English
- Summer reading is required for all four years not only to reinforce the literary skills encountered in the classroom but also to promote good reading habits, which, both directly and indirectly, contribute to the development of positive writing skills.
- A variety of approaches and methodologies are used on all grade levels and in all classes to develop these skills. The pursuit of such development is expanded in depth and intensity in the Honors and Advanced Placement courses.
- Weekly vocabulary study is ongoing in English I-IV.
- English I
- English II
- English III
- English III Language and Composition (AP)
- English IV
- English IV Literature and Composition (AP)
- English Department Electives
English I
English I (CP) – 9th
1.0 credit
Prerequisite: none
English I includes mastery of sentence structure and paragraph elements based upon extensive study of
grammatical concepts, acquisition of library skills and exposure to the basic mechanics of research for a
research paper assignment (with the emphasis on learning how to find, gather, collate, present, and
document the ideas of others with much guidance and hands-on experiences in the library), and
introduction to writing formal essays. In addition to a grammar book, students will achieve this mastery of
language through reading and writing experiences from the study of literature. The literature includes
emphasis on rudimentary elements of literary components and comprehension of basic textual clues to
understanding the written word. All students will prepare a minimum of one research-oriented
paper. Honors students will also write a minimum of three book analyses, including biographical research
on the author based on their out-of-class reading.
English II
English II (CP) – 10th
1.0 credit
Prerequisite: English I
English II expands on those skills introduced in English I. The curriculum presents a holistic approach to
writing and literary skills by merging several components: concentrated study of selected readings from
literary genres with emphasis on literary elements employed by those selections; attention to research skills,
format, and documentation; regular attention to writing from non-literary related prompts; study and use of
vocabulary; study of and practice with several basic rhetorical modes and the rubrics by which these
writings are assessed.
English III
English III (CP) – 11th
1.0 credit
Prerequisite: English II
English III develops the student’s writing skills by having them construct pieces over a variety of genres.
They will be expected to compose multiple works of literary analysis with an understanding of the MLA
format, a personal narrative with an understanding of the uses of dialogue, multiple timed persuasive
writing pieces, and a research paper that is persuasive in nature. Though course has an intense focus on the
development of the student’s writing skills, the growth of their reading skills is still imperative. The
curriculum includes works of American literature from a number of different literary movements.
English III Language and Composition (AP)
English III Language and Composition (AP) – 11th
1.0 credit
Prerequisite: English II CP or Honors, Faculty Recommendation, ACT Aspire Scores
The AP Language and Composition course is intended to engage students in becoming skilled readers of
American prose written in a variety of periods, disciplines, and rhetorical contexts. It also requires students
to become skilled writers who compose for a variety of purposes. Students write in a variety of forms such
as narrative, exploratory, expository, and argumentative and on a variety of subjects such as personal
experiences, public policies, imaginative literature, and pop culture. The course is designed to enable
students to read complex American texts with understanding and to write prose of sufficient richness and
complexity to communicate effectively with mature readers. AP Language and Composition emphasizes
the process of composing and asks students to write essays that proceed through several stages or drafts,
with revision aided by teachers and peers. Students will read a wide variety of American prose styles from
many disciplines and historical periods and also consider how selection of American fiction and poetry
highlight stylistic decisions. The course provides students with a comprehensive experience in studying
American literature.
English IV
English IV (CP) – 12th
1.0 credit
Prerequisite: English III
English IV includes mastery of formal essay structure as a basis for preparation for the traditional college
classroom, research paper of 6-8 typed pages, which is the result of the student’s independent research with
an emphasis on analysis of literary works of two authors. Literature includes a chronological study of
British literature from Biblical times through the ages to the current century for an understanding of how
literature is a reflection of history and reinforcement of literary terminology with added levels of insight
and synthesis.
English IV Literature and Composition (AP)
English IV Literature and Composition (AP) – 12th
1.0 credit
Prerequisite: English III CP or AP, Faculty Recommendation, ACT Aspire Scores
The AP English IV course is designed to prepare students for the AP exam through exposure to British and
World Literature in the form of essays, novels, poetry, plays, and short stories spanning from the Middle
Ages to the modern day era. Discussion, group work, and writing prompts are used to comprehend and
analyze literature, and all essays include analysis and persuasion in addition to occasional research of
secondary critical sources. When writing timed essays in class, as well as at home, students are encouraged
to balance their evidence with analysis in the Jane Schaeffer ratio of one concrete detail for every two
commentary. In addition to balance and organization, written comments on papers along with conferences
with the teacher encourage varied sentence structures and smooth transitions, and instruction regarding
grammar is provided on an as needed basis. Grades of essays are based upon the AP 1-9 scale, and
students are continually encouraged to ask questions about their writings in and out of class.
English Department Electives
Creative Writing
Creative Writing – 11th or 12th
0.5 credit
Prerequisite: English I and English II
Creative Writing is offered as a half-credit course open to all upperclassmen. Several genres of writing
including memoirs, poetry, short stories, fairy tales and one-act plays as well as the creative process itself
are explored. Students complete exercises in characterization, dialogue and setting development and share
them with their classmates to be critiqued. A student-produced online anthology is compiled by the end of
the semester highlighting the best efforts of the class. Possible venues of publication are also explored.
Novels
Novels – 11th or 12th
0.5 credit
Prerequisite: English I and English II
The Novels class is offered as a half-credit course open to upperclassmen. The class engages students in
the close reading and critical analysis of literary novels. Students will study a diverse selection of novels to
gain an awareness of their scope and variety. Characters, setting, plot, theme, and other elements will be
discussed in order to analyze, interpret, and evaluate their significance. The course will be organized
around various thematic units. Students will write several short literary analyses and work in group settings
on a variety of research projects.