Patterson Adult Education -- Course Descriptions

English 1A* 5 Units: This course covers basic grammar, writing and reading skills. There are 5 booklets, with one test after each booklet. This will equal one test grade. Equivalent to 9th Grade, 1st Semester.
English 1B* 5 Units: This course covers a variety of topics including language development, research, understanding speeches and essays, appreciation of drama and poetry, and writing skills. There are 5 booklets, with one test after each booklet. Unit 8 includes supplementary reading: West Side Story/Romeo and Juliet. Equivalent to 9th Grade, 2nd Semester.
English 2A* 5 Units: This course covers comprehension of short stories, essays and poems. There are 5 booklets, units 1 and 4 have supplemental books: An O. Henry Reader and Keepsake Verses. After each booklet there is one test. Equivalent to 10th Grade, 1st Semester.
English 2B* 5 Units: This course stresses reading for comprehension and knowledge acquisition. Each of the 5 booklets emphasizes a different topic, including myths, war and peace, and fantasy. After each booklet there is one test. Equivalent to 10th Grade, 2nd Semester.
English 3A* 5 Units: This course is a research based literature. Writing strategies and applications are emphasized. Each of the 5 booklets utilizes a different topic, including multi-cultural literature, science fiction, and historical American literature. After each booklet there is one test. Equivalent to 11th Grade, 1st Semester.
English 3B* 5 Units: This course exposed student to many types of literature. These include: American Literature, African-American Literature and Environmental Literature. Unit 10 covers library skills. Units 6, 7, 8 utilize supplemental books: Huck Finn, The Crucible, and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. After each booklet there is one test. Equivalent to 11th Grade, 2nd Semester.
Themes in Literature A* 5 Units: This course uses letters in history and American and British literary works to address advanced grammar and composition. Unit 1 covers writing business and social letters. After each booklet there is one test. Equivalent to 12th Grade, 1st Semester.
Themes in Literature B* 5 Units: This course covers vocabulary development, comprehension, literary response and analysis using poetry, prose, play, short stories and novels. Units 8, 9 and 10 have supplemental books: A Bintel Brief, Farewell to Manzanar, The Light in the Forest and The Grapes of Wrath. After each booklet there is one test. Equivalent to 12th Grade, 2nd Semester.
Spelling 5 Units: This course uses a basic group of spelling words to teach word recognition and spelling. There is one workbook divided into 6 sections, is followed by a written assignment after each section. The written assignments are to be typed on the computer. There are no tests.
Vocabulary 1 5 Units: This course uses short stories to introduce new vocabulary. There is one workbook divided into 4 units, with one test after each unit.
Vocabulary 2 5 Units: This course uses short stories to introduce new vocabulary. There is one workbook divided into 4 units, with one test after each unit.
Reading Social Studies 5 Units: This course covers a variety of social studies topics, using short reading passages. There is one workbook divided into 5 units, with one test after each unit.

Physical Science
Earth Science A** 5 Units: This course uses the text: Earth Science and covers chapters 1-10. There is one test after each chapter. Some of the topics covered are: minerals, rocks, matter, erosional forces, earthquakes and volcanoes. Note: this course can cover part of the physical science requirement.
Earth Science B** 5 Units: This course uses the text: Earth Science and covers chapters 11-20. There is one test after each chapter. Some of the topics covered are: plate tectonics, fossils, geologic time, the atmosphere, weather, climate and the ocean. Note: this course can cover the physical science requirement.
Earth Science C** 2 Units: This course uses the text: Earth Science and covers chapters 21-24. There is one test after each chapter. Some of the topics covered are: the solar system, stars, galaxies and the sun-earth-moon system. Note: this course can cover part of the physical science requirement.
Physical Science A** 5 Units: This course uses the text: Physical Science and covers chapters 1-10. There is one test after each chapter. Some of the topics covered are: overview of physical science, motion and speed, forces, energy, machines, electricity, magnetism, and radioactivity.
Physical Science B** 5 Units: This course uses the text: Physical Science and covers chapters 11-20. There is one test after each chapter. Some of the topics covered are: waves, sound, electromagnetic waves, light, lenses, the nature of matter, and elements.

