Kurtis Kotes
Principal, grades 9-12
222 Scotchtown Ave.
Goshen, NY 10924
(845) 615-6100
English Courses and Electives
English 9
Grade 9 - Full Year - one credit
This course provides the groundwork for students’ high school English studies by surveying the major literary genres in detail. Students explore the epic form (selections from The Odyssey), plays (Romeo and Juliet and The Devil and Daniel Webster), the novel (The Giver), poetry, essays, and a variety of short stories. Extensive vocabulary enrichment is included with each literary work studied, and grammar and spelling skills are reviewed through daily oral language exercises. A major focus of the course is mastery of effective paragraph format and the multi-paragraph essay. The narrative essay format is stressed throughout the freshman year. Formal research techniques and the research paper format are also taught, as well as listening, reading comprehension, and oral presentation skills.
World Literature
Grade 10 - Full Year - One credit
World Literature is a chronological survey of literary works from around the world. The course begins with the earliest known writings from the Fertile Crescent, then travels around the world and through the ages to cover ancient Hebrew, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman literature. In addition, students study writings from the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. The year concludes with selections from European literature. Students read excerpts from The Epic of Gilgamesh, The Iliad, The Aeneid, The Song of Roland, and The Inferno. Major works covered in their entirety include Oedipus Rex, Twelfth Night, The Good Earth, and All Quiet on the Western Front. Another major focus of the course is research, with students creating two formal research papers during the year. Persuasive and expository essay writing is stressed during the sophomore year. Throughout the year, grammar, vocabulary, spelling, and oral and written presentation skills are practiced and refined.
American Literature
Grade 11 - Full Year - One credit
Students explore the development of American literature, beginning with Native American myths and tales, then continuing with a study of Colonial writings, and culminating with contemporary American literature. Significant literary movements examined include Romanticism, Transcendentalism, women’s literature, and the Harlem Renaissance. Major readings include The Great Gatsby, MacBeth, and The Crucible. Students read, interpret, question, analyze, and synthesize writings related to the works studied. In preparation for the English Regents exam, students hone skills in listening comprehension, analysis of technical reading, and recognition and application of literary devices. Students’ writing in their junior year concentrates primarily on compare/contrast and persuasive essays.
English 12
Grade 12 - Full Year - One credit
English 12 includes much of the same content as British Literature but at a less demanding pace. Major works studied are Julius Caesar, Ophelia, Fahrenheit 451, Beowulf, and excerpts from Hamlet. Lessons in composition, vocabulary, and grammar are also studied. Improvement of writing skills is emphasized. Projects of different sorts are assigned during the year, including author studies of Jonathan Swift and Roald Dahl. Students are required each quarter to read novels selected from approved reading lists, and a major research paper is required. As in British Literature, writing focuses on descriptive techniques.
Advanced Placement English
Grade 12 - Full Year - One credit
Advanced Placement English is a course designed to challenge students’ abilities to analyze literature. Works of recognized literary merit are examined not only to discover what an author is saying, but also how he or she uses literary elements and devices to convey themes. Among the titles studied are Death of a Salesman, Heart of Darkness, The Awakening, and Rhinoceros. Written assignments include in-class and take-home essays, a major research paper, and oral presentations. The class is also designed to prepare students to take the AP exam in May. Students scoring well enough on the exam may be eligible for college credit. Check with the Guidance Department for further information.
British Literature
Grade 12 - Full Year - One credit
A course for the college-bound senior, British Literature is designed to expose students to the major literary periods of English literature, from the Anglo-Saxon era to the Modern Age. Major readings include Hamlet, Brave New World, 1984, and excerpts from The Canterbury Tales, Beowulf, Frankenstein, Gulliver’s Travels, and the King Arthur legends. Students are required to read, interpret, analyze, research, and write about the readings. Discussion focuses on the understanding of the people and their influence on the literature and culture of their times. A formal research paper is required, as are writings throughout the course. A major focus of the writing component in the senior year is on descriptive essays.
Honors Courses in English
Grades 9-11 - Full Year - One credit
Interested and qualified students are encouraged to challenge themselves academically by taking honors level courses in English. In each grade level, these classes follow the general format of the courses described above, but offer a greatly enriched content. Students will read more selections and are expected to develop an ability to read more closely in order to gain greater insights into literary works and the times and cultures that produced them. Writing instruction moves beyond mere mastery of skills to the effective application of advanced skills to create more powerful, descriptive, and persuasive prose. There is an emphasis on deep revision and advanced use of textual support. Oral presentation skills and class discussion are also emphasized in the honors level classes.
SUNY Orange Freshman English I and Freshman English II
For qualifying Juniors and Seniors; 3 college credits per course
Students pay $51.00 per credit for these college-level courses (2011-2012). Upon successful completion of each course, students receive three OCCC credits, which are transferable to all SUNY schools and most four-year colleges nationwide. Courses are taught in evening sessions at Goshen High School. Interested students should consult the Guidance office or the English Department Chairperson for eligibility requirements.
SUNY Orange Freshman English
One semester - 1/2 credit
This first course in OCCC’s Freshman English sequence introduces college-level pre-writing, organization, revision, construction of a variety of essays, and research skills. Class discussion centers on the formal and informal essay in several formats: description, narration, illustration, comparison, persuasion, and literary analysis. Several short readings (by authors including Godwin, Angelou, Orwell, King, Goodman, and others) are used to supplement instruction in various essay formats. An MLA research paper is required.
SUNY Orange Freshman English II
One semester - 1/2 credit
In this second course, students learn to read critically, to organize supporting details, and to develop coherent oral and written arguments. Fiction, drama, and poetry are used as common texts. Among the authors studied are Shakespeare, Faulkner, Chekhov, Melville, Hemingway, Frost, Poe, Hawthorne, Hughes, and more. An analytical research paper is required.
ENGLISH ELECTIVES
Journalism
Grades 10-12 - 1/2 credit
The Journalism course constitutes a survey of
newspaper journalism with a focus on writing news, sports, feature, and
opinion articles. The overall objectives of the courses are to:
1. develop an appreciation of the power of the written word, and
2. improve research, writing, and editing skills.
The courses are designed to be hands-on workshops in which students are
actively involved in the process of researching and writing stories for
the Mindscapes, Goshen High School’s on-line newspaper. Therefore, the
majority of the class time will be spent in the application of the
skills and knowledge attained in class.
Public Speaking
Grades 10-12 - 1/2 credit
The Public Speaking course is designed for students to learn and practice techniques necessary to become confident and impressive public speakers. The class requires regular participation and a variety of presentations. Students will develop the skills to plan, write, and effectively deliver their own speeches as the course progresses. Students experiment with a variety of speech types and delivery methods that include: Impromptu, Extemporaneous, Manuscript, Demonstration, Informative, Persuasive, and Entertainment. Famous speakers and speeches are also examined and discussed. Students are expected to be in front of the class to deliver at least ten speeches in the course as well as a participate in a variety of oral exercises, games, and activities. Active participation and willingness to experiment with voice, body language, gestures, and technique are necessary for success in this interactive and dynamic course.