11th Grade Course Catalog

Religion Grade 11

The course of instruction for this year is a continuation of the four-part series begun in Grade 9. The emphasis will be on the Life of Christ. Also, the student will be given a more mature exposure to the Bible.

Additionally, the Ten Commandments in relation to some of the current moral issues in America and the world will be discussed.

(The 6th and 9th commandments should be discussed by parents when they deem appropriate.)

Prerequisites: None

Religion 9 - 12th: Mary, the Fairest Lady and the World's First Love

De Maria numquam satis: “Of Mary, there is never enough.” She is the cause of our joy, “our life, our sweetness, and our hope,” and the one “solitary boast” of mankind. She is the golden thread that runs through Scripture from beginning to end, and Jesus is for eternity intimately and totally united to her. Who is this Woman? What is her role in Salvation History, in our own lives, and in the world? Who is she to God? What is our relationship with her, and what should our relationship with her be like in practice? Why do we need to be intimately united to her? This course will be a sort of portrait of Our Lady, so that we may come to know her better, and more fully belong to her like Jesus Himself does.

This course will include: a foundational understanding of Mary in the Old and New Testaments; Mary in the Sacred Tradition of the Church (particularly the 4 Marian Dogmas and the Doctrine of Mary as CoRedemptrix, Mediatrix and Advocate); Mary as our Mother, and as Queen; Mary in the lives and writings of the Fathers and Saints of the Church; St. Joseph in the life of Mary; Mary in art and poetry; in her apparitions (those approved by the Church); and the crucially important realm of Marian consecration. Open to all 9th-12th-grade students, as well as mature 8th-grade students.

Prerequisites: None

Latin 3

In Latin 3, students will continue to reinforce and build upon grammatical concepts and vocabulary previously studied, while at the same time gently transitioning to an increased focus on the rhetorical and literary aspects of the language.  Using Part 2 of Hans Orberg’s Lingua Latina, Roma Aeterna, students will begin with a review of the more complex structural features of the language, such as the subjunctive mood, and reading passages written for students by the author.  Over the course of the year, students will continue through reading adapted or edited passages from ancient Roman writers themselves, which will culminate in the reading of original, unadapted Latin texts.  Along the way, students will learn more about the history, literature, and culture of ancient Rome.  (Scope: Lingua Latina, Chapters 36 and following; ancillary stories)

Prerequisites: Latin 2

Algebra 2

In Algebra II the students will build on the concepts mastered in Algebra I and Geometry. Topics covered include Linear Equations and Applications; Linear Inequalities and Absolute Value; Graphs, Linear Equations, and Functions; Systems of Linear Equations; Exponents, Polynomials, and Polynomial Functions; Factoring; Rational Expressions and Functions; Roots, Radicals, and Root Functions; Quadratic Equations, Inequalities, and Functions; Exponential and Logarithmic Functions; Nonlinear Functions, Conic Sections, and Nonlinear Systems.  Applied problems and critical thinking are stressed.

Along with live class meetings, students will complete their daily assignments using an online homework and tutorial system, MathXL. Access to MathXL is provided by Queen of Heaven Academy at no charge.  Video lectures, audio lectures, and flash animations are also available in the online text.

Students will be required to:

• Study daily text assignments and submit homework (Algebra II students can expect to spend approximately one hour each day on homework – aside from class time)

• Participate in four live classes each week

• Submit quizzes and chapter tests

• Complete quarterly exams

Most colleges require successful completion of Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II.  Those students excelling in Algebra II will be prepared for the advanced math class Precalculus.

Prerequisite: successful completion of Algebra I and Geometry or demonstrated mastery of Algebra and Geometry skills on the Algebra II placement exam.

Algebra 2 (Honors) Option

The honors math program allows students to earn the honors designation on their transcript by doing additional work beyond the regular classwork and exploring additional concepts not covered in the class. Honor students attend regular classes throughout the week (Monday-Thursday), doing homework and taking quizzes and tests according to the class requirements. In addition, students will be assigned work in IXL Math to be completed each week. At the end of the year the honors grade will be combined with the grade from the regular class for the final grade on the transcript with the honors designation (80% regular class grade/ 20% honors grade). Each week there will be a 1-hour peer-assisted study session (Fridays 12 Eastern Standard Time) in which students can work together on any of the concepts covered that week (the teacher will be present, but the session is run by the students). Attendance at the study session is not required.

