Describes why college English teachers should consider offering a literature elective in mystery fiction. Argues that mysteries are growing in popularity and in academic respectability. Provides methods and activities for use in courses designed around mystery literature. (HB)

A case history of the elective English program at South High School in Minneapolis. (DD)

Details the curricular reforms of the post-Sputnik era in American high schools, especially the national stampede to an elective curriculum in English instruction. Covers criticism of the movement and the profession's struggle to define English studies. Provides pros and cons of an elective curriculum. (HB)

This curriculum guide for Indio High School (California) describes a phased-elective English curriculum designed to meet the basic needs of high school students with more flexibility than traditional programs offer. The guide contains a list of courses divided to correspond to each of the eight phases in the English program. Each course in the…

Letting students create poems out of random collections of words involves and interests them.

Describes the institution, operation, and ultimate failure of a completely elective, ungraded minicourse system in a rural high school. (DD)

The purpose of this publication is to encourage and assist high schools in designing elective English courses and programs for grades 10 through 12. After pointing out the advantages and disadvantages of using electives, the discussion shifts to salient questions concerning the planning, construction, and implementation of elective courses and…

Article investigated the development of the English curriculum and the change toward which it is growing. (RK)

Covers an innovative elective program, views of language and language instruction, and attitudes toward English teachers and the English curriculum. (JL)

Intended as an aid to teachers of composition, this course guide focuses on the minimum essentials of writing included in elective courses at two general grade levels: 9-10 and 11-12. Emphasizing quality in composition rather than quantity, the guide provides a scheme of sequential composition experiences and suggests individualized instruction,…

In order to provide 11th and 12th grade English students (in both standard and academic classes) with a more stimulating set of course offerings, a program was developed which incorporates one required course, communication skills, to be taken during the first school quarter and three elective courses to be taken during the remainder of the school…

The secondary English curriculum outlined in this guide consists of a required course during the freshman year followed by three years in the elective program, during which each student is expected to complete a one semester course in each of the three basic areas of language, literature, and writing plus three more courses from any one area. This…

Phase-elective programs in English enable students to become involved in making curriculum choices. In an evaluation of the elective programs offered in the Fort Wayne Community Schools, it was found that (1) seventy percent of the students enjoyed being allowed to pick their own English courses; (2) eighty-eight percent of the students found…