Courses
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
ENGLISH COURSES
AMERICAN LITERATURE
American Literature is an exciting class where we examine American Literature from an historical perspective. Students will supplement their study of literature with primary historical documents and texts. Through this approach, students will begin to see history as subjective, open to interpretation by writers, historians, and the general population. It is the goal of this course to provide students with the skills to analyze these interpretations and formulate educated theories and opinions for themselves.
The reading list includes but is not limited to the following: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass; Of Mice & Men by John Steinbeck; Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston; The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger; The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien; The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros.
BRITISH LITERATURE
12th Grade English is a comprehensive course in British Literature ranging from the Anglo-Saxon Period to the present. This survey course has the following general objectives.
- To familiarize students with the major writers and works from Beowulf in the Anglo-Saxon period to the Theater of the Absurd in the modern period
- To generate enthusiasm for and interest in England’s Literature, culture, and history
- To appreciate the debt current language, culture, and literature owe to earlier ages in English history
- To develop an awareness of interrelationships among literature, art, history, scientific development, and philosophy
- To challenge students to relate their own experience and thoughts to English literature
- To encourage integration of reading, thinking, writing, and speaking skills
- To facilitate diverse classroom activities in teaching/learning literature including integration of technology into the class and curriculum
- To lead students to cross-relate recurring themes and movements in English literature
The reading list includes but is not limited to the following: “Beowulf”; The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer; Othello, Macbeth, Shakespeare; Frankenstein, Mary Shelley; Tess of the d’Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy; Waiting for Godot, Samuel Beckett.
MATH COURSES
ALGEBRA II
This Algebra II course begins by building on Algebra I topics (such as linear equations, functions, and matrices) and then moves on to more advanced topics (such as polynomials, irrational and complex numbers, quadratic equations, polynomial functions, exponents and logs, sequences and series, statistics, and probability). I usually try to end the year with an introduction to trigonometric functions. Pre-requisites: Students must have successfully completed an Algebra I course and a Geometry course.
BUSINESS MATHEMATICS
This course is designed to improve mathematical skills for personal use and in the business world. The units covered are: managing your money (personal finance), spending wisely (budgeting), making money grow (investments), and business mathematics (managing money in a business world). Throughout the year, there are several lessons and projects in which the students will use Microsoft Excel to help them calculate and organize their work. Prerequisites: Student must have successfully completed a basic math course and have a general understanding of computing numbers.
GEOMETRY
This Geometry course begins with basic topics (such as basic geometric terms, classifying and constructing geometric shapes, similarity/congruency in shapes, and transforming shapes) and then moves on to more advanced topics (such as triangle relationships, area and volume of shapes, parallel lines, proving with triangles, similarity, angles and circles). I usually try to end the year with an introduction to right triangle trigonometry. Prerequisites: Students must have successfully completed an Algebra I course.
PRE-CALCULUS
This Pre-Calculus course is designed to improve mathematical skills for a higher level of mathematics. It begins on algebra topics (such as functions and their graphs) and then moves on to more advanced topics (such as polynomial and rational functions, exponents and logs, trig functions, and polar coordinates). Pre-requisites: Student must have successfully completed Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II courses.
SCIENCE COURSES
APPLIED SCIENCE I
Applied Science I will be an interactive class that combines the various sciences: chemical, biological, physical, and earth as they apply to our environment. Students will use their own environment, the campus of the Chester County Middle College High School, as an “outdoor classroom”. Hands-on field studies will be used to support the concepts taught in the classroom. Throughout the year, Applied Science I students will partner with the Brandywine Valley Association, (www.brandywinewatershed.org), a local watershed organization, for real-life science experiences and service learning projects. Link to Brandywine Watershed
Among other current environmental issues, Applied Sciences I will have a concentration in the water environment, studying water quality, wetlands, watersheds, and human impact on water.
Link to PA Academic Standards in Environment and Ecology
Link to PA Academic Standards in Science and Technology
SOCIAL STUDIES COURSES
GOVERNMENT/ECONOMICS
This course contains 2 separate components: American Government and Economics. The American Government section is intended to provide students with a basic understanding of the principles behind the U.S. Government including its beginnings, functions, political parties and electoral system. The economics section provides an understanding of basic economic principles including principles of business, investment, banking, credit and monetary systems.
US HISTORY
The aim of this course is to provide a general grounding in United States history from 1877 to the present day. This class will seek to highlight important aspects of the life, culture and politics of Twentieth Century North America including Westward Expansion, The Gilded Age, World War I, World War II, and The Cold War. As a course objective students will be able to demonstrate the cause and effect relationship among these events and connect them to the present day both in the United States and elsewhere in the world.
ELECTIVES
These course offerings are subject to change.
