing individual works in depth, and writing formal and in-class style analytical essays.
Length of Course: Year
Open to Grade: 11
Prerequisites: Completion of English
*Note: To move from Academic to Honors classes requires an “A” both semesters & a passing score on the placement exam in May.

1411E AP ENGLISH LITERATURE & COMPOSITION
(b) UC Approved
This course is open to academically talented 12th grade students who intend to prepare for entrance to competitive colleges and universities and who wish to take the Advanced Placement Examination in Literature and Composition. It is also the second year of the International Baccalaureate English A: Literature Higher Level Program. This course continues the student’s practice in literary analysis of selected works of poetry, fiction, and drama. It emphasizes critical thinking; writing about literature; vocabulary development; grammatical accuracy and style in writing, and research techniques. It also emphasizes intensive practice in close reading, oral presentation, and writing under the pressure of time. Through a thematic organization, students will examine structural complexity in poetry and fiction and discuss themes of identity and meaning in pre-modern, modern, and post-modern paradigms.
Length of Course: Year
Open to Grade: 12
Prerequisites: Successful completion of AP English Language & Composition or English HL 1 IB
*Note: To move from Academic to Honors classes requires an “A” both semesters & a passing score on the placement exam in May.

1301F ENGLISH IB HL 1
(b) UC Approved, NCAA Approved
This course is designed for academically talented 11th grade students who intend to prepare for entrance to competitive colleges and universities. It is the first year of the continuing two-year International Baccalaureate English A: Literature Higher Level Program as well as the Advanced Placement Language and Composition course. The content focuses on the study of language and the dialogue that occurs between the writer and his craft using American and World Literature that is enduring and inventive. Throughout the thematic organization of the course, students will examine literary genres, writing styles, and narrative techniques in depth. The aim is to gain insight into similar and unique approaches to human concerns across cultures. Skills that will be emphasized are critical thinking, reading comprehension, style analysis, oral and written commentary, and research methods. Students will be reading and analyzing individual works in depth, and writing formal and in-class style analytical essays.
Length of Course: Year
Open to Grade: 11
Prerequisites: Completion of English
*Note: To move from Academic to Honors classes requires an “A” both semesters & a passing score on the placement exam in May.

1411F ENGLISH IB HL 2
(b) UC Approved
This course is open to academically talented 12th grade students who intend to prepare for entrance to competitive colleges and universities and who wish to take the Advanced Placement Examination in Literature and Composition. It is also the second year of the International Baccalaureate English A: Literature Higher Level Program. This course continues the student’s practice in literary analysis of selected works of poetry, fiction, and drama. It emphasizes critical thinking; writing about literature; vocabulary development; grammatical accuracy and style in writing, and research techniques. It also emphasizes intensive practice in close reading, oral presentation, and writing under the pressure of time. Through a thematic organization, students will examine structural complexity in poetry and fiction and discuss themes of identity and meaning in pre-modern, modern, and post-modern paradigms.
Length of Course: Year
Open to Grade: 12
Prerequisites: Successful completion of AP English Language & Composition or English HL 1 IB
*Note: To move from Academic to Honors classes requires an “A” both semesters & a passing score on the placement exam in May.

1500F THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE IB (IB Full Diploma only)
(g) UC Approved
Theory of Knowledge IB is a course which investigates the nature of knowledge. The focus of the course is on identifying the knowledge issues inherent in a variety of real-world situations to examine the ways in which we acquire and develop human knowledge. Students connect the ways of knowing through various lenses to the following areas of knowledge: human sciences, natural sciences, math, history, the arts, and ethics. The process of the course is critical reading and writing, reflection, and shared discussion; additionally, students select contemporary multi-media which they process through knowledge issue analysis, short targeted writing, and blog posts. Students engage in formal 1200-1600 word essays, culminating in a final 1600 word essay response to a prompt selected from IB provided prescribed titles on a variety of knowledge topics.
Length of Course: Year
Open to Grade: 12
Prerequisites: IB Full Diploma only

