Berkley High School - Bear Tracks Yearbook (Berkley, MI)

Page 33 text:

Sophs, Juniors Explore World of Poetry, Prose, and PlayS The key word in the English department this year is innovation. Underclass English students are placed in one of three classlevels-phase six, regular, or honors, according to their reading ability. Previous stress on grammar has been replaced by literature studies. Phase six classes stress reading improvement by using books having a high range of interest, but a lower reading level. Workbooks and student research supplement the books that are read. These students also had the opportunity to visit Meadowbrook Theatre. The literature book used in the sophomore regular English classes contains a number of short stories and poems and gives abridgements of many novels and plays. A study of fiction and nofiction is done and books such as Lord of the Flies, Aku-Aku, and In Cold Blood are read. Honors English 10 consists of those students having advanced abilities in reading and writing. The class reads novels and plays written by foreign authors as far back as the height of ancient Greek civilization. The Iliad, Don Qubcote, and Cyrano de Bergerac are examples. Panel discussions provide a basis for an interesting form of communication among students who have read different books. The eleventh grade English curriculum differs in many respects from the previous yearis course. A Word Wealth book, enriches the studentls vocabulary and is used in both junior and senior years, is introduced. Huckleberry Finn and The Red Badge of Courage are examples of the American literature read in all junior English classes. A Rhetoric Case Book, used in Honors English ll, replaces the grammar book. It is used during the last two years of high school and helps the student develop, as well as analyze, the fundamentals of writing. The underclass English courses are geared to the abilities of the student. The levels are designed to aid them in more advanced communications of the English language. ABOVE LEFT' Sophs Amy Siskosky, Pat Johnson, and Carol Clark act out a scene from Cyrano de Bergerac for their class. ABOVE FAR LEFT: Junior Jim Levin hopes to sneak some helpful hints from Mr. Sue Miller while she scans Dave Seybum 's paper. FAR LEF 11' Last of the Mohicans is the topic of a panel in Mrs. Isabelle Davidson 's Honors 11 English Class. LEF71' A smile of success beams from Dave E fros' face upon learning that he and Debbie Keene have aced Mr. Gene Boomgarden's test. 29

Page 32 text:

f 'Lal vs 91 if 19'-.v A 1 Ax!! ,,Q:-A 28

Page 34 text:

Seniors Utilize Novel Methods in Studying Literature 1 A -:' ' . 30 Many seniors think that their last year of English will be filled with grammar, vocabulary, and themes. While some of this work is required, Berkley's teaching staff tries to lessen a few of the pains of English by offering more enjoyable classwork. Mrs. Phyllis McGeorge stimulated the imaginations of her ad- vanced placement English students by encouraging participation in making tapes which recorded all aspects of 17th century England, including art, music, wars, and politics. These tapes will be made available to interested BHS English teachers and students. Interesting oral reports liven up regular English classes with topics ranging from hippies to avant garde writings. Outside reading introduces new approaches to psychological interpretations. Paradise Lost and Canterbury Tales were read and discussed in class, along with material from the reading book. Also available to twelfth graders are courses in business and senior English. Business English covers general principles of business writing techniques and communication. Senior English provides students with a chance to improve their writing skills and reading comprehension. These abilities are learned through study and interpretation of modem prose.