Faculty & Departments
Applied Sciences • English • Fine Arts • Mathematics • NJROTC • Physical Education • Reading • Science • Social Studies • Special Education
On this page, you'll find English Department course information, as well as information on the ESL Program and ESL English courses.
 |
A number of Proviso's courses have been articulated with career education courses at Triton College. This means that credit from these courses may be applied toward specific associate degrees or certificate programs at Triton. Contact your counselor for more information. |
The Proviso Township High Schools offer students participation in an English curriculum that encourages students to develop critically and creatively their literacy skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening. Students will be guided by adjusting their strategies in reading and writing to effectively communicate with various audiences.
For English courses to best meet student needs, students, with teacher and parental guidance, should study carefully the description of each English course before planning their 4-year English program. Presently there are three sequences or divisions that form the English curriculum. Please note that students are encouraged and challenged to move between the sequences as they develop and master objectives.
There are three sequences in the 4-year English program:
- ENGLISH I, II, III, and IV assist students of average potential who need specialized and individualized instruction in reading, writing, speaking, and language - the necessary assistance in these areas through specific materials and distinctive instruction to help them write clearly and to read with understanding.
- REGULAR offers students who possess grade level reading and language arts skills an English curriculum that focuses on the development of reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills through experience with a broad range of literature and media.
- HONORS offers students a rigorous program of instruction in the study of literature and composition. It stresses detailed writing, assignments, critical thinking, development, and critical analysis of literature.
English at a Glance
| Course |
Grade |
Credit |
| English I |
9 |
1 |
| English I Regular |
9 |
1 |
| English I Honors |
9 |
1 |
 |
| English II |
10 |
1 |
| English II Regular |
10 |
1 |
| English II Honors |
10 |
1 |
|
| English III |
11 |
1 |
| English III Regular |
11 |
1 |
| English III Honors |
11 |
1 |
| AP English Language and Composition |
11 |
1 |
| American Studies Honors** |
11 |
2 |
|
| English IV |
11 |
1 |
| English IV Honors |
11 |
1 |
| AP English Language and Composition |
11 |
1 |
| Development of Western Thought Honors** |
11 |
1 |
| ** These courses are team-taught with Social Studies; thus, students receive one English credit and one Social Studies credit. |
|
| Electives |
| Composition |
10, 11, 12 |
0.5 |
| Public Speaking§ |
10, 11, 12 |
0.5 |
| Drama I§ |
10, 11, 12 |
0.5 |
| Drama II§ |
10, 11, 12 |
0.5 |
| Writing for Media§ |
10, 11, 12 |
0.5 |
| Contemporary American Nonfiction |
11, 12 |
0.5 |
| Contemporary Literature |
11, 12 |
0.5 |
| Multi-Cultural Literature |
11, 12 |
0.5 |
| Film as Humanities¥ |
11, 12 |
0.5 |
| Contemporary Humanities¥ |
11, 12 |
0.5 |
| Independent Study |
11, 12 |
0.5 to 1 |
§These courses meet Fine Arts requirement only.
¥These courses meet Fine Arts and English requirement. |
English Courses
| English I |
| E066 • E117 (Category I Grade Weighting) |
Grade 9 |
| No prerequisite |
0.5 credit |
| Year course |
The primary objective of this course is to improve students' reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills through a variety of instructional methods and types of activities. Students will (1) examine literature, (2) complete research projects, (3) practice oral skills through presentations, (4) write developed compositions, and (5) develop and practice various reading strategies.
