This required course is designed to provide continued practice in writing analytically about literature and to acquaint students with the contributions made to and about our national cultural heritage by American writers . Major topics will include reading literature critically, writing critically about literature in the essay and literary research paper, connections between American history and American literature, ethnic diversity in American literature, modern American literature, and emphases on several major American writers. This is a required course. 

College Core (NCAA approved)
Credit: 0.5
Grades: 11
Length: 1 semester
Prerequisite: Composition

This required course is designed to provide continued practice in writing analytically about literature and to acquaint students with the contributions made to and about our national cultural heritage by American writers . Major topics will include reading literature critically, writing critically about literature in the essay and literary research paper, connections between American history and American literature, ethnic diversity in American literature, modern American literature, and emphases on several major American writers . This is a required course.

College Core (NCAA approved)
Credit: 0.5 
Grades: 11
Length: 1 semester
Prerequisite: Composition

This course is the capstone writing and literature course for talented readers and writers. The intent is to provide a forum for learning about logic and rhetoric and the application to well written and organized compositions. In literature, critical reading and the habit of reading with discernment are reinforced. In addition, an appreciation of literature is made possible through an awareness of larger contexts and deeper implications by studying the forms, the modes, and the traditions of literature. Students may choose to take the AP exams in English Composition, English Literature, or both exams during the second semester. Authors studied include Conrad, Camus, Miller, Shakespeare, and others. 

This full-year course covers the content of two AP English courses. In AP English Language and Composition, students will read nonfiction texts through the eyes of a writer, exploring the choices writers and speakers make to persuade their audience. By analyzing how writing is composed, students will be able to construct their own persuasive pieces. In AP English Literature and Composition, students will examine how authors and poets create meaning through rich, purposeful use of language. As students write and refine essays about literature, they will develop the skills of analysis and composition that will allow them to communicate their interpretation effectively.

College Core (NCAA approved)
Credit: 0.5 per semester
Grade: 12
Length: 2 semesters
Prerequisite: GPA ≥ 3.800 in English, Math and Science
Summer Expectations: Read two novels from assigned reading list and write a series of journal entries

Through the study of a wide variety of British literature including adventure stories, mysteries, drama, fairy tales, and dystopian stories, this course prepares students for college-level thinking as well as actively practicing Christian discernment. Students will find that much of the literature is a vehicle for societal criticism. Therefore, those who are interested in frank discussions about the flaws of man and the modern world will find that this survey course illustrates how classic literature is timeless. “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9).

College Core (NCAA approved)
Credit: 0.5 each semester 
Grade: 12
Length: 1 semester
Prerequisite: American Literature 1 and American Literature 2

This required course is designed to instruct all students in the mastery of competent process writing skills, mechanics and usage, sentence combining, and rewriting techniques. Students make extensive use of the writing process and peer editing through various formal and creative works. 

College Core (NCAA approved)
Credit: 0.5
Grade: 10
Length: 1 semester
Prerequisite: English 9 or Honors English 9

Contemporary literature offers a global and comprehensive approach to literature. It explores the literature of the twentieth century to the present. Emphasis is placed on research and critical analysis skills necessary for success after high school and for well-rounded Christian citizens. Students will also write creatively by developing their own stories and creative essays. Students will continue to write in a variety of modes. Emphasis will be placed on adjusting writing structure to suit the ideas being communicated, the purpose of writing, and the intended audience. Students will study various contemporary literary forms, including the fictional novel, nonfiction, narrative, poetry, and the graphic novel. Study of this literature will be through the lens of Scripture with the aim of practicing Christian discernment.

College Core (NCAA approved)
Credit: 0.5
Grade: 12
Length: 1 semester
Prerequisite: American Literature 1 and American Literature 2

Students with English as their second language will be assigned to one of the three levels of ELLA as necessary for their progress until they reach an appropriate level of skill . Students will focus on accelerating language development in all four areas of language learning (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) as well as building academic vocabulary through word study . Students will also be introduced to aspects of American Culture through reading fiction and nonfiction texts that increase in difficulty and complexity. Students will be working to attain the English language proficiency standards specified in the World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) standards. As students progress through the three levels of ELLA they receive scaffolded and differentiated monitoring and instruction to support them in becoming college and career ready . Students will concurrently be enrolled in English courses that meet WLHS graduation requirements . ELLA credits will be counted as elective credits towards graduation. English as a second language students who reach an overall WIDA score of level 5 will be exempted from further assignment to ELLA. Required for English as a second language students who do not meet English Language proficiency standards as specified in the World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA). 

Non-Core
Credit: 0.5 each semester
Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12
Length: 2 semesters
Prerequisite: Department Placement

This is the foundational course for the WLHS academic English program. It emphasizes academic preparation in process writing, literary analysis, and oral language. Introduction to literary genre, literary techniques, and writing about literature; descriptive, narrative, and expository writing; library skills; English usage and mechanics; and introduction to using oral language are major topics. 

This is an accelerated course covering the course content of English 9. Placement into Honors English 9 is normally tied to being in other honors freshmen classes and having a high national achievement test percentile coming into 9th grade. 

The purpose of this course is to prepare the student for the various kinds of writing assignments he/she will encounter in many college courses and the writing demands of vocational, personal, and spiritual life. Emphasis will be placed on acquiring and supporting an authoritative voice in college-level writing with a level of rigor appropriate for preparation for the students’ postsecondary education. 

College Core (NCAA approved)
Credit: 0.5
Grade: 12
Length: 1 semester
Prerequisite: American Literature 1 and American Literature 2

This required course is designed to instruct all students in the basics of oral communication important to success in school and life. Instruction will focus on expressive (spoken) and receptive (listening) communication. Students will have the opportunity to build confidence in speaking and writing as they develop speeches for presentation to their classroom audience. 

College Core (NCAA approved)
Credit: 0.5
Grade: 10
Length: 1 semester
Prerequisite: English 9 or Honors English 9

The purpose of this course is to develop the student's ability to apply learned language and communication skills to life after high school. Students will practice reading, writing, listening, speaking, and critical thinking skills valuable and necessary for their future careers and useful for daily Christian life. This course is ideal for students entering the trades, the military, or other direct-to-work future pathways.

Non-Core
Credit: 0.5
Grade: 12
Length: 1 semester
Prerequisite: American Literature 1 and American Literature 2