English Language Arts is so important that you are required to take it all four years of your high school career. The skills you use in this class are useful in all of your other classes. This is because you will learn to write better by reading. You will become a better reader by writing. Reading and writing work together to improve your ability to think. Thinking deeply about things improves your ability to ask questions. Questioning, thinking, supporting, and communicating your thoughts are what high school academics are all about.