Note: Reading 1 (described in the Reading Department Courses) is the companion class for students enrolled in English 1. A full year is required. |
| English I Regular |
| E135 |
Grade 9 |
| No prerequisite |
1 credit |
| Year course |
| This is the standard year-long English course for freshmen, focusing on the integration of writing, reading, speaking and listening skills. Students will learn to read for both appreciation and meaning while striving to become critical and creative thinkers and speakers. It emphasizes literature, research, and composition. Students will (1) examine the types of literature, including the short story, non-fiction, poetry, novel and drama: (2) complete research projects, utilizing technology and various resources; (3) practice oral skills through presentations; and (4) write developed compositions, including narrative, persuasive, expository, and creative writing formats. In addition, specific grammar and punctuation rules will be addressed through skill development and writing. |
| English I Honors |
| E103 |
Grade 9 |
| No prerequisite |
1 credit |
| Year course |
| This is a fast paced course for the student who is self-motivated and performs well when challenged with a very rigorous English curriculum that demands analysis and higher order thinking skills. It is a skill-building course laying the foundation for students desiring to pass AP (Advanced Placement) courses. The course content will stress in-depth writing assignments, critical thinking development in oral skills, and critical analysis of literature. It will offer components of literature, composition, and research as in English I Regular, but more depth and different instructional strategies will be employed. |
| English II |
| T037 • E116 (Category I Grade Weighting) |
Grade 10 |
| Prerequisite: Second year of high school or Department recommendation |
1 credit |
| Year course |
| This is a full-year course designed to focus on reading strategies to improve or accelerate the student's reading comprehension level. Students will be introduced to three approaches to literature. In addition, skill development activities, including composition, will be addressed. |
| English II Regular |
| E022 |
Grade 10 |
| Prerequisite: Second year of high school or Department recommendation |
1 credit |
| Year course |
| This is a full-year course designed for the Comprehensive / Regular level sophomore English student. It employs a thematic approach to literature including contemporary and traditional novels. Students will write persuasive, narrative, and expository compositions. A research paper will be taught during the second semester. |
| English II Honors |
| E023 |
Grade 10 |
| Prerequisite: 1 English credit or Department recommendation |
1 credit |
| Year course |
| This rigorous academic course includes (1) a variety of expository multi-paragraphed writings; the study of formal outlining and bibliography preparation; the construction of a brief formal documented research paper with outline and bibliography; and the writing of expository, narrative, persuasive, and impromptu themes; (2) extensive study of usage, sentence structure, and style; (3) the improvement of reading skills with emphasis upon discovering meaning through context; and (4) the study of approaches to literature; the study of literary style; the study of drama as literature; and readings of acknowledged literary value. |
| English III |
| E038 • E115 (Category I Grade Weighting) |
Grade 11 |
| Prerequisite: Third year of high school or Department recommendation |
1 credit |
| Year course |
| This is a full-year course designed to focus on reading strategies to improve or accelerate the student's reading comprehension level. In addition, there are language arts activities including writing development. |
| English III Regular |
| E031 |
Grade 11 |
| Prerequisite: Third year of high school or Department recommendation |
1 credit |
| Year course |
| This is a required junior-level course in the Regular sequence. In building on the work of the freshmen and sophomore years, students (1) pursue further critical thinking skills and a response-and judgment approach to the reading of significant literature of the last half century, (2) critically and responsively approach poetry, (3) do extensive work with verbs, with spelling, with modifier use, and with sentence clarity, conciseness, variety, and naturalness; and (4) write papers of response to readings and various type of personal business correspondence. |
| English III Honors |
| E041 |
Grade 11 |
| Prerequisite: 2 English credits or Department recommendation |
1 credit |
| Year course |
| This academically rigorous class includes (1) the development of the skill of note taking; the documentation of research; and the writing of analysis, criticism, narration, the standard letter of application for college entrance and employment, and poetry; (2) the study of major concepts in American literature and the reading of important representative works; (3) the study of the metrics and devices of poetry; (4) further intensive work with diction, semantics, dialect, sentence structure, and style; (5) a major reading improvement unit; and (6) a comprehensive review for the ACT test. |
| AP English Language and Composition |
| E068 |
Grade 11 |
| Prerequisite: 2 English credits or Department recommendation |
1 credit |
| Year course |
