By request: Course Descriptions for Honors-Level ELA.
Course Description for Honors-Level ELA
One of the things that homeschool families love about 7Sisters curriculum is that it is level-able. Teens can work through the curriculum at the level that fits their needs and goals. This is especially true for teens who are aiming for a competitive college and need a rigorous Honors-level ELA on their transcripts (or for teens who simply love to read and write).
We have had lots of requests for an Honors-level ELA course description for homeschool high schoolers’ record keeping. So, based on 7Sisters ELA Complete Bundles, here are some sample course descriptions by year-level.
Remember: there’s not ONE right way to homeschool high school. Therefore, take these as suggestions, not rules. YOU determine what is best for your teens.
Just as a note: Here is what to include in your homeschool high schoolers’ course descriptions:
- Text used for course
- Topics covered by the student in the course
- Methods used for instruction (text, real books, inquiry-based activities, etc)
- How the course will be graded
- Amount of credit earned and at what level of rigor
- Include the syllabus for the courses that you will be using a syllabus
- If your homeschool high schooler is aiming for NCAA college sports, you will also need to include (at the very beginning of the course description):
- Course Goals
- This is a short description of what your student should be able to do at the end of the course. An example might be:
- At the completion of this course, the student will be able to demonstrate an introductory knowledge of Human Development and apply basic principals and theory of Human Development to his daily life
- This is a short description of what your student should be able to do at the end of the course. An example might be:
- Course Objectives
- These are a list of actual tasks that the student will complete.
- Use the chapters of the text to help you describe the objectives or simply describe some basic goals for the course.
- You can often use the description in the publisher’s estore or catalogue to develop the objectives
- These are a list of actual tasks that the student will complete.
- Course Goals
Also, for those who live in states that reimburse for curriculum expenses
7Sisters offers a version of each of these bundles that has been adapted to reimbursable requirements.
- One Year of High School English/Language Arts (9th Grade), Acceptable for States the Reimburse
- Another Year of High School English/Language Arts (10th Grade), Acceptable for States that Reimburse
- One More Year of High School English/Language Arts (11th Grade), Acceptable for States that Reimburse
- A Final Year of High School English/Language Arts (12th Grade), Acceptable for States that Reimburse
By year, Course Description for Honors Level ELA
NOTE: You will have to flesh out the course descriptions with:
- Additional reading that teens will complete
- Extra papers that teens will create
- Any other extras you added
- Syllabus
Honors Level Ninth Grade English/Language Arts Course Course Description
- Text: One Year of High School English/Language Arts (A Good Fit for 9th Grade), 7SistersHomeschool.com
- Methods of instruction: Books, Literature Guides, Writing Guides, Speaking Experiences
- How the course will be graded: (To be determined by parent. Adapt this as needed.)
- Literature guides, cinema guides and speaking experiences are graded by completion and accuracy of answers. Writing assignments are graded by rubric.
- The course will be graded on the following scale:
- 93-100=A
- 84-92=B
- 75-83=C
- Below C will not be a passing grade for this course
- Amount of credit earned: This is a 1 credit, rigorous Honors-level course.
- Syllabus included below
- Description: A rigorous full-year, Honors-Level English credit that includes double the course requirements for a basic College-Prep level ELA credit. Books and movies from various literary genres were selected for developing literary analysis and inferential thinking skills. Students will complete four genres of writing assignments: research papers, essays, short stories, and poetry. Vocabulary and grammar are included in literature and writing guides. Public speaking is included.
- Goals: Students will complete literature, cinema, writing and speaking guides to increase competence in literature analysis skills, reasoning and inferential skills, APA and/or MLA format of research paper writing, to gain confidence with writing essays, short stories and poetry as well as skills in public speaking.
- Course Objectives:
Students will complete these eight literature study guides:
- A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
- Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
- God’s Smuggler by Brother Andrew
- Antigone (a play) by Sophocles
- Joni: An Unforgettable Story by Joni Eareckson Tada
- Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats (a collection of poems) by T. S. Eliot
- The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
**For Honors Level, students will read nine more books of their choice over the year.**
They will also complete five cinema study guides for literature learning:
Students will complete these eight literature study guides:
- An Introductory Guide to High School Essay Writing
- Student will add at least one extra essay.
