English
Instructional Leader: Molly Leahy
The purpose of the English program is to develop in all students the language arts and skills they will need and want in order to live productive lives in the twenty-first century. Students learn the standard forms and styles of oral and written language used in the academic, business and technical worlds. Each course requires students to improve grammatical and vocabulary usage, spelling, and methods of analyzing and expressing ideas. The level of literature to be studied in each course is determined by the needs and abilities of the students. Elective courses in English are for enrichment and do not satisfy the English graduation requirements.
HONORS SEQUENCE AND ADVANCED PLACEMENT
This sequence of courses is designed for students with a high degree of interest in the study of the English language and its literature, a demonstrated aptitude for the study of English at an advanced level, and a record of high achievement in the study of English. Students can expect to exercise a great deal of independent responsibility for learning.
Prerequisites
Students recommended for Honors and AP level courses should have an A average in the same subject in their current Academic level course or an A or B in their current Honors level course. Additionally, 9th and 10th grade students should have a 40% or greater probability of scoring Advanced on the Literature Keystone Exam or a 70% or greater probability of scoring Proficient on the Literature Keystone Exam.
ENGLISH 9 HONORS
Grade 9
ENG130 1.0 credit
English 9 utilizes SpringBoard ELA (English I) as the core curriculum and is an integrated, standards-aligned, research-based English Language Arts (ELA) instructional program. The goals of this course include allowing students to interact and engage with texts in increasingly meaningful ways, helping students refine their thinking and dig deeply into the texts they read, engaging students in collaborative learning activities, and offering varied and frequent writing opportunities to enhance students’ comprehension and writing abilities.
ENGLISH 10 HONORS
Grade 10
ENG230 1.0 credit
English 10 utilizes SpringBoard ELA (English II) as the core curriculum and is an integrated, standards-aligned, research-based English Language Arts (ELA) instructional program. The goals of this course include allowing students to interact and engage with texts in increasingly meaningful ways, helping students refine their thinking and dig deeply into the texts they read, engaging students in collaborative learning activities, and offering varied and frequent writing opportunities to enhance students’ comprehension and writing abilities.
ENGLISH 11 & 12 HONORS
Eleventh and twelfth grade students are required to take an assigned 0.5 credit English course each year. All 11th grade students must take American Literature I Honors. Twelfth grade students must take British Literature I Honors. Students must then choose a second 0.5 credit course each year from those options listed below.
ENGLISH LITERATURE: AMERICAN LITERATURE I HONORS (REQUIRED)
Grade 11
ENG331 0.5 credit
An in-depth study of the great works of American literature enables students to understand their history and their culture. Through the lens of famous and pivotal writings, students will see how our country emerged and shaped its identity, from the era of the early settlers to the modern era. These essential works of prose and fiction will challenge students to sharpen their critical reading and thinking skills. Vocabulary from these works of literature will help students further their word study skills as they prepare for the Scholastic Aptitude Test junior year. This course is required of all eleventh grade students.
ENGLISH LITERATURE: BRITISH LITERATURE I HONORS (REQUIRED)
Grade 12
ENG431 0.5 credit
The goal of this course is to prepare students for success in college and/or careers. Students will read, discuss, and write about literature from a variety of sources, with emphasis on some of the great works of traditional British literature, from Anglo-Saxon works through the plays and poetry of the Renaissance. Students will explore various themes as they read and respond to the literature against a backdrop of British social and political history. The universal themes of these classic and timeless texts will provide opportunities to draw contemporary connections. This course gives students a rich exposure to classic texts including epics, legends, histories, poetry, short stories, novels, and drama. This course is required of all twelfth grade students.
ENGLISH LITERATURE: PATHWAYS TO PROFESSIONAL READING & WRITING HONORS
Grades 11 & 12
ENG433 0.5 credit
This course uses a workshop approach to facilitate each student’s personal reflections about themselves, their roles in familial and social communities, and their successes in future careers. Students who will enter the workforce immediately and those who will attend post-secondary education will benefit from this course as it focuses on real-world writing and how to make practical connections. Required writings will include real-world applications, including: professional use of social media, the formulation of proposals, speeches and presentations in real-world situations. The readings for this course include coming of age literature which explores questions, such as: Who am I? How are my experiences similar to others? What can I learn about myself to best prepare myself for life after high school? Fiction and nonfiction literary selections specifically address personal issues and relationships, as well as social and global issues. The course emphasizes skill development in reading, writing, and analysis through essays, professional blogs, webpages, and nonfiction pieces related to a variety of careers. Literature pieces offer student-choice for novels, plays, poetry and short stories to explore individual, family and social issues across generations. This course fulfills a required 0.5 English credit for eleventh and twelfth grade students.