| This is a college-level language and composition course that examines prose and its rhetorical effect and intent so that students may focus on a study of style (tone, diction, syntactical, and rhetorical devices). Students will also study other literary aspects such as figurative language, sound devices, prosody, form, and structure. This course will prepare students for the AP exam in Language and Composition which offers college credit if the student scores a specific level on the test. This is a fast-paced course that focuses on nonfiction and composition and develops critical thinking skills. |
| American Studies Honors |
| E062 |
Grade 11 |
| Prerequisite: 2 English credits or Department recommendation |
2 credits |
| Year course |
| This course meets two consecutive periods each day, allowing juniors to earn credit for English III Honors and United States History by emphasizing student inquiry into the cultural, political, economic, social, and intellectual history of the United States. Students do extensive discussion, writing, analytical reading, and self-determined projects to prepare themselves for later academic work. The required examination on American government is included in the first semester. |
| English IV |
| E050 • E114 (Category I Grade Weighting) |
Grade 12 |
| Prerequisite: Fourth year of high school or Department recommendation |
1 credit |
| Year course |
| This course prepares students for life in and beyond the classroom. Through the integration of reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills, students will become better communicators and more critical thinkers. Individual attention will be provided to help students further develop their composition and oral skills. |
| English IV Honors |
| E049 |
Grade 12 |
| Prerequisite: 3 English credits or Department recommendation |
0.5 credit |
| Year course |
| This rigorous academic course includes (1) writings that demand analysis, interpretation, response, and judgment; impromptu compositions; and the step-by-step completion of a typewritten/computer-generated documented paper; (2) the study of major concepts in English literature and the reading of major representative works; and (3) the improvement and refinements of analytical reading, usage, sentence structure, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and vocabulary skills. |
| Students who successfully complete this course with a final grade of C or better each semester will receive credit in Rhetoric 101 and 102 at Triton College if they meet Triton's qualifying standards. |
| AP English LIterature and Composition |
| E069 |
Grade 12 |
| Prerequisite: 3 English credits or Department recommendation |
1 credit |
| Year course |
| The purpose of this course is to offer students a college-level literature and language course in which students study the literature of various periods and use their wise reading knowledge in discussion of literary topics. The students will be engaged in close reading of selected texts to deepen their understanding of the ways writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure for the readers. Also, students will be responsible for developing the ability to analyze imagery, symbolism, and tone in analytical writing. Another priority of the class is to prepare students for the AP exam in Literature and Composition, which offers college credit if the student scores a specific level on the test. This i a very fast-paced course that covers a great number of novels, short stories, poetry, drama, and expository prose. |
| Development of Western Though Honors |
| E063 |
Grade 12 |
| Prerequisite: 3 English credits or Department recommendation |
2 credits |
| Year course |
This course meets two periods each day. It allows selected seniors to earn credit for English Honors and History of Western Civilization and emphasizes mature inquiry into the cultural, political, economic, social, and intellectual development of Western man. Students do extensive discussion, writing, analytic reading, and self-initiated projects to prepare themselves for college.
Note: This course fulfills the CONSUMER EDUC. graduation requirement if both semester are taken. |
| Students who successfully complete this course with a final grade of C or better each semester will receive credit in Rhetoric 101 and 102 at Triton College if they meet Triton's qualifying standards. |
| Fire Protection and Maintenance |
| E027 (E651 Sem. 2) |
Grades 10-12 |
| Prerequisite: Second year of high school or Department recommendation |
0.5 credit |
| Semester course; offered both semesters |
| This is a one-semester course in creative writing, including poetry as well as traditional expository, narrative, and persuasive forms. It will foster individual expression, encourage joy in writing, and demand analysis and editing of the writing product. In addition, student will have the opportunity to examine the craft, the art, and the product of successful contemporary writers. |
| Public Speaking |
| E029 (E651 Sem. 2) |
Grades 10-12 |
| Prerequisite: Second year of high school or Department recommendation |
0.5 credit |
| Semester course; offered both semesters |
This course helps students investigate various modes of oral expression. Assorted approaches are used to improve oral communication through (1) advanced group discussion, (2) the speech to convince, (3) the speech to persuade, and (4) the study of the reasoning process. Although students do participate in reading and writing activities, the emphasis in the class in speech and oral activities.
