English

Four English credits are required for graduation. All course numbers represent a semester, earning .5 credit (except VANTAGE courses). One English credit is required each year. Electives do not fulfill this requirement but may be taken in addition to required English options. No course may be repeated unless a student has failed that particular course and wishes to repeat it for credit.

Course Listing

Map of America

Course: #1022 - English, S1    
Course: #1024 - English, S2
Course: #2008 - Social Studies, S1
Course: #2010 - Social Studies, S2
*Students must register for all four courses.
Grade(s) offered: 10
Credits: .5 (per semester)
Prerequisites: Any English 9 Course Concurrent enrollment in Social Studies 2012 & 2013

This honors-level interdisciplinary course meets across two class periods and fulfills the requirements for both 10th grade social studies and English.

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Minnetonka AP Language and Composition 10

Course: #AP100, S1
Course: #AP101, S2
Grade(s) offered: 10
Credits: 1.0 (year-long course)
Prerequisites: Any English 9 Course

Students will analyze a broad and challenging range of fiction and nonfiction prose and trace the use of rhetoric in making arguments and appeals. Students will read and examine essays, letters, speeches, images, media messages, memoirs, and autobiographies from a variety of authors and historical contexts.

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AP Language and Composition 12

Course: #AP104
Online Option: #T1100*, Tonka Online 
*Select term F=fall, W=winter 
Grade(s) offered: 12
Credits: 0.5 (semester-long course)
Prerequisites: Any English 11 Course

In this course, students read and examine a broad range of nonfiction prose including essays, letters, speeches, images, media messages, memoirs, and autobiographies from a variety of authors and historical contexts.

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AP Literature and Composition

Course: #AP102, S1
Course: #AP103, S2    
Grade(s) offered: Grade 11, Grade 12
Credits: .5 (per semester)
Prerequisites: Any English 10 or 11 Course

This course emphasizes perceptive readings of major British and American Literature representing all literary genres—poetry, drama, novel, short story—covering the 17th to the 21st Century.

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AP Research

Course: #AP107, S1
Course: #AP108, S2
Grade(s) offered: 12
Credits: 1.0 (year-long course)
Prerequisites: AP Seminar during junior year

AP Research allows students to deeply explore an academic topic, problem, or issue of individual interest. Through this exploration, students design, plan, and conduct a year-long research based investigation to address a research question.

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AP Seminar

Course: #AP105, S1
Course: #AP106, S2
This course may also be taken through VANTAGE #V102, Global Business or VANTAGE #V700, Public Policy (choose only one)
Grade(s) offered: grade 11, grade 12
Credits: 1.0 (year-long course)
Prerequisites: Any English 10 or 11 Course

AP Seminar is a foundational course that engages students in cross-curricular conversations that explore the complexities of academic and real-world topics and issues by analyzing divergent perspectives.

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CIS Public Speaking (VANTAGE)

Course: #V400
Grades Offered: Grade 11 or Grade 12
Credits: 1.0 English credit
College Credits: CIS Public Speaking (3.0 University of Minnesota credits)

*Successful completion of this course will give students University of Minnesota credits through our partnership with their CIS program.

This course is offered as part of the VANTAGE Education track. For details about taking CIS Public Speaking through VANTAGE, visit the VANTAGE page of the Skipper Log.

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Creative Writing

Course: #1038
Grade(s) offered: 12
Credits: .5 (per semester)
Prerequisites: Any English 11 Course

This course sharpens students’ observations and use of imagery in writing description, characterization, dialogue, satire, memoirs, short stories and poetry.

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Debate

Course: #1056    
Grade(s) offered: 9-12    
Credits: .5 (per semester)    
Prerequisites: None

Course Description:
Students will learn the basic structure and theory of argumentation and debate as they research a variety of topics to be presented in class.

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book with flower

Course: #1000, S1
Course: #1002, S2    
Grade(s) offered: 9
Credits: .5 (per semester)
Prerequisites: None

Students will read short stories, novels, plays, nonfiction, and poetry to study various elements of literature. They will improve their writing skills, focusing on well-developed paragraphs and three-part essays.

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English 09 Honors

Course: #1004, S1
Course: #1006, S2    
Grade(s) offered: 9
Credits: .5 (per semester)
Prerequisites: None

Students will read a variety of literature, improve their writing skills, study grammar and vocabulary, and focus on critical reading, writing and speaking.

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English 09 Honors Communications

Course: #1008 - English Honors 09 Communications, S1
Course: #1010 - English Honors 09 Communications, S2
Course: AP300 - AP Physics 1-9, S1
Course: AP302 - AP Physics 1-9, S2
*Students must register for all four courses
Grade(s) offered: Grade 9 
Credits: .5 (per semester)

This course blends traditional grade 9 language arts curriculum with a technical communications component that includes research writing and presentation skills to support AP Physics I.

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English 10

Course: #1014, S1    
Course: #1016, S2    
Grade(s) offered: 10
Credits: .5 (per semester)    
Prerequisites: Any English 9 Course

Students will read a survey of American literature from the Colonial period to the present and expanding their writing skills for a variety of purposes and audiences.

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English 11

Course: #1026, S1
Course: #1028, S2
Online Option: #T1026F, part 1, Tonka Online
Online Option: #T1028W, part 2, Tonka Online 
Online: Complete part 1 before part 2
Grade(s) offered: 11
Credits: .5 (per semester)
Prerequisites: Any English 10 Course

From graphic novels to film to classic literature, students will focus on the individual’s place in society. Student writing will include traditional essays, as well as more creative and exploratory pieces.