ENGLISH LITERATURE: ARTiculation: CONVERSATIONS & COLLABORATION HONORS
Grades 11 & 12
ENG434 0.5 credit
In this course, students will examine relationships between particular literary works and their visual and musical interpretations. Students will study a set of major literary works along with various types of artistic interpretations to better understand the original audience and subsequent changes related to changes in meaning and significance over time. After evaluating and interpreting these connections, students will also create, respond to, and/or develop their own works in a personal and artistic manner. Students will analyze and interpret themes and patterns in literature and the arts while developing their critical and reflective skills. This process may include evaluation of social, cultural, and historical patterns. Students choosing this course should have a passion for reading, writing, and creativity, with a willingness to discuss ideas in an open-minded environment. They should expect to study interesting and challenging works, to write analytically, and to understand how mutually inspiring art and writing are. This course fulfills a required 0.5 English credit for eleventh and twelfth grade students.
ENGLISH LITERATURE: BIG THINKERS: PHILOSOPHY, RHETORIC, & DEBATE HONORS
Grades 11 & 12
ENG435 0.5 credit
This course allows students to extend analytical and critical reading skills and to hone their public speaking and debating abilities, while reading influential works from philosophers across the ages. The readings for this class comprise of both classic pieces of literature exemplifying a philosophical movement and teachings and writings of great philosophers of classic and contemporary times. Students will explore the philosophical concepts behind major novels and investigate world thinkers that have shaped wisdom across cultures and ages. From classic sages to modern gurus, students will study a variety of approaches to big-picture thinking. Students will practice advanced rhetoric, academic research, and textual evidence as various means of persuasion. This course fulfills a required 0.5 English credit for eleventh and twelfth grade students.
ENGLISH LITERATURE: HEROES & MONSTERS HONORS
Grades 11 & 12
ENG436 0.5 credit
Heroes and monsters have been part of the human experience since storytelling began. They have had a profound influence on society and culture. Heroes and monsters can be found everywhere, from our most ancient stories to Shakespeare to the silver screen. They are represented in pictures and words in the earliest cave paintings and in modern comic books. In this course students will explore the question: Why do we create heroes and monsters? Students will explore various examples of hero and monster archetypes as metaphors, as well as storytelling devices. Students will research, read, review and discuss stories of both mythical and modern heroes and monsters and develop an understanding of how characters such as Grendel, King Arthur, Frankenstein’s monster, Superman, Dr. Jekyll, and Mr. Hyde have become cultural icons. Students should expect to read, analyze, research and discuss literary texts and examples to improve reading, writing, critical thinking, and presentation skills. This course fulfills a required 0.5 English credit for eleventh and twelfth grade students.
ENGLISH LITERATURE: THE WORLD ON A STAGE HONORS
Grades 11 & 12
ENG439 0.5 credit
A powerful way to experience literature is to view the idea of story acted out upon the stage. Characters seem larger, conflicts seem more intense, and themes become more memorable when readers participate study dramas. This course will focus on contemporary plays that reveal great insight into the problems and issues of the age when the playwright created the play and when it was first performed. Students will make connections to literary movements and historical periods in discussing how the play reaches audiences. Reading the plays, analyzing their universal themes, and critiquing performances of these plays will leave students with a greater appreciation for theater and literature as an art. This course fulfills a required 0.5 English credit for eleventh and twelfth grade students.