- Also, An Introductory Guide to High School Short Story Writing – Family Narrative
- Then, An Introductory Guide to High School Poetry Writing
- Student will complete at least 6 creative writing assignments, including an extra short story, extra poems or mission statement.
- Research Writing Readiness
- Student will complete an 8-page paper or 2 5-page papers with this guide or APA guide.
- APA Style Research Paper: An Introductory Guide
- Student will complete an 8-page paper or 2 5-page papers with this guide or APA
guide.
- Student will complete an 8-page paper or 2 5-page papers with this guide or APA
- Writing Your Personal Mission Statement
- Optional but highly recommended as one of the creative writing assignments.
- An Introductory Guide to High School Essay Writing
They will also participate in these two public speaking experiences:
- Kid Lit Public Speaking Experience
- Spoken Word Poetry Public Speaking Experience
Attach syllabus here.
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Honors Level Tenth Grade English/Language Art Course Course Description
- Text: Another Year of High School English/Language Arts (A Good Fit for 10th Grade) from 7SistersHomeschool.com
- Methods of instruction: Books, Literature Guides, Writing Guides, Speaking Experiences
- How the course will be graded: (To be determined by parent. Adapt this as needed.)
- Literature guides, cinema guides and speaking experiences are graded by completion and accuracy of answers. Writing assignments are graded by rubric.
- The course will be graded on the following scale:
- 93-100=A
- 84-92=B
- 75-83=C
- Below C will not be a passing grade for this course
- Amount of credit earned: This is a 1 credit, rigorous Honors-level course.
- Syllabus included below
- Description: A rigorous full-year, Honors-Level English credit that includes double the course requirements for a basic College-Prep level ELA credit. Books and movies from various literary genres were selected for developing literary analysis and inferential thinking skills. Students will complete four genres of writing assignments: research papers, essays, short stories, and poetry. Vocabulary and grammar are included in literature and writing guides. Public speaking is included.
- Goals: Students will complete literature, cinema, writing and speaking guides to increase competence in literature analysis skills, reasoning and inferential skills, to learn APA and/or MLA format of research paper writing, to gain confidence with writing essays, short stories and poetry as well as skills in public speaking.
- Course Objectives:
Student will complete these eight literature study guides:
Student will also complete five cinema study guides for literature learning:
- Places in the Heart (starring Sally Field and Danny Glover)
- The Miracle Worker (starring Ann Bancroft and Patty Duke)
- The Importance of Being Earnest (starring Colin Firth and Rupert Everett)
- What’s Up, Doc? (starring Barbara Streisand and Ryan O’Neal)
- Field of Dreams (starring Kevin Costner and Amy Madigan)
**For Honors Level, students will read nine more books of their choice over the year.**
Students will complete these six writing guides:
- An Intermediate Guide to High School Essay Writing
- Student will complete six extra essays
- An Intermediate Guide to High School Short Story Writing – Tall Tales
- An Intermediate Guide to High School Poetry Writing
- Student will complete four extra short papers (choice of short stories, poetry or cover letters)
- APA Style Research Paper: An Introductory Guide or MLA
- Student will complete one extra 8-page paper APA or MLA (7 pages + references) or 4-page and 5-page; must cite sources)
- MLA Style Research Paper Writing Guide
- Composing Successful Cover Letters
- Optional but highly recommended
- An Intermediate Guide to High School Essay Writing
Student will also participate in these two public speaking experiences:
- Spoken Word Poetry Public Speaking Experience
- Humorous Monologue Public Speaking Experience
Attach syllabus here.
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Honors Level Eleventh Grade English/Language Art Course Course Description
- Text: One more Year of High School English/Language Arts (A Good Fit for 11th Grade) from 7SistersHomeschool.com
- Methods of instruction: Books, Literature Guides, Writing Guides, Speaking Experiences
- How the course will be graded: (To be determined by parent. Adapt this as needed.)
- Literature guides, cinema guides and speaking experiences are graded by completion and accuracy of answers. Writing assignments are graded by rubric.
- The course will be graded on the following scale:
- 93-100=A
- 84-92=B
- 75-83=C
- Below C will not be a passing grade for this course
- Amount of credit earned: This is a 1 credit, rigorous Honors-level course.