ART
In the Art elective, students will create a variety art projects using diverse multi-media tools. Students will explore their creative sides and will produce a portfolio that will reflect their vision and personality. In this class, students will also be introduced to art theory and criticism, as well as examine established artists’ works. Topics include but are not limited to pencil & charcoal drawings, paint techniques, pastels, mixed media, digital photography.
CURRENT EVENTS
This course is intended to provide students with an understanding of current issues in the news today. Rather than focus on individual stories; this class seeks to identify the larger issues involved in the news today. The class will focus on the question of HOW and WHY major events are important as opposed to WHAT those events are. As an aid the class participates in the Newsweek in Education program provided by Newsweek magazine.
DRAMA
The Drama elective is an exciting course where students can develop acting abilities, read some great plays, as well as perform in a play. The course topics include but is not limited to the following: drama basics, elements of acting, creating a character, character development, dramatic roles, comic roles, technical theater, blocking, directing, producing, set design, lighting, sound, costumes, props.
GARAGEBAND
Students participating in the GarageBand Elective will be creating their own songs using music-making software. They will have the opportunity to use over 50 digital instruments while mixing, editing, and recording their original work.
Students will be working alone or in pairs to generate songs. Each week will highlight a different genre of music (Hip Hop, Rock, Country, etc.) and students will showcase their songs for the class. The culminating project will be a “Best Of” CD that will showcase the finest work from each group.
HEALTH
The aim of this course is to provide students with an overview of health and lifestyle related topics. We will focus on issues relating to both mental and physical health with emphasis on the role decision-making plays in promoting a healthy lifestyle. Upon completion of this course students will have a basis of information to assist them in making responsible decisions regarding their health.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Digital Photography is an elective course designed to enhance a student’s artistic abilities. In this course, students will discover computer techniques that will help them manipulate pictures (such as retouching, fixing, selecting, painting, resizing, cropping, layering, camera use, transforming, distorting, filtering, effects, and text). Students will use pictures off the internet as well as from a digital camera.
POETRY
The Poetry Workshop elective is an exciting course where students are given the opportunity to work on original poems, study established as well as new poets, examine a variety of poetic forms, as well as develop their own theory of poetry. Students are expected to write and workshop at least 8 original poems, and revise 2 poems. In workshop, students are expected to provide thoughtful and critical comments to their classmates. The primary goals for workshop include developing a critical vocabulary, learning the dynamics of a constructive workshop, and developing sensitivity for others’ work. In addition to the workshop environment, the course will address issues that are central to the development of a poetics, or theory poetry: What is poetry? What is the process of writing a poem? What does the poet tell us about the poetic process? What function does the poem itself serve? What is the value of poetry?
This critical examination of poetry will support students’ efforts in their own craft. By studying established as well as new poets, students will think critically about their own writing process, and will be willing to work on new ideas and ways of expressing themselves.
A major highlight of this course is attending the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival, which is the largest Poetry Festival in North America. Link to Geraldine R. Poetry Festival
Another highlight of the course is that students have the opportunity to submit their work to our award-winning literary magazine, Concrete Voices.
PUBLISHING & GRAPHIC DESIGN WORKSHOP
Publishing & Graphic Design Workshop is an elective where students learn desktop publishing software and techniques with the goal of creating our award winning literary arts magazine,Concrete Voices. In this course students will learn Adobe InDesign and Adobe Photoshop. Students will have the opportunity to include original poetry, fiction, photography and artwork in the magazine.
Students are involved in every aspect of the publication process, from creating the original art and written work, editorial selection, theme/color choices, creating a magazine mock-up (determining what goes where in the magazine), revisions and corrections, getting the magazine files ready and finally publication.
This class will provide students the unique opportunity to take one focused project and see it through from concept to completion. Students will gain the invaluable skills of learning to work together as a team in a creative and supportive environment.
SENIOR SEMINAR
In response to a Pennsylvania Department of Education mandate requiring all graduating seniors to complete a project in one or more areas of concentrated study (Chapter 4.24, Graduation Requirements), the faculty and staff of the Chester County Middle College High School have developed a five-component Graduation Project. The project is an assessment required for all students attending the Middle College.
The Graduation Project is a culminating exit program in which a student demonstrates an ability to write, speak, apply knowledge and skills, problem solve, and practice the life skills of time management, organization, and risk taking. The five components of the project include a proposal, an experience, a seminar class, a process paper, and an oral presentation. The experience can take the form of an internship, community service, or a creative product.
WEB DESIGN
This course is a hands-on introduction to website design and construction. Students will be introduced to the basics of the building program Dreamweaver as well as the graphics editor Fireworks. Each class will consist of a brief lesson on one programming component followed by hands on application as students build their personal site. Upon completion of this class students will create their own personal multi-paged website ready for publishing to the World Wide Web.
First Student Day, September 2, 2008