English Classes

The English curriculum seeks to develop each student’s ability to think critically and creatively and to express themselves with confidence and clarity in speech and writing. The English program is a continuum of coursework in which reading and writing skills are developed as a student progresses from grade to grade. The goal of the English Department is to teach students to read intelligently and learn to interpret literature and language. The program provides various and challenging assignments to foster these skills.

English 9

Students will learn to write well-developed essays of at least 500 words. Writing assignments are based on literature, personal experience and opinions. Students will do a research project related to their reading. Students study vocabulary from the literature they read. Students are also expected to understand and use a basic sat of literary terms. Though reading selections change from year to year, a representative program in world literature includes Oedipus Rex, Romeo & Juliet, Beowulf, A lesson before Dying, The Alchemist, and other works of comparable quality. Short works from many cultures are also read.

English 10

Students learn to write critically about the literature they read with precision and mechanical accuracy. Critical and analytical writing is taught through a step by step process of brainstorming, outlining, editing and revision while much emphasis is also placed on creative and free writing which are at the core of the student’s writing experience. In context, grammar and vocabulary are taught cumulatively and on a weekly basis. Students review parts of speech and parts of a sentence, paragraph construction and develop an understanding for the use of figurative language which they employ in their own poetry books making up the final yearly portfolio project for English 10. Students study literature with special attention focused on the elements of story telling, theme, irony, satire and style. Students read a variety of works of poetry and fiction that deal with the global and cross-cultural themes of marginality and resilience. These include Lord of the Flies, Cry the Beloved Country, Bless Me Ultima, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, All Quiet on the Western Front, Night and Othello.

English 11

As these students study American History, the literary focus is on North and South America. The readings will relate to important historical events, demonstrate aspects of Latin American cultures and continue to develop the students’ abilities to interpret important literary themes. SAT formats are explored. The readings will include Hamlet, Middle Passage, I Tituba Black Witch of Salem, The Hookmen, Ethan Frome, Turn of Screw, or other works of comparable literary quality. Students will write detailed literary essays, do research and make formal oral presentations. A unit on sports psychology and creation of an action plan for their coming sports will also be included.

English 12

This course explores the diversity of the human experience through the world literature in hopes that they become aware of the connection between literature and culture, individual and society and how this is understood and interpreted through the lens of their own experiences. Students apply their literary vocabulary and analysis of key elements in literature into the realm of thought, ideas and abstraction. As students learn to advance their own analysis and interpretations, they are expected to test and support their ideas with details from literature. Students learn to identify relevant quotes and details from a text and reveal an understanding of principal themes and ideas, and in turn, construct clear critical thinking about literature. Students actively prepare for the SAT II writing and literature tests, focusing on complex sentence structure and writing a succinct 20-minute essay. They read a variety of works and compare and contrast important themes and styles in their discussion and writing. Titles include Beloved, Heart of Darkness, The Bear, The Death of Ivan Ilyich, The Wasteland, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Macbeth. The year culminates with a thesis project that explores a theme of their choice explored by specific writers.