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English 12 WINTER

Elective or Required Option 
Course: #1032
Course: #T1032W, Tonka Online
Grade(s) offered: 12
Credits: .5 (per semester)

This survey course is designed to parallel the structure of English 12 FALL using a different set of materials.

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IB Language and Literature SL

Course: #IB100, S1
Course: #IB102, S2
Grade(s) offered: 11-12
Credits: .5 (per semester)

Prerequisites: Any English 10 or English 11 course

Students examine how language impacts the world, shapes identity and is used in the media, including newspapers, magazines, the Internet, social networking, mobile telephony, radio, and film.

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IB Literature and Performance SL

Course: #IB104, S1
Course: #IB106, S2
Grade(s) offered: 11-12
Credits: .5 (per semester)  
This course fulfills the Arts credit requirement.    
Prerequisites: Any English 10 or English 11

In this course, students will experience a unique synthesis of language and theater study and explore the dynamic relationship between the two.

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IB Literature HL

Course: #IB108 Year 1, S1
Course: #IB110 Year 1, S2
Course: #IB112 Year 2, S1
Course: #IB114 Year 2, S2
Grade(s) offered: 11-12
Credits: 2 (two-year course), .5 (per semester)    
Prerequisites: Year 1: Any English 10 Course; Year 2: IB Lit HL Year 1

This course encourages students to read literature in a deep, focused, interpretive manner, while also fostering confidence in individual insights and thoughtful reflection.
 

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Journalism

Course: #1044
Grade(s) offered: 12
Credits: .5 (per semester)
Prerequisites: Any English 11 Course

This course is a survey of journalism and media studies and an introduction to journalistic writing. Students will examine non-fiction pieces to understand the art of storytelling about the everyday world.

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Speech Hybrid

Course: #1040    
Grade(s) offered: Grade 12
Credits: .5 (per semester)    
Prerequisites: Any English 11 Course

Students will refine public speaking skills, practice listening skills, develop logical arguments, study famous speeches and understand the relationship between nonverbal, interpersonal and small group communication.

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Theater Arts (Inclusive)

Course: #1050
Grade(s) offered: Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12
Credits: .5 (semester course)  
This course fulfills the Arts credit requirement.
Prerequisites: None

Theater Arts is a semester-long course designed for students who are passionate about theater and want to be part of an intentionally inclusive community with peers who have developmental and cognitive disabilities.

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Theater I

Course: #1052
Grade(s) offered: 9-12    
Credits: .5 (per semester)  
This course completes .5 towards the Arts credit. 
Prerequisites: None

This course introduces actors to basic acting techniques of the theater, including improvisation, character analysis and development, monologue preparation, and scene preparation.

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Theater II

Course: #1054
This course completes .5 towards the Arts credit    
Grade(s) offered: 9-12    
Credits: .5 (per semester)  
This course completes .5 towards the Arts credit. 
Prerequisites: Theater 1 or permission of instructor

This course focuses on advanced acting technique and allows the student to expand on his/her acting skills and expertise.

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Yearbook I

Course: #1046    
Grade(s) offered:
 9-12    
Credits: .5 (per semester)
Prerequisites: Application, interview and teacher recommendations

In Yearbook I, students learn how to gather information for pages, photograph activities and events, conduct interviews, write copy, and design page layouts.

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Yearbook II

Course: #1048 
Grade(s) offered: 9-12    
Credits: .5 (semester course)  
This course completes .5 towards the Arts credit. 
Prerequisites: Yearbook I 

Students practice the elements of art and the principles of design as they apply to yearbook production.

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Students working on writing projects


The Writing Center

The Writing Center is a great environment for study or group work. Hang out, schedule a conference, or use the computers and ask questions as you write. Get help clarifying a thesis, fixing grammar or revising a second draft. The Writing Center is located in the Student Commons and is available Monday-Friday from 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Learn More About the Writing Center


Opportunities for Student Publication

At MHS, there are many opportunities to get your writing published. Below are a few of the major publications you can help write, edit, design and print.

Breezes (School Newspaper)

Muse Magazine (Literary & Art Journal)

Voyageur (Yearbook)

VANTAGE Logo

VANTAGE is Minnetonka High School’s advanced professional studies program. Through experiential learning, VANTAGE offers a unique opportunity for students to apply their coursework in real-world settings. 

Explore how your writing and research skills connect to future career opportunities by taking a VANTAGE course:

Global Business 
Explore business functions from a global perspective, learning fundamental concepts from economics and research best practices to persuasive techniques, public speaking and effective communication. This year-long, three-credit track includes AP Seminar (one English credit), IB Business Management SL or HL (one elective business credit) and AP Microeconomics (one social studies credit).

International Relations
International Relations is an introductory course on international politics and the relations between actors in the global political system. The overarching goal of this course is for students to critically engage with diverse and opposing perspectives to better understand the changing world and their role as citizens. This year-long, two-credit track includes IB Global Politics SL (one social studies credit) and College Writing (one English credit). You will also earn 4 college credits through Normandale Community College.

Multimedia Communications
Take part in the rapidly changing world of broadcast journalism and emerging media, learning innovative ways to produce stories using video and sound. This year-long, two-credit track includes Video Production and Digital Journalism (one art credit) and Investigative Research (one English credit).

Public Policy
Explore the professional world of public policy formulation, including national, state, and local government; public relations, public interest organizations, issue-advocacy organizations, political parties, and more. This year-long, two-credit track includes AP Seminar (one English credit) and CIS (College in the Schools) American Democracy in a Changing World (one social studies credit). You will also earn 4 University of Minnesota credits through the CIS (College in the Schools) program.

LEARN MORE ABOUT VANTAGE COURSES

Academic Standards

Minnetonka Public Schools adheres to academic standards developed by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE).

View MDE Academic Standards