Note: This course grants graduation credit, but credit does not count towards 4-year English requirement. (Elective) |
| Drama I |
| E028 (E652 Sem. 2) |
Grades 10-12 |
| Prerequisite: Second year of high school or Department recommendation |
0.5 credit |
| Semester course; offered both semesters |
This course introduces students to drama. It looks at history, variety, and structures of drama; gives opportunity for improvisation, pantomime, and acting; examines voice, diction, and acting-related careers; and calls upon students to evaluate classroom, school, and out-of-school plays. Students are required to attend school and out-of-school plays as part of the course work. Because Drama I meets the Fine Arts requirement for graduation but does not grant credit towards the four-year English requirement, there is not a mandatory theme or reading requirement.
Note: This course meets the Fine Arts graduation requirement, but credit does not count towards 4-year English requirement. (Elective) |
| Drama II |
| E656 |
Grades 10-12 |
| Prerequisite: Second year of high school or Department recommendation |
0.5 credit |
| Semester course; offered both semesters |
This is a performance course focusing on the actor and the director in the following areas: play analysis, performance,, special forms or kinds of theatre, and production. Students are required to attend school and out-of-school plays as part of the course work. Because Drama II meets the Fine Arts requirement for graduation but does not grant credit towards the four-year English requirement, there is not a mandatory theme or reading requirement.
Note: This course meets the Fine Arts graduation requirement, but credit does not count towards 4-year English requirement. (Elective) |
| Writing for Media |
| E656 |
Grades 10-12 |
| Prerequisite: Second year of high school or Department recommendation |
0.5 credit |
| Semester course; offered both semesters |
This is a one-semester course in writing for students interested in writing for publication, whether it is for newspaper, yearbook, magazine, or broadcast purposes. It will introduce students to basic journalistic skills and will require production of pieces of writing for print and other media. Students will be expected to acquire skills for effective research, interview, writing, layout, editing, and proofreading. Kinds of writing will include news stories, feature stories, editorials and columns, and advertisements, as well as radio and TV scripts.
Note: This course meets the Fine Arts graduation requirement, but credit does not count towards 4-year English requirement. (Elective) |
| Contemporary American Nonfiction |
| E035 • E647 (Sem. 2) |
Grades 11, 12 |
| Prerequisite: Third year of high school or Department recommendation |
0.5 credit |
| Semester course; offered both semesters |
| This is a one-semester elective in the Regular sequence. It uses a print focus with thematic units (i.e., popular nonfiction, essays, biography, autobiography, and speeches). Also, included will be self-selected reading opportunities, hands-on projects, and a writing component. |
| Contemporary Literature |
| E054 • E654 (Sem. 2) |
Grades 11, 12 |
| Prerequisite: Third year of high school or Department recommendation |
0.5 credit |
| Semester course; offered both semesters |
| This is a one-semester elective in the Regular sequence. It provides students critical thinking experiences in reading, writing, and discussing in the following units: alienation and isolation, traditional and non-traditional values, justice and injustice, ethnic cultures, and the future. |
| Multi-Cultural Literature |
| E039 • E649 (Sem. 2) |
Grades 11, 12 |
| Prerequisite: Third year of high school or Department recommendation |
0.5 credit |
| Semester course; offered both semesters |
| This is a one-semester elective course, which concentrates on the works of and problems surrounding various ethnic groups (Hispanic, African-American, Japanese, Irish, etc.) as they immigrated to the United States. A study of novels, poetry, and short stories will be the focus for this course's approach to multi-cultural literature. |
| Film as Humanities |
| E248 • E748 (Sem. 2) |
Grades 11, 12 |
| Prerequisite: Third year of high school or Department recommendation |
0.5 credit |
| Semester course; offered both semesters |
This course focuses on film and the art of critical viewing. Students will view a variety of films from different decades, cultures, and genres; focus on and analyze the language of film; and write critical reviews of films. Students will also read novels and literary critiques relating to the films, which they discuss and respond to in writing.