- Syllabus included below
- Description: A rigorous full-year, Honors-Level English credit that includes double the course requirements for a basic College-Prep level ELA credit. Books and movies from various literary genres were selected for developing literary analysis and inferential thinking skills. Student will complete four genres of writing assignments: research papers, essays, short stories, and poetry. Vocabulary and grammar are included in literature and writing guides. Public speaking is included.
- Goals: Student will complete literature, cinema, writing and speaking guides to increase competence in literature analysis skills, reasoning and inferential skills, MLA or Chicago-style format of research paper writing, to gain confidence with writing essays, short stories and poetry as well as skills in public speaking.
- Course Objectives:
Student will complete these eight literature study guides
- Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton
- The Epic of Gilgamesh by Author Unknown (you may use any version)
- Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
- The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe
- The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
- Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov
- Hymns and Creeds by various
Student will complete these five Cinema Studies guides
**For Honors Level, students will read twelve more books of their choice over the year.**
Student will complete these six Writing Guides
- An Advanced Guide to High School Essay Writing
- Student will complete an additional six essays for Honors level.
- An Advanced Guide to High School Short Story Writing – Myth-Fantasy
- Student will also complete an additional four short papers of their choice: short story, poetry or resume writing
- An Advanced Guide to High School Poetry Writing
- MLA Style Research Paper Writing Guide or Chicago Style
- Student will complete an additional 8-page research paper or instead: 2 shorter research papers of 4-page and 5-page length
- Chicago Style Research Paper Writing Guide
- Student will complete an additional 8-page research paper or instead: 2 shorter research papers of 4-page and 5-page length
- Successful Experiential Resume Writing
- Optional but highly suggested
- An Advanced Guide to High School Essay Writing
Student will also participate in these two public speaking experiences:
- Biographical Report Public Speaking Experience
- Sales Pitch Public Speaking Experience
Attach syllabus here.
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Honors Level Twelfth Grade English/Language Art Course Course Description
Text: A Final Year of High School English/Language Arts (A Good Fit for 12th Grade) from 7SistersHomeschool.com
- Methods of instruction: Books, Literature Guides, Writing Guides, Speaking Experiences
- How the course will be graded: (To be determined by parent. Adapt this as needed.)
- Literature guides, cinema guides and speaking experiences are graded by completion and accuracy of answers. Writing assignments are graded by rubric.
- The course will be graded on the following scale:
- 93-100=A
- 84-92=B
- 75-83=C
- Below C will not be a passing grade for this course
- Amount of credit earned: This is a 1 credit, rigorous Honors-level course.
- Syllabus included below
- Description: A rigorous full-year, Honors-Level English credit that includes double the course requirements for a basic College-Prep level ELA credit. Books and movies from various literary genres were selected for developing literary analysis and inferential thinking skills. Student will complete four genres of writing assignments: research papers, essays, short stories, and poetry. Vocabulary and grammar are included in literature and writing guides. Public speaking is included.
- Goals: Student will complete literature, cinema, writing and speaking guides to increase competence in literature analysis skills, reasoning and inferential skills, MLA or Chicago-style format of research paper writing, to gain confidence with writing essays, short stories and poetry as well as skills in public speaking.
- Course Objectives:
Student will complete these nine literature study guides:
- A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
- A Separate Peace by John Knowles
- Born Again by Chuck Colson
- Les Miserables (abridged version) by Victor Hugo
- Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
- The Republic (Parts I & II) by Plato
- The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
- The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
- The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis
Student will complete these six Cinema Studies guides
**For Honors Level, students will read thirteen more books of their choice over the year.**
Student will complete these six Writing Guides
- College Application Essay Writing Guide
- Student will complete an additional six essays.
- Creative Chronicling
- American Poetry Reading and Writing Guide
- Student will complete an additional four short papers of their choice: short story, poetry or professional bio writing.
- World Poetry Reading and Writing Guide
- APA Style Research Paper: An Introductory Guide
- Student will complete an additional 10-page paper in APA, MLA or Chicago Styles or two additional papers: 6-page and 5-page,
- MLA Style Research Paper Writing Guide
- Chicago Style Research Paper Writing Guide
- Professional Bio Writing Guide
- Optional but highly recommended
- College Application Essay Writing Guide
Student will also participate in these two public speaking experiences:
- Visual Aid How-To Public Speaking Experience
- Interview Skills Public Speaking Experience
Attach syllabus here.
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