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Kirkwood High School

Dedicated to excellence in education

ELECTIVES

GRADUATION REQUIREMENT: All students are required to pass a minimum of 7.5 credits of Electives to graduate.

When graduation credit requirements are satisfied, additional courses completed in that content area will be delegated an Elective credit.

Courses listed in the following departments also qualify as Elective credit:

Journalism Course Descriptions

Journalism I

Journalism I (EL102C)		.5 Elective Credit
Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12	NCAA Approved Course	Semester
Prerequisite: None
This one-semester writing-intensive course is a survey of the history, ethics, practices, and methods of newspaper and magazine journalism. Using professional style rules, students learn how to write articles in the areas of news, features, editorials and sports. Additionally, they write leads, headlines and captions. They also learn key elements in graphic design, photojournalism, multimedia, social media, and advertising. Furthermore, there is a heavy emphasis on the rights and responsibilities of student journalists. This course is highly recommended for students interested in applying for a position on the staff of the The Kirkwood Call, the school newspaper, or The Kirkwood Pioneer, the school yearbook.

Photojournalism

Photojournalism (EL114C)		.5 Elective Credit
Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12	Semester
Prerequisite: None
Students will learn to operate a digital SLR camera for using all manual settings. Photographic composition and developing a photographic eye are key outcomes of the course. Photography assignments and activities are based on the principles of both photography and journalism. Media law and ethics, as it applies to photojournalists, will be studied. No equipment or previous photography background is needed. An interest in photography and photojournalism is required.

Multimedia Broadcast

Multimedia Broadcast (EL203A/EL203B)		1 Elective Credit*
Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12	Year
Prerequisite: None
Restriction: 10-12th graders must apply for a position in this class; they are selected by the editors and adviser. 9th graders will be KHTV apprentices so application process is not necessary. Although not mandatory, it is suggested that students take Journalism or Photojournalism.
Students produce the live broadcast of KHTV and create content for TheKirkwoodCall.com, which includes daily news and school announcements, news story packages, promos, and public service announcements. Students work in a lab environment under the guidance of student producers and an adviser as they master various skills including camera work, interviewing, digital editing, pre-and post-production, and advertising and promotions. Students will be expected to meet daily and long-term deadlines on project based, out-of-class assignments. Students can expect to spend approximately 20 hours a month outside of class independently and/or during publication deadlines. Please see adviser for application.
*Students enrolled for a second year may take the course for Practical Arts credit.

Magazine Journalistic Writing II

Magazine Journalistic Writing II (EL201A/EL201B)		1 Elective Credit*
Grade: 10, 11, 12	Year
Prerequisite: None
Restriction: Students must apply for a position in this class; they are selected by the editors and adviser. Although it is not mandatory, it is suggested that students take Journalism I or Photojournalism.
This class is a learner lab in which students create The Kirkwood Pioneer under the guidance of an adviser. Students learn design and photographic composition skills. Emphasis is placed on such writing skills as clarity, sentence variety, syntax and journalistic style rules. Students are expected to edit copy and design. Students will work with each other to develop layouts and create and gather all elements necessary for spreads: photographs, captions, graphics, copy and ethics consistent with responsible journalism. All students will also be required to sell advertising. At least 15 after-school hours a month are required of students. Please see adviser for application.
*Students enrolled for a second year may take the course for Practical Arts credit.

Magazine Journalistic Writing II Honors

Magazine Journalistic Writing II Honors (EL290A/EL290B)		1 Elective Credit
Grade: 11, 12	Year
Prerequisite: None
Restriction: Students must apply for a position in this class; they are selected by the prior year’s editorial board and the adviser. The class may consist of the editor(s)-in-chief and associate editors of the yearbook staff.
Students taking this course will be responsible for leading a staff of their peers as they produce The Kirkwood Pioneer, the school yearbook. As editors, students will be expected to serve as role models for their staff members. They will oversee teams of students producing various pages and elements of the yearbook, including writing, photography, art, graphic design and advertising. Each member will be responsible for some aspect of production. Furthermore, student editors can expect to spend approximately 30 hours a month outside of class independently and/or during publication deadlines.

