One of the main questions we get here at Essentials in Writing is, “What is required to make up an English Credit for my middle school or high school student?”
Credits for Math, Science, and Social Studies are easy to calculate. You take one class for the year and it counts as one credit respectively. For English, reading and writing are required. To earn one English credit students need to complete both composition and literary analysis.
Essentials in Writing and Essentials in Literature together would be considered a high school English class. Most English classes in public/private education consist not only of composition but also literary analysis. However, many states have different requirements for homeschooling. If the requirement is English I, II, III, and IV for each grade of high school, then students would need to complete Essentials in Writing and Essentials in Literature for that level to earn 1 English credit. If the state requires a composition course AND a literary analysis course separately, then each would count as 1 credit each.
Here is a suggestion on how to count for credit hours:
Essentials in Writing = 1 credit for English Composition
Essentials in Literature = 1 credit for Literary Analysis
*Essentials in Writing and Essentials in Literature Together =1 Credit for English.
*most common
Title accordingly for transcript purposes: Essentials in Writing can be counted as English Comp or Composition I or Composition II, III, etc. Essentials in Literature can be counted as Literature I, Lit II, III, etc. Essentials in Writing and Essentials in Literature together can be counted as English I, II, III, or IV. An important suggestion we give parents is to keep your planner and workbook, copy of tests/assessments and examples of work.
Please note that while levels of Essentials in Writing and Essentials in Literature are indicative of grade level, students can complete 1-2 levels above or below current grade level and still earn one credit of English. See example below:
9th grade student earning ONE English credit:
Essentials in Writing Level 9
Essentials in Literature Level 9
9th grade student earning ONE English credit:
Essentials in Writing Level 8
Essentials in Literature Level 9
9th grade student earning ONE English credit:
Essentials in Writing Level 10
Essentials in Literature Level 9
Stay tuned for an in-depth blog post related to what high school students study in composition and literary analysis respectively.