Prerequisite: Students must have earned an A or B in their previous math class.

English 3

The literature covered in this course is from the Post Reformation to the Modern period. See textbook page for books covered.

Students will be required to (1) complete weekly textbook assignments and post short regular responses (a paragraph of 150—200 words) to assigned discussion questions; (2) participate in live weekly discussions (students receive a participation grade); (3) complete 4 required essays of approximately 800 to 1,000 words (3 are also required in History—7 total essays, one submitted each month; (4) Take an exam (open book) at the end of each quarter over the assigned readings.

We strongly recommended that students whose composition skills are weak obtain composition assistance.

Prerequisites: English 1, English 2, or demonstrated equivalent

Chemistry / Philosophy

General Chemistry

Assignments for General Chemistry are intended to challenge students who want a good general, conceptual understanding of chemistry and mastery of fundamental quantitative problem solving.  This course will prepare students for introductory level college courses intended for science majors.  Grades will be determined by class participation, lab worksheets, and objective quizzes, chapter tests, and quarterly exams. This option allows non-science and science students to balance other studies while meeting a college admission requirement for a physical science course. Course material is mastered with about 1 to 1.5 hours per day of study commitment, based on a 5 day academic week plus weekend study time.  Each week, students study the text and complete on-line quizzes prior to class. In twice-a-week live class meetings, teacher and students work on problem solving and clarify difficult concepts. Basic labs, requiring purchase of a materials kit, plus some student supplied simple household materials, use short answer/fill-in-the-blank lab worksheets to provide practical awareness of empirical methods and to reinforce concepts learned in class.  For full benefit, students will be expected to do all prep work before live class. Students will be required to:

• Complete bi-weekly textbook assignments
• Participate in the live class discussions
• Submit objective quizzes, and chapter tests over the fundamental conceptual and quantitative material
• Complete examinations
• Complete simple labs using the chemistry kit and household materials to complete short answer/fill-in-the-blank lab worksheets
• Do all the work above in a timely manner 

Basic Labs

Students must complete at least 16 lab worksheets to receive a designation of lab completion on their transcripts.  There is an additional fee for the chemistry kit.  The remaining basic chemistry lab materials are items that can be found in most homes. It is the responsibility of the student to obtain the required materials in a timely fashion.  A master list of materials for the academic year and a list of materials needed by week will be provided during orientation week.

Positivist 'Science' vs. Traditional Science

Undeniably, the reductionistic understanding of 'science' has had some good side-effects, especially the boom in the field of technology since the Industrial Revolution, but among its direct consequences we find the following: it has deprived many a modern scientist of any capacity to think philosophically; it has removed from science all sense of immaterial being (or at least has convinced modern scientists that there cannot be scientific knowledge of the immaterial); it has, in the eyes of too many, invalidated Aristotelian-Thomistic philosophy (and even the Christian religion!);  it has resulted in a dehumanizing loss of respect for all life; ultimately, it has been the philosophical vehicle for the creation of an agnostic,  materialistic, pragmatic  worldview and culture in the Western world.  Therefore we require that students take the QHA Philosophy 1 course. In conformity with the nature and scope of the discipline of natural science as it has been practiced by the Aristotelian-Thomistic tradition throughout the ages, all conclusions will proceed strictly from empirical evidence and rational inquiry; they will be consonant with, but not based on, Christian revelation, as explained and interpreted by the infallible Magisterium of the Catholic Church.
 