Newspaper Journalistic Writing II

Newspaper Journalistic Writing II (EL202A/EL202B)		1 Elective Credit*
Grade: 10, 11, 12	Year
Prerequisite: None
Restrictions: Students must apply for a position in this class; they are selected by the editors and the adviser. Although not mandatory, it is suggested that students take Journalism I, Multimedia Broadcast I, and/or Photojournalism.
Students taking this course will be responsible for producing the The Kirkwood Call, the school news magazine and TheKirkwoodCall.com website. Students will produce issues of the The Kirkwood Call during the school year, and they will also produce a football program for the Turkey Day game when the game is at home. Students will work in teams to produce elements for the newspaper and website in the area of news, editorials, sports and features, photography, art, graphic design and advertising. Each member will be responsible for some aspect of production. All students will also be required to sell advertising. Students can expect to spend approximately 15 hours a month outside of class independently and/or during publication deadlines. Please see adviser for application.
*Students enrolled for a second year may take the course for Practical Arts credit.

Newspaper Journalistic Writing II Honors

Newspaper Journalistic Writing II Honors (EL291A/EL291B)		1 Elective Credit
Grade: 11, 12	Year
Prerequisite: None
Restriction: Students must apply for a position in this class; they are selected by the prior year’s editorial board and the adviser. The class may consist of the editor(s)-in-chief and associate editors of the newspaper staff.
Students taking this course will be responsible for leading a staff of their peers as they produce the The Kirkwood Call, the school news magazine and The KirkwoodCall.com website. As editors, students will be expected to serve as role models for their staff members. Students will produce The Kirkwood Call during the school year, and they will also produce a football program for the Turkey Day game when the game is at home. They will oversee teams of students producing elements for the newspaper and website in the areas of news, editorials, sports, features and entertainment, photography, art, graphic design and advertising. Each member will be responsible for some aspect of production. Student editors can expect to spend approximately 30 hours a month outside of class independently and/or during publication deadlines.

World Language Course Descriptions

Chinese I

Chinese II

Chinese II (EL204A/EL204B)		1 Elective Credit
Grade: 10, 11, 12	NCAA Approved Course	Year
Prerequisite: Full credit earned in Level I.
Recommendation: In order to be most successful in this course, we recommend students earn a C or better in the previous required level.
Students will continue the progressive development of the language skills which they learned in Level I. They will expand their knowledge of vocabulary, grammar and linguistic structures.

Chinese III Honors

Chinese III Honors (EL390A/EL390B)		1 Elective Credit
Grade: 10, 11, 12	NCAA Approved Course	Year
Prerequisite: Full credit earned in Level II.
Recommendation: In order to be most successful in this course, we recommend students earn a B or better in the previous required level.
Students will improve those language skills acquired in Levels I and II. They will gain greater oral proficiency in the language and increase their knowledge of vocabulary, grammar and syntax. Honors students accept the challenge and rigor of a more aggressive pace, while completing the same material as Level III. Students will be expected to express more complex ideas orally and in writing, while reading and studying additional authentic literature.
CHINESE III WILL ONLY BE OFFERED AS AN HONORS COURSE.

Chinese IV Honors

Chinese IV Honors (EL490A/EL490B)		1 Elective Credit
Grade: 12	NCAA Approved Course	Year
Prerequisite: Full credit earned in Level III.
Recommendation: In order to be most successful in this course, we recommend students earn a B or better in the previous required level.
Students will review and improve upon those language skills acquired in previous levels. They will increase their command of the spoken and written language through reflection and analysis. Students will continue to develop language skills based upon abstract concepts. They will read and write more extensively while examining some advanced grammatical structures. The class will be conducted primarily in the target language. Students taking IV Honors will be expected to move at an accelerated pace, showing a greater proficiency of the learned material, displaying a high level of intellectual curiosity and self-motivation.
CHINESE IV WILL ONLY BE OFFERED AS AN HONORS COURSE.

French I

French II

French II (EL205A/EL205B)		1 Elective Credit
Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12	NCAA Approved Course	Year
Prerequisite: Full credit earned in Level I.
Recommendation: In order to be most successful in this course, we recommend students earn a C or better in the previous required level.
Students will continue the progressive development of the language skills which they learned in Level I. They will expand their knowledge of vocabulary, grammar and linguistic structures.

