English IV Honors

English IV Honors Course Overview

English IV Honors is a one-semester course in which students' critical thinking, reading, and writing skills are strengthened through the study of British Literature. The course engages students in the careful reading and critical analysis of fiction, nonfiction, historical documents, poetry, and drama. Through the close reading of selected texts, students deepen their understanding of the ways in which British writers use language to provide meaning for readers while strengthening their individual analytical skills. Students enrolled in English IV will take the North Carolina Final Exam in English/Language Arts IV, which will comprise 20% of the student’s final grade for the course.

This is an Honors course; accordingly, students are expected to adhere to the work ethic, level of rigor, and independent demands of the course in order to be successful. Students are expected to complete an array of assignments and activities that reflect 21st Century Skills and higher order thinking skills: these assignments may include multimedia projects, technologically enhanced assignments, project based learning units, independent reading and writing assignments, etc. Students enrolled in English IV Honors should understand the additional demands placed on them on this course by design.

By embedding additional content areas and expectations into core subjects, students are exposed to and assessed on standards that exceed the current Standard Courses of Study. Students at YVRCA are required to collaborate and exhibit a greater level of responsibility for their learning. Furthermore, students also complete self and peer critiques in addition to receiving feedback from their instructional coaches and professionals in the respective fields. By embracing a project and problem based learning environment, our students are challenged to find solutions to complex problems and enhance their creativity. Ultimately, all courses at YVRCA are distinguished by a difference in the quality of work expected rather than the quantity of work.

Since all courses that can be considered honors are experienced at the honors level, students and parents should seriously consider the expectations for these classes and decide if they are able and willing to commit to these requirements:

• Honors students must have a strong work ethic and be responsible and disciplined learners.
• Honors students must be able to read independently for comprehension, to analyze, and to evaluate material.  They must be able to organize their thoughts for both written and oral expression (essays, research, speeches, etc.).
• Honors students must realize that they will be required to spend a great deal of time working outside of class.  Summer reading will be required in honors and AP level English classes.  Some courses require independent projects, community service, and other activities that must be completed outside the regular school day.