ENGLISH LITERATURE: TRIUMPHS & TRAGEDIES IN THE WORLD OF SPORTS HONORS
Grades 11 & 12
ENG438 0.5 credit
Sport often mirrors life. Many metaphors in our daily conversation originate from the language of sports. This course will look at the lives of heroic sports figures and review their triumphs and tragedies in life and in competition. We will delve into many of the same themes and ideas Shakespeare examines in his greatest works. We will use sports as a lens to look at life, since national and global issues often emerge on the playing field. Classic literature, memoirs, and journalism pieces will inspire discussion and reflection for students to analyze how sports is a lens through which to examine life. The course will require reading, writing, research and participation in class discussion and projects. Students will examine varied sources, including current news from the world of sports, to track the triumphs and tragedies, and the rise and the fall of some of the greatest names in sports. The ultimate goal of this course is to prepare students for success by studying conflict, character, and themes from athletic competition. This course fulfills a required 0.5 English credit for eleventh and twelfth grade students.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE & COMPOSITION ADVANCED PLACEMENT
Grades 11 & 12
ENG441 1.0 credit
This college-level course critically examines the power of writing with a special focus on non- fiction works. Students will develop the skills needed to analyze language, writing, and literature while learning to communicate their findings in standard academic formats. Major writing units feature: the literature of letters, the autobiographical essay, the rhetoric of logic and argument, and writing for research. Students will read the course text Language of Composition, as well as short essays from current periodicals and other literature. Students can expect to work with sample AP questions to prepare for the exam. The course is excellent preparation for advanced studies in literature, including English Literature and Composition (AP).
NOTE: It is the RECOMMENDATION of both the College Board and the English Department that students select the Language and Composition Course prior to taking the Literature and Composition Course. Prior to the end of the school year, it is the student’s responsibility to obtain and complete the Summer Assignment.
Students are strongly encouraged to schedule and take the Advanced Placement examination administered by the College Board.
ENGLISH LITERATURE & COMPOSITION ADVANCED PLACEMENT
Grades 11 & 12
ENG442 1.0 credit
This college-level course develops the skills needed to analyze and criticize language and literature and to communicate findings in standard academic formats. Students will apply accepted approaches to confront different types and styles of literature. The course is an excellent preparation for advanced studies in literature and for college-level writing and literature study. Major units for the year include Narrative Poetry and Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and the Modern Novel. Students should expect to read a significant work every two to three weeks on average and to have a major test or essay on each. Students will also be responsible for vocabulary study as well as grammar and punctuation reviews throughout the year. Students will have direct instruction on writing thesis papers and will be expected to apply in their papers the principles that are discussed in class.
NOTE: It is the RECOMMENDATION of both the College Board and the English Department that students select the Language and Composition Course prior to taking the Literature and Composition Course. Prior to the end of the school year, it is the student’s responsibility to obtain and complete the Summer Assignment.
Students are strongly encouraged to schedule and take the Advanced Placement examination administered by the College Board.
ACADEMIC SEQUENCE
ENGLISH 9
Grade 9
ENG120 1.0 credit
English 9 utilizes SpringBoard ELA (English I) as the core curriculum and is an integrated, standards-aligned, research-based English Language Arts (ELA) instructional program. The goals of this course include allowing students to interact and engage with texts in increasingly meaningful ways, helping students refine their thinking and dig deeply into the texts they read, engaging students in collaborative learning activities, and offering varied and frequent writing opportunities to enhance students’ comprehension and writing abilities
ENGLISH 10
Grade 10
ENG220 1.0 credit
English 10 utilizes SpringBoard ELA (English II) as the core curriculum and is an integrated, standards-aligned, research-based English Language Arts (ELA) instructional program. The goals of this course include allowing students to interact and engage with texts in increasingly meaningful ways, helping students refine their thinking and dig deeply into the texts they read, engaging students in collaborative learning activities, and offering varied and frequent writing opportunities to enhance students’ comprehension and writing abilities.
ENGLISH 11 & 12
11th and 12th grade students are required to take an assigned 0.5 credit English course each year. All 11th grade students must take American Literature I. 12th grade students must take British Literature I. Students must then choose a second 0.5 credit course each year from those options listed below.
ENGLISH LITERATURE: AMERICAN LITERATURE I (REQUIRED)
Grade 11
ENG321 0.5 credit
An in-depth study of the great works of American literature enables students to understand their history and their culture. Through the lens of famous and pivotal writings, students will see how our country emerged and shaped its identity, from the era of the early settlers to the Civil War. These essential works of prose and fiction will challenge students to sharpen their critical reading and thinking skills. Vocabulary from these works of literature will help students further their word study skills as they prepare for the Scholastic Aptitude Test junior year. This course is required of all eleventh grade students.
