English IV Online

The last word in high school English instruction, English IV, which is designed for 12th grade Christian school students, not only solidifies the skills they have acquired through years of language study, but also introduces them to Brit Lit, classics including Beowulf and The Canterbury Tales, and the sonnets of Shakespeare. Students will also review word usage, sentence building, and the importance of effective communication in their personal and professional lives. Refreshingly different, this final core English course wraps up all the disciplines of language for high school students. With an emphasis on core skills like reading comprehension, effective research and writing, oral communication, and grammar usage, this course also lets them dive deep into classic and Medieval literature with the works of Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Milton. Through the use of modern British magazines and newspaper articles, students will look at how the language is used today, including the media and digital communication. Required reading for this course includes Hamlet, Our Town, and the Bible.

English IV continues to build on the sequential development and integration of communication skills in four major areas—reading, writing, speaking, and listening. It most specifically focuses on deepening and furthering students’ understanding in the following ways:

Reading–reinforces reading comprehension skills by teaching students comprehension techniques for literary fiction, poetry, and drama, including discussion of common literary devices; shows students how to analyze, evaluate, and interpret a text; reinforces awareness of the elements and structure of narrative and expository prose; guides students through English literary history, including readings of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Milton’s Paradise Lost, Beowulf, Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress, and other selections of and excerpts from major English literary figures.

Writing–develops students’ writing skills by teaching about clauses and phrases in sentence structures; reviews common sentence and paragraph construction errors and methods for avoiding them; teaches Greek and Latin roots and prefixes to enhance vocabulary and spelling skills; expands students’ abilities to write cohesive and coherent expository prose; gives students the opportunity to develop their abilities in writing literary critiques, poetry, short stories, and expository prose.

Listening–teaches effective listening comprehension skills, weaving these throughout the lessons; builds upon students’ study skills as well as helps them to become reliable and efficient note takers.

Special Topics–incorporates research skills, including internet, library, and reference material use, throughout the curriculum.