Note: This course meets Fine Arts and/or academic core English elective graduation requirements. |
| Contemporary Humanities |
| E056 • E660 (Sem. 2) |
Grades 11, 12 |
| Prerequisite: Third year of high school or Department recommendation |
0.5 credit |
| Semester course; offered both semesters |
This is a course for juniors or seniors who wish to learn about what the Chicagoland area and the general culture offer in architecture, art, drama,music, dance, or photography. Students read, experience, discuss, and write about various humanities offerings. They relate the "art" experience to their own knowledge and participate in activities that help promote development of their awareness and understanding of the humanities.
Note: This course meets Fine Arts and/or academic core English elective graduation requirements. |
| Independent Study in English |
| E501 |
Grades 11, 12 |
| Prerequisite: Department recommendation |
0.5 to 1 credit |
| One or two semester course |
| Independent study must be appropriately designed and approved. The course will cover the knowledge and skills identified by the student working in cooperation with the selected faculty member. |
Special Areas in English at a Glance
| Course |
Grade |
Credit |
| Yearbook Staff |
11, 12 |
1/8 to 0.5 |
|
| Journalism Newspaper Staff |
11, 12 |
1/8 to 0.5 |
Special Area English Courses
| Yearbook Staff |
| E462 |
Grades 11, 12 |
| Prerequisite: Approval of sponsor and Dept. Chair recommendation |
1/8 to 0.5 credit |
| Year course |
Students must be recommended by the publication sponsor and the English Department leaders for assignment to the daily activity period. Students spend time each day with the sponsor and with other students publication staff members to publish the school yearbook.
Note: 1/8 credit is granted if offered and taken for one full hour per day for the entire semester. No credit is granted for 1/2 hour per day class. |
| Newspaper Staff |
| E463 |
Grades 11, 12 |
| Prerequisite: Approval of sponsor and Dept. Chair recommendation |
1/8 to 0.5 credit |
| Year course |
Students must be recommended by the publication sponsor and the English Department leaders for assignment to the daily activity period. Students spend time each day with the sponsor and with other students publication staff members to publish the school newspaper.
Note: 1/8 credit is granted if offered and taken for one full hour per day for the entire semester. No credit is granted for 1/2 hour per day class. |
English as a Second Language Program
The English as a Second Language (ESL) / Bilingual Program is for students whose native language is not English and who upon entering Proviso have little or no speaking knowledge of English. The program develops English language skills such as speaking, listening, reading, and writing through specialized English classes.
ESL and Bilingual course descriptions can be found in the the departments of origin. The curriculum of each course is modified for the ESL student. Testing and evaluation by the ESL/Bilingual Coordinator determine placement into the ESL English classes.
All ESL / Bilingual course are presently taught at Proviso West. Students who live in the est section of the District attend West. Transportation is provided for these students.
