English 12A – FX

Flex Course Overview:
English 12A is a course designed with the flexibility to help students complete their coursework at their own pace and schedule. Students may bypass portions of unit content and assignments by showing mastery of materials and objectives if they choose the option to challenge a unit by taking the challenge test. Based on how well they do on a challenge test, some coursework may be exempted. This course is divided into eight units with coursework (including computer and teacher-graded assignments) and a unit exam. Based on how well they do on a challenge test, some coursework may be exempted. There is no high-stakes final exam; just shorter incremental exams in each unit, two of which must be scheduled with a proctor.

Course Description: 
English 12A is a one-semester senior English course that focuses on how language and rhetoric influence real-world decision-making and public responsibility. Throughout the semester, students read both classical and modern literature and nonfiction. Key texts include short stories, public speeches, Shakespeare’s Henry V, and excerpts from David Brooks’ The Road to Character. Students use these readings to analyze how authors build arguments about human behavior, authority, and ethics. The course helps students think critically, evaluate differing viewpoints, and construct clear, evidence-based arguments.

Across eight units, students analyze text structure, evaluate persuasive strategies, compare author perspectives, and write formal essays. The course ends with a synthesis research project and presentation. In this project, students analyze real-world case studies, apply analytical frameworks, and present research-supported criteria for effective leadership.