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: #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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Course: #V102, #V700
Grade(s) offered: Grade 11 or Grade 12
Credits: 1.0 English credit
This course is offered as part of the VANTAGE Global Business and VANTAGE Public Policy track. For details about taking AP Seminar through VANTAGE, visit the VANTAGE page of the Skipper Log.
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.
Course: #V800
Grade offered: Grade 11, Grade 12
MHS Credits: 1.0 English credit - weighted
College Credits: 4.0 (Normandale Community College credits through concurrent enrollment)
This course is offered as part of the VANTAGE International Relations track. For details about taking College Writing through VANTAGE, visit the VANTAGE page of the Skipper Log.
Course: #1036
Grade(s) offered: 12
Credits: .5 (per semester)
Prerequisites: Any English 11 Course
Students will explore the Bible’s literary techniques to understand and appreciate both the richness and the complexity of the biblical texts, as well as the importance of those texts to culture.
Course: #T1042*, Tonka Online
*Select term S=summer, F=fall, W=winter
Grade(s) offered: 12
Credits: .5 (per semester)
Prerequisites: Any English 11 Course
This course emphasizes writing in a variety of nonfiction modes to help students prepare for success in college and other post-secondary settings.
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.
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.
Course: #V600
Grade(s) offered: Grade 11 or Grade 12
Credits: 1.0 English credit
This course is offered as part of the VANTAGE Multimedia Communications track. For details about taking Digital Journalism and Investigative Research through VANTAGE, visit the VANTAGE page of the Skipper Log.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Course: #1030, S1
Online Option: #T1030*, Tonka Online
*Select term S=summer, F=fall
Grade(s) offered: 12
Credits: .5 (one semester)
Prerequisites: Any English 11 Course
This course helps students develop skills in reading, writing, speaking, and viewing and to consider how key themes in both classic and contemporary literature connect to their own journeys.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Course: #1058
Grade(s) offered: 10-12
Credits: .5 (per semester)
Prerequisites: Admission through an application process
This course develops the in-depth understanding of the theory and practice of tutoring writing one-on-one in the MHS Writing Center.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Minnetonka Public Schools adheres to academic standards developed by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE).
![Map of America]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1670879157/minnetonka/k658qadkvxedsstzziy8/american-studies.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1670879157/minnetonka/k658qadkvxedsstzziy8/american-studies.png","width":400}])
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