ESL Courses at a Glance
| Course |
Course No. |
Dept. |
Year |
Credit |
| Keyboarding |
B210 |
Business Ed. |
2 |
0.5 |
| Consumer Ed. |
B785 |
Business Ed. |
3 |
0.5 |
|
| Novice |
E058 |
English |
1 |
1 |
| Beginning |
E059 |
English |
1 |
1 |
| Novice Elective |
E057 |
English |
1 |
1 |
| Beginning Elective |
E157 |
English |
1 |
1 |
| Intermediate |
E060 |
English |
2 |
1 |
| Advanced |
E061 |
English |
2 |
1 |
|
| Health |
P368 |
Physical Ed. |
3 |
0.5 |
|
| Bilingual Pre-Algebra |
M166 |
Mathematics |
1 |
1 |
| Bilingual Algebra |
M170 |
Mathematics |
1 |
1 |
| Geometry |
M175 |
Mathematics |
1 |
1 |
|
| Bilingual Physical Science |
S175 |
Science |
1 |
1 |
| Biology |
S169 |
Science |
2, 3 |
1 |
| Earth Science |
S190 |
Science |
3, 4 |
1 |
|
| Bilingual World Civilizations |
G088 |
Social Studies |
1, 2 |
1 |
| World Civilizations |
G113 |
Social Studies |
1, 2 |
1 |
| World Geography |
G584 |
Social Studies |
3 |
1 |
| U.S. History |
G112 |
Social Studies |
3, 4 |
1 |
| Latin-American History |
G585 |
Social Studies |
3, 4 |
0.5 |
Subject areas such as science, math, and history are taught in SPanish or in English using ESL techniques. A teacher who can speak English and SPanish teaches bilingual classes. ESL classes use specialized techniques and frequently have a Spanish-speaking tutor. All courses are modified for the ESL student.
ESL elective classes, such as Art or Music, are taught in English. Native language skills are increased through class in the Foreign Language Department. Placement in Foreign Language classes is determined through testing.
The five (5) English courses offered in the ESL / Bilingual Program are listed below.
ESL: English Courses
| Novice |
| E058 |
Grade 9 or Year 1 |
| Prerequisite: ESL Placement |
1 credit |
| Year course |
| This course is for students with little or no knowledge of English. This course provides students with basic vocabulary, reading, listening, and writing skills. |
| Beginning |
| E059 |
Grade 9 or Year 1 |
| Prerequisite: ESL Placement |
1 credit |
| Year course |
| This course builds upon the skill foundation developed in English Novice. Vocabulary and correct English usage are further developed. |
| Novice Elective / Beginning Elective |
| E057 / E157 |
Grade 9 or Year 1 |
| Prerequisite: ESL Placement |
1 credit |
| Year course |
| This is an additional class that is taken concurrently for students in English Novice and English Beginning classes to increase reading skills. This course meets the Reading graduation requirements. |
| Intermediate |
| E060 |
Grade 9 or Year 2 |
| Prerequisite: ESL Placement |
1 credit |
| Year course |
| Students in English Intermediate have gained basic skills in the areas of speaking, reading, and writing. They can understand most spoken English. Correct grammar and spelling are emphasized in writing. Continued vocabulary development is stressed. |
| Novice |
| E061 |
Grade 9 or Year 3 |
| Prerequisite: ESL Placement |
1 credit |
| Year course |
| This course is the last course in the sequences. English skills are developed in this course using the writing and reading requirements as taught in the regular English classes. Language support is still provided. |
| ESL / Bilingual Scheduling Guide |
| SUBJECT |
NOVICE |
BEGINNING |
INTERMEDIATE |
ADVANCED |
| English |
Novice and Elective |
Beginning and Elective |
Intermediate |
Advanced |
|
| Math |
Bilingual Prealgebra or Bilingual Algebra |
Bilingual Prealgebra or Bilingual Algebra |
Geometry ESL |
Any math class above Geometry |
|
| Science |
Bilingual Physical Science or Bilingual Biology |
Bilingual Physical Science or Bilingual Biology |
Biology ESL or Chemistry ESL |
Biology ESL or Chemistry ESL, or any science |
|
| Social Studies |
Bilingual World Civilizations |
Bilingual World Civilizations or ESL World Civilizations |
World Geography ESL or Latin-American History |
U.S. History or World Civilizations ESL |
|
| Spanish |
Spanish (level dependent upon testing) |
Spanish (level dependent upon testing) |
Spanish (level dependent upon testing) |
Spanish (level dependent upon testing) |
|
| Electives |
Art, Music, etc. |
Art, Music, Keyboarding ESL, etc. |
Art, Music, Keyboarding ESL, etc. |
Art, Music, Keyboarding ESL, etc. |
|
| Other |
|
|
Consumer Education ESL |
Health ESL |
|