Pre-AP Chemistry (with option of Honors designation)

Assignments for Pre-AP Chemistry are intended to challenge students who want a thorough preparation for a science or pre-professional major in college by developing their inquiry, analytical, and reasoning skills. Pre-AP students are required to complete the basic coursework described in the General Chemistry option.  In addition, they will also be required to complete additional weekly homework assignments, making the workload college-level.  There is an extra fee for the Pre-AP course which will cover developing and grading the additional homework assignments. Pre-AP students will have enhanced versions of tests and exams, with additional challenging essay and quantitative questions.  Acceptance to Pre-AP Chemistry will be determined during the first quarter of school and is solely at the discretion of the instructor. A student must demonstrate active class participation, consistently score well on quizzes, lab worksheets, tests, and the first exam, and do well on several enhanced questions for on chapter tests. (For an honors designation they will be expected to achieve a specified score on the CLEP or AP test.  Since the course textbook is NOT a college text, it is important to study for the CLEP or AP test with a CLEP or AP specified study guide for Chemistry. Most of the topics needed to be successful on the Chemistry CLEP or AP exam are covered in the Pre-AP course of study. To see the CLEP chemistry requirements, go to clep.collegeboard.org/exam/chemistry. To see the AP chemistry requirements, go to apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/courses/teachers_corner/2119.html. Those seeking an honors designation will need to pay their own CLEP or AP fees and arrange for taking the tests.) Students will be required to:

• Complete bi-weekly textbook assignments
• Participate in the live class discussions
• Complete weekly homework assignments, including extra questions specific to the Pre-AP course.
• Submit objective quizzes, and chapter tests over the fundamental conceptual and quantitative material
• Complete examinations  (chapter tests and exams include quantitative and essay questions that require advanced analytical and reasoning skills)
• Complete simple labs using the chemistry kit and household materials to write formal lab reports
• Do all the work above in a timely manner

Chemistry students in both options attend the same class sessions.

Prerequisites: Algebra 2 or concurrent enrollment in Algebra 2

U.S. History

This course will survey the story of America from European exploration to the post-World War II period.   The role of Catholics and their contributions to the history of the nation is examined throughout.   Upon completion of the course, students should be well-prepared to take the CLEP  and AP exams in U.S. History.

Prerequisites: None

Math and Latin Tutoring

Math assistance is a once a week, one hour a week, individual tutoring session. Students will log into Adobe Connect each week and spend the hour one-on-one with the teacher working through homework problems, preparing for upcoming tests or quizzes or reviewing math concepts covered in class. Assistance can also be used for those students seeking more challenging work than what is covered in the classroom. The student will use a microphone and webcam, as well as write on the “whiteboard.”

At the start of the school year, the student and teacher will agree upon a time and day of the week for the tutoring sessions which will cover all 36 weeks of the Queen of Heaven Academy academic year.

Math and Latin assistance are available for all grades and all levels.

Prerequisites: None

Required Texts: 

• None Required.

Composition Assistance

CA is for students enrolled in QHA English or history, which require students to
write bimonthly essays. CA provides one-on-one instruction on each writing assignment.
Starting a month prior to the due date, the student prepares and submits a series of drafts to
the CA instructor for review, up to four total following a structured schedule:

• Week 1: the student brainstorms the essay topic and creates a structured outline.
• Week 2: the student writes a first draft of the essay, focusing on a sound thesis statement and 3-4 body paragraphs led by strong topic sentences.
• Week 3: the student continues to refine the body of the essay as well as the introduction, conclusion, and “Works Cited” section.
• Week 4: the student polishes the essay for one last examination by the CA instructor.

The CA instructor reviews each submission and provides feedback to the student in the form
of written comments and edits that guide him to strengthen the essay. Instruction focuses on
key elements of composition including thesis development, argumentation, evidence, flow,
grammar, and syntax. The teacher responds to the student within 48 hours (excluding
weekends and holidays) using the QHA course management system. CA is appropriate for
high school students of all ages and skill levels.

Prerequisites: None

Required Texts: 

• None mandated, but the course does have optional enhancement lessons
  that use two workbooks ($48). These lessons consist of weekly reading and exercises that
  teach grammar, self-editing, and other concepts of good writing. They take the student about
  an hour per week to complete and are a highly recommended supplement to the CA course.