French III Honors

French III Honors (EL391A/EL391B)		1 Elective Credit
Grade: 10, 11, 12	NCAA Approved Course	Year
Prerequisite: Full credit earned in Level II.
Recommendation: In order to be most successful in this course, we recommend students earn a B or better in the previous required level.
Students will improve those language skills acquired in Levels I and II. They will gain greater oral proficiency in the language and increase their knowledge of vocabulary, grammar and syntax. Honors students accept the challenge and rigor of a more aggressive pace, while completing the same material as Level III. Students will be expected to express more complex ideas orally and in writing, while reading and studying additional authentic literature.
FRENCH III WILL ONLY BE OFFERED AS AN HONORS COURSE.

French IV Honors

French IV Honors (EL491A/EL491B)		1 Elective Credit
Grade: 11, 12	NCAA Approved Course	Year
Prerequisite: Full credit earned in Level III.
Recommendation: In order to be most successful in this course, we recommend students earn a B or better in the previous required level.
Students will review and improve upon those language skills acquired in previous levels. They will increase their command of the spoken and written language through reflection and analysis. Students will continue to develop language skills based upon abstract concepts. They will read and write more extensively while examining some advanced grammatical structures. The class will be conducted primarily in the target language. Students taking IV Honors will be expected to move at an accelerated pace, showing a greater proficiency of the learned material, displaying a high level of intellectual curiosity and self-motivation.
FRENCH IV WILL ONLY BE OFFERED AS AN HONORS COURSE.

AP French Language and Culture

AP French Language and Culture (EL500A/EL500B)		1 Elective Credit
Grade: 12	NCAA Approved Course	Year
Prerequisite: Full credit earned in Level IV.
Recommendation: In order to be most successful in this course, we recommend students earn a B or better in the previous required level.
In this course, students will prepare for the Advanced Placement Language and Culture Examination. Students will write formal letters, persuasive essays, present and justify their own opinions orally, and communicate facts and ideas with an accurate accent and in a grammatically correct fashion.

German I

German II

German II (EL206A/EL206B)		1 Elective Credit
Grade: 9, 10, 11, 12	NCAA Approved Course	Year
Prerequisite: Full credit earned in Level I.
Recommendation: In order to be most successful in this course, we recommend students earn a C or better in the previous required level.
Students will continue the progressive development of the language skills which they learned in Level I. They will expand their knowledge of vocabulary, grammar and linguistic structures.

German III Honors

German III Honors (EL392A/EL392B)		1 Elective Credit
Grade: 10, 11, 12	NCAA Approved Course	Year
Prerequisite: Full credit earned in Level II.
Recommendation: In order to be most successful in this course, we recommend students earn a B or better in the previous required level.
Students will improve those language skills acquired in Levels I and II. They will gain greater oral proficiency in the language and increase their knowledge of vocabulary, grammar and syntax. Honors students accept the challenge and rigor of a more aggressive pace, while completing the same material as Level III. Students will be expected to express more complex ideas orally and in writing, while reading and studying additional authentic literature.
GERMAN III WILL ONLY BE OFFERED AS AN HONORS COURSE.

German IV Honors

German IV Honors (EL492A/EL492B)		1 Elective Credit
Grade: 11, 12	NCAA Approved Course	Year
Prerequisite: Full credit earned in Level III.
Recommendation: In order to be most successful in this course, we recommend students earn a B or better in the previous required level.
Students will review and improve upon those language skills acquired in previous levels. They will increase their command of the spoken and written language through reflection and analysis. Students will continue to develop language skills based upon abstract concepts. They will read and write more extensively while examining some advanced grammatical structures. The class will be conducted primarily in the target language. Students taking IV Honors will be expected to move at an accelerated pace, showing a greater proficiency of the learned material, displaying a high level of intellectual curiosity and self-motivation.
GERMAN IV WILL ONLY BE OFFERED AS AN HONORS COURSE.

