English Electives
Length: Year
Prerequisite: Seniors are eligible for English credit in journalism if they have passed 3 years of English with a B average or better, and if they have instructor approval. No repeat credit available.
Entry Level: 12
Students will be in the Salishian class. For English credit, students will need to complete the journalism requirements including extracurricular time for newspaper production, and discuss 4 books chosen from the reading list for English 12 or AP Language and Composition.
Length: Year
Prerequisite:
Entry Level: 9
This course will focus on digital photography, using quality DSLR cameras as well as phone cameras. It will also include in-depth training in post production using Adobe Photoshop. Students will learn composition and the creative use of camera settings. They will explore many genres of photography, including portrait with studio and natural light, landscape, nature, and documentary projects. Participants will create fine art suitable for framing as well as online photo essays. Students will be encouraged to explore photography as a means of self-expression as well as a mode of cultural journalism. The course satisfies either the fine or practical art graduation requirement.
Length: Year
Prerequisite: Journalism
Entry Level: All grades
In this course, students will produce a photo history book of Polson High School the Pend’D Orielle. Students plan, organize and design layout spread depicting all aspects of school life. Taking photographs as well as writing stories and captions will be a significant part of the class. Students will have opportunities to develop photography, leadership, organizational and computer skills. Time beyond the normal school day is required as needed to document school events, meeting production deadlines, and other assignments. Students my take this English elective multiple years. The course satisfies either the fine arts or practical arts requirement for graduation.
Length: Year
Prerequisite: Approved application, B average in English during previous year
Entry Level: 9-12
The Salishian is a print magazine distributed to the entire community through insertion in the The Leader. Students gain real-world experience in all aspects of research, investigation, photography and writing with an aim on profession production. Students will gain practical experience in all the major modes of writing: research-based nonfiction, narrative, and opinion. The emphasis is upon cultural journalism, probing and exploring the life of the school and the community. Students sell ads, plan and layout the pages, and circulate and critique The Salishian. Experienced staff members take on leadership roles as they make editorial decisions, learn advanced project management, serving as editors in all areas of the production of a student magazine. Students may take this elective multiple years. This course includes an extracurricular component, and students are expected to spend time beyond the school day both covering events and assisting in the production of the publication. The extracurricular time will affect the grade. The course satisfies either the fine art or practical art graduation requirement for graduation.
Length: Semester 1
Prerequisite: None
Entry Level: 9
Students begin the semester studying how the speech communication process works, the ethics and responsibility of public speaking, and the importance of building confidence in one’s speaking ability. Major projects include a demonstration speech, a research based informative speech, an experience in storytelling in an elementary classroom, and a special occasion speech (after dinner speech, acceptance speech, best man speech, etc.). A top priority in the classroom is formal and informal front of the room activities, where students learn by doing. Secondary priority is book study, which will be assigned to complete outside of the classroom.
Length: Semester 2
Prerequisite: Easy Speak 1 or experience and passion for speech team
Entry Level: 9
Students begin the semester with an extensive analysis of effective delivery techniques with face, voice and body. Major projects include a humorous and serious oral interpretation, a duo, and a research-based speech to persuade. Cutting and interpreting literature will help the speaker become a more careful reader, a more successful entertainer, and a more sophisticated appraiser of language and its beauty. MLA research processes will be reinforced with the persuasive project, including a study on appealing to an audience.