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Patterns of Communication
Patterns of Communication is a full year
course, requiring that students in the first semester engage in learning
activities that lead to discovery of their abilities as learners. In the
second semester, students continue with this process, but also integrate
activities that lead to responsible learning and action. The broad
objective of the course is to teach skills and habits that will enable
students to become lifelong learners. Students focus on strategies
that lead to effective reading, writing, speaking, listening and viewing
skills. All the activities help the student set clear purposes for the strategy
that the student wishes to use in the learning environment. Emphasis
in writing will be on the three distinct strands: expressive,
transactional, and literary.
Enriched Patterns of Communication
Enriched Patterns of Communication is a
full year course for freshmen who have excellent skills in writing and
literary analysis. Consequently, the level of writing and the level of
literary analysis is more complex than other freshman Communication Arts
classes. Expectations of student writing are high and require
commitment and diligence. Students will read and analyze short
stories, poetry, novels, drama and non-fiction. Students will prepare
a portfolio and complete semester projects. Reading strategies,
thinking skills, and study skills are taught as a basis for effective
writing. Viewing, speaking, and listening strategies will also be a focus.
The skills required for the rigorous reading, speaking and writing
expectations will require a students to be committed to the learning
process, to be self-motivated, and to achieve at a degree of complexity
consistent with the enriched level. While we encourage students to
stretch themselves, students should consider their entire schedule (not just
the single course) when determining whether or not to take an enriched, AP,
or other weighted course. |