The four-year English curriculum at Holy Trinity Challenges studenst beyond the state-mandated TEKS (Texas Essential Knowlede and Skills) and provides them with effective writing skills and an enthusiasm for literature.


Pre--AP English I
Prerequisites: None
9th Grade 2 semesters, 1 credit

Freshmen English students will receive comprehensive instruction in writing and an in-depth review of grammar with emphasis on clauses, verbals and usage. Advanced expository, descriptive, narrative and persuasive writing is combined with literature. Students will be required to produce at lest one typed essay per nine weeks. In addition, students will produce a research paper during the second semester. Attention is given to MLA style and proper grammar. The reading requirement is intensive and includes classical works such as Romeo and Juliet and The Count of Monte Cristo, selected Greek Myths, and modern selections such as To Kill A Mockingbird, and other works from around the world and United States.
 

Pre-AP English II
Prerequisites: Successful completion of English I and recommendation of English teacher
10th Grade 2 semesters, 1 credit

This course is a study of world literature, language, and composition. The literary experience will require students to read thoroughly and effectively and will involve close textual analysis as well as the exploration of universal literary themes. Students will read the works Sophocles, as well as Medieval works such as Beowulf. Other novels read will be modern but will have ties to the classical tradition. The study of composition will go beyond the formulaic approach to writing; the students will focus upon content, purpose, and audience as they develop more sophisticated and articulate essays and other modes and styles of writing. Students will be required to produce at least one typed essay per nine weeks. In addition, students will produce a research paper during the second semester. Attention is given to MLA style and proper grammar.

English III
Prerequisites: Successful completion of English II
11th Grade 2 semesters, 1 credit

The third year of English studies is a survey of American literature from the colonial period through the modern era. Special attention will be given to the development of our national literature and the specific characteristics of American literature, especially in comparison to British literature. Students will read represenative pieces from all genres. Novels will include: The Scarlet Letter, The Great Gatsby, and The Grapes of Wrath. Students will produce at least one essay per nine weeks on a literary subject. In addition, one research paper of no fewer than eight pages on a literary topic will be assigned during the second semester. All writing will conform to MLA style.
 

AP English III
Prerequisites: Successful completion of English II and recommendation of English teacher
11th Grade 2 semesters, 1 credit

The goal of AP English III is to prepare students for the Advanced Placement Language and Composition examination, which will be administered in May. To that end, students will be challenged with maintaining a college-level pace in reading and writing. A specific focus will be placed upon the reading of various types of non-fiction works. Additionally, students will study American literature from the Colonial period to the present. Special attention will be given to the development of our national literature and the specific characteristics of American literature, especially in comparison to British literature. Students will read representative pieces from all genres. Novels will include: The Scarlet Letter, The Great Gatsby, and The Grapes of Wrath. These novels will be supplemented with non-fiction works from the representative time periods. Students will produce at least one essay per nine weeks on a literary subject. In addition, one research paper of no fewer than 10 pages on a literary topic will be assigned during the second semester. All writing will conform to MLA style.
 

English IV
Prerequisites: Successful completion of English III
12th Grade 2 semesters, 1 credit

The fourth year of English studies is a survey of British literature from the Medieval period to the present. Attention will be given to the development of English literature, language, and genres, and the influence of British literature upon American literature. Students will read representative pieces from all genres and time periods and will spend nine weeks studying several works of William Shakespeare. Students will produce at least one essay on a literary topic per nine weeks. Additionally, students will undergo a research project in the second semester focusing on one poet. “The Poet Project,” based roughly on the Junior Poet Project at the University of Dallas, will involve an essay, an oral presentation, and extensive research on one poet chosen by each student from a list of approved poets.
 

AP English IV
Prerequisites: Successful completion of English III and recommendation of English teacher
12th Grade 2 semesters, 1 credit

The goal of AP English IV is to prepare students for the Advanced Placement Literature and Composition examination given in May. The students will be challenged by a college-level reading load and pace—primarily centered upon British literature. Students will read several representative pieces from all genres and time periods and will spend nine weeks studying several works of William Shakespeare. Students will produce one essay on each significant piece of literature—plays and novels—read during the course of the year, approximately one every three weeks. Additionally, students will undergo an extensive research project in the second semester focusing on a poet. “The Poet Project,” based roughly on the Junior Poet Project at the University of Dallas, will involve an essay, an oral presentation, and extensive research on one poet chosen by each student from a list of approved poets. Towards the end of the year, students will produce a manuscript to submit for publication.
 

Newspaper Journalism I
Prerequisites: None
9th–12th Grades 2 semesters, 1 credit

This course is intended to introduce students to the various styles of writing for publication. The primary focus is the writing of stories for publication in the Trinity Times school newspaper. Students will learn the Associated Press style. Students will write news, feature, and sports stories, as well as columns and editorials. They will learn techniques of interviews and research, as well as the importance and techniques of photography. Students will also receive an introduction into newspaper production and graphic design. They will be expected to support Holy Trinity’s student publications through the selling of advertisements.
 

Newspaper Journalism II
Prerequisites: Teacher Recommendation and Newspaper Journalism I
9th– 12th Grades 2 semesters, 1 credit

Journalism II is a selective class intended for students who have taken Newspaper Journalism I and who show the necessary reliability and discipline to produce the Trinity Times school newspaper.  The primary focus of the class is to assign and edit stories, assign and process photos, design pages, and all other details associated with the production of the school’s award-winning newspaper. The ideal student will have taken Newspaper Journalism I or have served as a correspondent for the newspaper. Students will learn desktop publishing and will utilize various computer programs including Adobe InDesign, Microsoft Word, and Adobe Photoshop. Students will be expected to support Holy Trinity’s student publications through the selling of advertisements.
 

Journalism/Yearbook
Prerequisites: None
9th–12th Grades 2 semesters, 1 credit

Yearbook offers the unique opportunity to become part of a team which will produce a complete record of an entire school year. The year begins by planning the coverage for the school year and designing a unifying theme for the book, and finally creating, editing, and submitting the pages created in InDesign. Students learn the essentials of newspaper and yearbook production including the budgeting, writing, and editing of news stories, layout of yearbook pages, and graphic design.
 

Speech Communications I
Prerequisites: None
9th-12th Grades 1 semester, 1/2 credit

This course is devoted to the study and application of the fundamentals of public speaking. Research, speech organization, and delivery are the fundamental elements emphasized in class. Informational and persuasive speaking are stressed. Students will be introduced to debate, oral interpretation, and competitive acting.
 

Forensics
Prerequisites: Teacher recommendation
9th-12th Grades 1 or 2 semesters, 1/2 to 1 credit

The primary function of Forensics is to support the Forensics Team by allowing time for students to prepare performance pieces for competition, construct debate cases, conduct research for extemporaneous speaking and other events, and other administrative duties as necessary. All students will be expected to attend and participate in speech tournaments throughout the year. Students will assist with the hosting of invitational tournaments. The primary goal of the course is to provide students with the necessary skills and confidence to feel comfortable speaking in any situation. Students will also learn interviewing techniques and prepare a resume intended to be the star of a job search.
 

TAPPS Academics (not scheduled in current rotation) 
Prerequisites: Teacher recommendation
9th-12th Grades

The primary function of the TAPPS Academics class is to develop and support the school’s TAPPS Academic Team by providing time for students to prepare for Academic competitions. Students will work individually with the teacher in various disciplines in preparation for invitational and TAPPS competitions in events such as Spelling, Number Sense, Ready Writing, as well as several others. Extensive time will be spent on necessary research and practice.