AP German Language and Culture

AP German Language and Culture (EL501A/EL501B)		1 Elective Credit
Grade: 12	NCAA Approved Course	Year
Prerequisite: Full credit earned in Level IV.
Recommendation: In order to be most successful in this course, we recommend students earn a B or better in the previous required level.
In this course, students will prepare for the Advanced Placement Language and Culture Examination. Students will write formal letters, persuasive essays, present and justify their own opinions orally, and communicate facts and ideas with an accurate accent and in a grammatically correct fashion.

Spanish I

Spanish II 9

Spanish II 9 (EL112A/EL112B)		1 Elective Credit
Grade: 9	NCAA Approved Course	Year
Prerequisite: Full credit earned in Level I.
Recommendation: In order to be most successful in this course, we recommend students earn a C or better in the previous required level.
Students will continue the progressive development of the language skills which they learned in Level I. They will expand their knowledge of vocabulary, grammar and linguistic structures.

Spanish II

Spanish II (EL207A/EL207B)		1 Elective Credit
Grade: 10, 11, 12	NCAA Approved Course	Year
Prerequisite: Full credit earned in Level I.
Recommendation: In order to be most successful in this course, we recommend students earn a C or better in the previous required level.
Students will continue the progressive development of the language skills which they learned in Level I. They will expand their knowledge of vocabulary, grammar and linguistic structures.

Spanish III

Spanish III (EL304A/EL304B)		1 Elective Credit
Grade: 10, 11, 12	NCAA Approved Course	Year
Prerequisite: Full credit earned in Level II.
Recommendation: In order to be most successful in this course, we recommend students earn a C or better in the previous required level.
Students will improve those language skills acquired in Levels I and II. They will gain greater oral proficiency in the language and increase their knowledge of vocabulary, grammar and syntax.

Spanish III Honors

Spanish III Honors (EL393A/EL393B)		1 Elective Credit
Grade: 10, 11, 12	NCAA Approved Course	Year
Prerequisite: Full credit earned in Level II.
Recommendation: In order to be most successful in this course, we recommend students earn a B or better in the previous required level.
Students will improve those language skills acquired in Levels I and II. They will gain greater oral proficiency in the language and increase their knowledge of vocabulary, grammar and syntax. Honors students accept the challenge and rigor of a more aggressive pace, while completing the same material as Level III. Students will be expected to express more complex ideas orally and in writing, while reading and studying additional authentic literature.

Spanish IV

Spanish IV (EL404A/EL404B)		1 Elective Credit
Grade: 11, 12	NCAA Approved Course	Year
Prerequisite: Full credit earned in Level III.
Recommendation: In order to be most successful in this course, we recommend students earn a C or better in the previous required level.
Students will review and improve upon those language skills acquired in previous levels. They will increase their command of the spoken and written language through reflection and analysis. Students will continue to develop language skills based upon abstract concepts. They will read and write more extensively while examining some advanced grammatical structures. The class will be conducted primarily in the target language.

Spanish IV Honors

Spanish IV Honors (EL493A/EL493B)		1 Elective Credit
Grade: 11, 12	NCAA Approved Course	Year
Prerequisite: Full credit earned in Level III.
Recommendation: In order to be most successful in this course, we recommend students earn a B or better in the previous required level.
Students will review and improve upon those language skills acquired in previous levels. They will increase their command of the spoken and written language through reflection and analysis. Students will continue to develop language skills based upon abstract concepts. They will read and write more extensively while examining some advanced grammatical structures. The class will be conducted primarily in the target language. Students taking IV Honors will be expected to move at an accelerated pace, showing a greater proficiency of the learned material, displaying a high level of intellectual curiosity and self-motivation.

AP Spanish Language and Culture

AP Spanish Language and Culture (EL502A/EL502B)		1 Elective Credit
Grade: 12	NCAA Approved Course	Year
Prerequisite: Full credit earned in Level IV.
Recommendation: In order to be most successful in this course, we recommend students earn a B or better in the previous required level.
In this course, students will prepare for the Advanced Placement Language and Culture Examination. Students will write formal letters, persuasive essays, present and justify their own opinions orally, and communicate facts and ideas with an accurate accent and in a grammatically correct fashion.

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