Life Science
Life Science A* 5 Units: This course uses the text: Biology: Visualizing Life and covers chapters 1-15. There is one test after each chapter. Some of the topics covered are: Overview of Biology, cells, cell reproduction, photosynthesis, genetics, evolution, origin of life, human evolution, animal behavior, and ecosystems.
Life Science B* 5 Units: This course uses the text: Biology: Visualizing Life and covers chapters 16-30. There is one test after each chapter. Some of the topics covered are: ecosystems, earth, classification, bacteria, virus, protists, fungi, plants, animals, the human body and the nervous system.

Mathematics
Math 1* 5 Units: This course stresses basic mathematics including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers, decimals, fractions, measurements and basic geometry. There is one textbook divided into ten sections. You will take ten tests, two for each unit. This class helps prepare students for proficiency tests in mathematic calculations.
Math 2* 5 Units: This course covers useful mathematics for everyday life. Some of these include: reading tables and graphs, calculating sales tax and discounts and calculating miles per gallon, simple algebra and order of operations. This course helps prepare students for the math application proficiency test. Selected work from the textbook will be done. There are ten tests; two tests per unit.
Math 3 5 Units: This course covers with basic mathematics including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers, decimals, and fractions. There are six tests.
Math 4 5 Units: This course covers useful mathematics for everyday life using the textbook Consumer Math. The book includes a review of basic skills, earning and handling money, paying taxes and owning a home and car. There are 7 units with a test after each unit.
Pre-Algebra* 5 Units: This course covers whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percent, ratio, probability, integers, square roots, and polynomials. There are 5 booklets, with one test after each booklet.

Social Studies
American Government* 5 Units: This course covers all aspects of the American Governmental system at the federal, state and local levels. All units use the supplemental text Our United States Government. There are 5 booklets, with one test after each booklet.
Consumer Economics* 5 Units: This course covers types of bank accounts, charge accounts, how to buy products, warranties, budgeting, and many other types of everyday buying and saving. There are five booklets, with one test after each booklet.
Economics* 5 Units: This course covers economic and political systems, resources, supply and demand, the U.S. economy and monetary system, international trade and various other aspects of economics. There are five booklets, with one test after each booklet.
Geography A 5 Units: This course uses the text World Geography: Building a Global Perspective and covers units 1-5. There is one test after each unit. Topics covered are: physical and human geography, the United States and Canada, Latin America, and Europe.
Geography B 5 Units: This course uses the text World Geography: Building a Global Perspective and covers units 6-10. There is one test after each unit. Topics covered are: Eurasia, Asia, Africa, and the Pacific.
U.S. History A* 5 Units: This course begins with prehistory and Native Americans and concludes with the 1930's. There are five booklets, with one test after each booklet. Units 2, 3, 4, 5 used the supplemental book Coming of Age.
U.S. History B* 5 Units: This course begins with the United States in the 1940's and end with the mid-1990's. There are five booklets, with one test after each booklet. The supplemental book Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow is used.
World History A* 5 Units: This course begins with early civilizations and concludes with the industrial revolution. There are five booklets, with one test after each booklet. All Units are supplemented with the text World History for a Global Age 1.
World History B* 5 Units: This course begins with the Age of Imperialism and finishes at the present. There are five booklets, with one test after each booklet. All Units are supplemented with the text World History for a Global Age 2.

Electives
Career Exploration 10 Units: This course requires student to read articles on careers from Chronicle Guidance Publications and write a summary for each article. One unit of credit will be given for eight reports.
Current Events Multiple Units: This course requires student to read and summarize articles from Time and Newsweek magazines. One unit of credit will be given for 10 summaries.
Health 5 Units: This course covers many issues in health. Some of the topics covered are: wellness, nutrition, human growth and development, diseases, substance abuse, safety, first aid and environmental health. There are five booklets each one followed by a test. One unit of credit will be given for each test.

* Required Course
** Two of these courses are required