1620A DEBATE AND ARGUMENTATION
(g) UC Approved, NCAA Approved
Students will learn argumentative techniques in fact, value, and policy debate and will study research skills and development of cases concerning national and international issues. Students will discuss and debate current events during Socratic Discussions in class. Cases will be prepared for competitive speaking and debating opportunities in class and interscholastically through the Debate tournament circuit in Southern California. Students will learn and practice the following styles of speech and debate: Public Forum, Congress, Parliamentary, Lincoln-Douglas, Impromptu Speech, Extemporaneous Speaking, and Oratorical Interpretation. Length of Course: Year
Open to Grades: 9 - 12
Note: Students are required to participate in 1 off campus tournament per semester.

1630C JOURNALISM H
(g) UC Approved, NCAA Approved
Journalism honors students develop all the skills learned in English and/or previous Journalism classes, as well as leadership skills, to be eligible for editorial board positions on the school newspaper. Journalism Honors students earn leadership opportunities by demonstrating knowledge of business aspects of the paper: media law, circulation and advertising. Students learn broad writing for media skills beyond print. Units include: media law and ethics, web design, blogging, podcasting, screen casting, social media, short video and audio production, studio basics, as well as graphic design and the Adobe Creative Suite.
Length of Course: Year
Open to Grades: 9-12
Prerequisites: Grade of B or better in all previous English coursework.

1622C ADVANCED DEBATE AND ARGUMENTATION H
UC Approval Pending, NCAA Approved
Students will continue their study of Speech and Debate, focusing on the following styles: Student Congress, Public Forum Debate, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Oratorical Interpretation, Impromptu and Extemporaneous Speech. Students will be expected to research current political topics and write an affirmative and negative case for these forms of debate. The process of the course is critical reading and writing, reflection, and shared discussion; Students engage in research and structured speech writing of the topics released by the National Speech and Debate Association each month. An additional assessment of oral presentation through formal debates, which may be done individually or in pairs, completes course expectations. Students are also required to participate in outside tournaments each semester using the cases and speeches prepared in class and outside of class.
Length of Course: Year
Open to Grades: 10,11,12
Pre-requisites:
1) Completion of Debate and Argumentation with a grade of B or better both semesters.
2) A grade of B or better in English second semester.
3) Recommendation from Debate Teacher.
4) Successful participation in Speech and Debate Tournaments in previous year(s)

1631C ADVANCED JOURNALISM H
(g) UC Approved, NCAA Approved
Advanced Journalism Honors: Newspaper Production 1 & 2 is a rigorous yearlong elective course for highly motivated sophomores (with instructor approval), junior and senior students who have successfully completed Journalism 1. Senior students may enter staff upon recommendation from their English instructor, and permission of the newspaper adviser. These students are organized into a self-governing staff of editors, staff writers, photographers and designers. Students apply advanced skills required by the modern scholastic newspaper, primarily writing, editing, designing and publishing quarterly print editions and weekly web editions of the school newspaper. Students will be expected to write a minimum of 10 articles per semester, in addition to completing photo and layout assignments. In addition, students will be expected to keep current with recent news events and journalistic trends to continually increase the quality of modernity of the school newspaper. Students must have the ability to manage a variety of simultaneous tasks and writing assignments, accept and apply critical feedback, adhere to strict deadlines and devote extensive time outside of class to projects.
Length of Course: Year
Open to Grades: 10, 11,12
Prerequisites: Teacher approval

7550A YEARBOOK
Yearbook covers the journalistic, artistic, business and technical elements of both content and structure in producing a school yearbook. Students will learn to create a theme, plan and design layouts on the computer, write headlines, photo captions and body copies. In addition, students will learn interview skills. This course requires extra time to attend games and functions per each assignment. Working on class computers before school, at lunch or after school is a strong possibility as deadlines approach.
Length of Course: Year
Open to Grades: 10,11,12
Prerequisite: Approval of the instructor.