THIS CLASS IS TAUGHT AT THE HONORS LEVEL.

The major purpose of this semester course is to provide experiences in writing that are characterized by logical and coherent organization, clarity of expression, and suitability in style, usage, and the conventions of writing. The
student is required to read closely within and across expository and informational genres (e.g., essays, biographies, critiques, précis, and newspaper and magazine articles) for literal and implied meaning and to demonstrate through classroom discussion, oral presentation, and written expression an understanding of the text(s). Emphasis in this course is on expository reading and writing and the essential skills of editing, although the course provides some practice in other domains of writing.

Students are expected to write and revise a minimum of eight academic compositions within the twelfth-grade year, including timed writing pieces and developed compositions. The California Reading/Language Arts Framework states that students in the twelfth grade are expected to read two million words annually on their own, including a good representation of classic and contemporary literature, magazines, newspapers, and online articles. Students will apply and refine their command of the writing process, writing conventions, and rhetorical strategies of narration, exposition, persuasion, and description to produce texts of at least 1,500 words each. Expository Composition fulfills a B requirement of the UC/CSU Subject Area Requirements.