North Penn’s English department houses all of the required English courses: Keystone Literature, American Literature, and British Literature. Within each course, students analyze novels and write the dreaded critical paper, so during course selection, most tend to bypass the department when choosing electives. However, it is important to consider there are electives that are outside the realm of written curriculum.

The journalism course (daily semester course) explores all different types of journalism, including news stories, editorials, sports, and movie reviews. It extends far beyond a typical five paragraph literature essay, for the class provides students with a platform to write a passionate piece.

“We teach kids how to take their ideas and present them in a very focused, polished manner,” stated journalism teacher Kevin Manero. “Instead it just being a rant, you’re creating a high level piece of legitimate journalism.”

Debate 1 (daily semester course) is similar to the journalism course in that students share their opinions, but students verbally express opinions through a series of debates.

“Armed with credible evidence, well-reasoned arguments, and techniques to persuade and captivate an audience of student judges, student debaters oppose one another over serious current topics and less weighty practice questions like whether Coke or Pepsi reigns supreme,” said debate teacher Kathleen Howland.

Though it seems the course would only benefit future lawyers and politicians, the course’s effects extend far beyond those areas. Students gain the skills to effectively relay an argument and become more confident public speakers.

The lessons carry on outside of the classroom, for “It helped me when I’m put under pressure,” explained debate student Olivia Washesky “Now, I can come up with an argument pretty quickly.”

Along the same lines, Public Speaking 1 (daily semester course) molds students into confident public speakers and individuals. Public speaking is about more than learning how to speak on a stage in front of thousands of people; it’s also about learning how to carry one’s self outside of their own internal world.

“[Public speaking is] let me get comfortable standing in front of the room at township building and complaining about something that’s happening in my backyard or it’s let me get comfortable going to a school board meeting and expressing my concerns about something that’s happening in the school, or maybe it’s sitting down at table with someone one on one who’s very intimidating and doing a job interview,” said Manero, also the Public Speaking 1 teacher.  “How do I develop those skills to make me feel comfortable speaking and being clear? How do I do that? Those are life skills that are extremely practical, and public speaking teaches that.”

Through classroom presentations and sharing days, public speaking is one of the only courses to show its effects in other classes.

“Public Speaking benefitted me because it is a very practical class,” said senior and public speaking student Joe Mitchell. “There are some classes at North Penn that you take, but you don’t apply the knowledge until very later in life. I use public speaking every day in my classes and with other people. I learned how to carry myself as a better person.”

North Penn also offers courses for students looking to write for fun or perhaps improve their writing.

In Creative Writing 1 (daily year-long course), students learn different writing techniques, and through a series of “free writes” students demonstrate their knowledge.

“Creative Writing is a great class for people who want to experiment with language, express themselves, or play with their imagination,” remarked one of North Penn’s Creative Writing teachers Anthony Gillespie. “Unlike required English classes, we don’t worry about vocabulary quizzes, reading tests, or critical papers. We get to do all the fun stuff.”

Current sophomore Maddy Oxenreiter “was nervous about taking this class at first,” but since has no regrets because “[she] made a lot of friends that are juniors and seniors.”

After Creative Writing 1, students have the opportunity to continue on in Creative Writing 2 (daily year-long course), taught by Patti Kinsey. Students use their skills from Creative Writing 1 to develop more in depth pieces.

“[In Creative Writing 2], you get a lot more freedom,” said senior and Creative Writing 2 student Liz Figueria. “You can go so in depth with all of those pieces because you have all those skills already built in [from Creative Writing 1]”.

Throughout the year, students have the ability to share their pieces with one another. Because of the dynamic of the class, “you definitely become more emotional because of the things that you hear” explained junior and Creative Writing 2 student Dela Matthew. “You become a whole big family.”

Less literary courses are also offered to develop North Penn’s publications, the Knight Crier and the Accolade.

In News Journalism (daily year-long course), also advised by Manero, students write news stories to be published on North Penn’s online newspaper.

Every Monday, staff meetings are held to brainstorm ideas for the upcoming week(s). The staff writes everything from sports stories to editorials to teacher/student features. By the end of the year, students have an online portfolio of work to reference.

In Magazine Journalism (daily year-long course), advised by Danielle O’Reilly, students create the yearbook by designing each individual page, writing articles on the different clubs and events, and taking pictures to accompany each article.

“You get involved with different activities at the school,” explained second year Magazine Journalism student and current accolade editor Katie Kratz. “At the end of the year, it’s amazing to see the finished product and all of the hard work you put into making the yearbook.”

North Penn’s English electives prove that there is more to English than just books and essays. Instead of adding another study hall or no school period 1/8 to their schedule, students should invest their time in one of these fulfilling courses.