English
English Courses
The English curriculum seeks to develop life-long readers, eloquent and persuasive speakers, and insightful writers. Students begin with essential vocabulary, syntax and grammar skills in middle school and develop as writers through practice, analysis, conferencing, and re-writing. Teachers present a variety of genres from which to investigate themes in literature. Students rely on a variety of methods for literary analysis including student-led seminars which broaden their perspectives and improve their proficiency in self-expression.
English Literature 7
In this course, students explore questions of identity and belonging across time and place. As students analyze the structure and content of a text, they use literature as a means to reflect on self and society. Students are introduced to the fundamentals of academic writing, with a particular focus on structure and integrating quotes into their work. Through this course, students advance their understanding of grammar and expand their vocabulary. Over the course of the year, students develop a strong academic foundation while fostering curiosity and intellectual engagement to fuel a lifelong love of learning.
English Literature 8
In this course, students recognize and gain appreciation for the nuances and artistry of the written word. Relying on close reading analysis, students use textual evidence to make inferences and analyze how writers use rhetorical strategies such as symbolism, tone, and point of view to develop characters and themes. Students in this course continue to build a strong academic foundation in both writing technique and literary analysis.
English I Honors
The Awakening of Moral Consciousness
In this course, students develop their own style, language, and voice to become more critical and comprehensive readers and writers. The works studied this year focus upon the awakening of moral consciousness where students examine characters’ relations to society, their psychological developments, and the impact gender has on growth.
English II Honors
Individual Responsibility in a Changing World
In this course, students investigate stories of universal human experience as they explore the theme of an individual’s responsibility in a changing world through fiction, poetry, drama, and nonfiction. Students read great tragedies from ancient and modern eras including those written by Sophocles, Shakespeare, Isben, and Homer. In addition to writing analytical essays on these texts, students also undertake a significant independent research paper that requires them to develop a multifaceted solution to a current global issue.
English III Honors
The American Dream
In this course, students read and analyze fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and dramatic works of major 19th and 20th century American writers, addressing the concept of the “American Dream.” Students develop their critical thinking and analytical writing skills, understand rhetorical conventions including argumentative and persuasive techniques as they mature as critical thinkers and strategic readers. The course will culminate in an independent literary analysis building upon existing scholarly discourse involving a fictional American Literature text of their choice.
AP English Language and Composition
In this class, students follow the curriculum as set by the College Board and may earn college credit through the Advanced Placement (AP) exam taken in the spring. Students learn about the elements of argument and composition as they develop critical reading and writing skills. The class reads and analyzes nonfiction works from various periods. Students write essays with different aims: for example, to explain an idea, argue a point, or persuade your reader of something. This course develops analytical close reading skills such as interpreting a piece of writing, evaluating a source of information, gathering information from different sources, writing an evidence-based argument, and revising a piece of writing.
English IV Honors
Outer Selves and Inner Truths in British Literature
In this course, students read and analyze fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and dramatic works from the British canon. Through analysis of these texts, students consider the world as it is presented, and learn to consider multiple perspectives as they balance conflicting worldviews. Discussions focus on the character development and the when, why, and how these shifts occur, and explore how society in particular has influenced their change.
