This course meets UC/CSU and District graduation requirements. It provides students, through their experiences in reading, writing, listening and speaking, with the skills necessary to become informed and responsible citizens, productive and effective members of the work force, and individuals dedicated to lifelong learning. The class focuses on developing skills in creating composition and analyzing literature.  Students will demonstrate skills using a variety of genres (poetry, drama, short stories, novels and biographies). The students will be introduced to a substantial amount of ongoing writing practice through journals, essays, creative writing, a mini-research paper, and extensive formal papers. The course is structured around reading of classical and contemporary works of literature. Assessments will include performance-based assessments, conventional assessments, portfolios and published products including standardized tests.