ENGLISH LITERATURE: BRITISH LITERATURE I
Grade 12
ENG421 0.5 credit
The goal of this course is to prepare students for success in college and/or careers. Students will read, discuss, and write about literature from a variety of sources, with emphasis on some of the great works of traditional British literature, from Anglo-Saxon works through the plays and poetry of the Renaissance. Students will explore various themes as they read and respond to the literature against a backdrop of British social and political history. The universal themes of these classic and timeless texts will provide opportunities to draw contemporary connections. This course gives students a rich exposure to classic texts including epics, legends, histories, poetry, short stories, novels, and drama. This course is required of all twelfth grade students.
ENGLISH LITERATURE: PATHWAYS TO PROFESSIONAL READING & WRITING
Grades 11 & 12
ENG423 0.5 credit
This course uses a workshop approach to facilitate each student’s personal reflections about themselves, their roles in familial and social communities, and their successes in future careers. Students who will enter the workforce immediately and those who will attend post-secondary education will benefit from this course as it focuses on real-world writing and how to make practical connections. Required writings will include real-world applications, including: professional use of social media, the formulation of proposals, speeches and presentations in real-world situations. The readings for this course include coming of age literature which explores questions, such as: Who am I? How are my experiences similar to others? What can I learn about myself to best prepare myself for life after high school? Fiction and nonfiction literary selections specifically address personal issues and relationships, as well as social and global issues. The course emphasizes skill development in reading, writing, and analysis through essays, professional blogs, webpages, and nonfiction pieces related to a variety of careers. Literature pieces offer student-choice for novels, plays, poetry and short stories to explore individual, family and social issues across generations. This course fulfills a required 0.5 English credit for eleventh and twelfth grade students.
ENGLISH LITERATURE: ARTiculation: CONVERSATIONS & COLLABORATION
Grades 11 & 12
ENG424 0.5 credit
In this course, students will examine relationships between particular literary works and their visual and musical interpretations. Students will study a set of major literary works along with various types of artistic interpretations to better understand the original audience and subsequent changes related to changes in meaning and significance over time. After evaluating and interpreting these connections, students will also create, respond to, and/or develop their own works in a personal and artistic manner. Students will analyze and interpret themes and patterns in literature and the arts while developing their critical and reflective skills. This process may include evaluation of social, cultural, and historical patterns. Students choosing this course should have a passion for reading, writing, and creativity, with a willingness to discuss ideas in an open-minded environment. They should expect to study interesting and challenging works, to write analytically, and to understand how mutually inspiring art and writing are. This course fulfills a required 0.5 English credit for eleventh and twelfth grade students.
ENGLISH LITERATURE: BIG THINKERS: PHILOSOPHY, RHETORIC, & DEBATE
Grades 11 & 12
ENG425 0.5 credit
This course allows students to extend analytical and critical reading skills and to hone their public speaking and debating abilities, while reading influential works from philosophers across the ages. The readings for this class comprise of both classic pieces of literature exemplifying a philosophical movement and teachings and writings of great philosophers of classic and contemporary times. Students will explore the philosophical concepts behind major novels and investigate world thinkers that have shaped wisdom across cultures and ages. From classic sages to modern gurus, students will study a variety of approaches to big-picture thinking. Students will practice advanced rhetoric, academic research, and textual evidence as various means of persuasion. This course fulfills a required 0.5 English credit for eleventh and twelfth grade students.
ENGLISH LITERATURE: HEROES & MONSTERS
Grades 11 & 12
ENG426 0.5 credit
Heroes and monsters have been part of the human experience since storytelling began. They have had a profound influence on society and culture. Heroes and monsters can be found everywhere, from our most ancient stories to Shakespeare to the silver screen. They are represented in pictures and words in the earliest cave paintings and in modern comic books. In this course students will explore the question: Why do we create heroes and monsters? Students will explore various examples of hero and monster archetypes as metaphors, as well as storytelling devices. Students will research, read, review and discuss stories of both mythical and modern heroes and monsters and develop an understanding of how characters such as Grendel, King Arthur, Frankenstein’s monster, Superman, Dr. Jekyll, and Mr. Hyde have become cultural icons. Students should expect to read, analyze, research and discuss literary texts and examples to improve reading, writing, critical thinking, and presentation skills. This course fulfills a required 0.5 English credit for eleventh twelfth grade students.
ENGLISH LITERATURE: THE WORLD ON A STAGE
Grades 11 & 12
ENG429 0.5 credit
A powerful way to experience literature is to view the idea of story acted out upon the stage. Characters seem larger, conflicts seem more intense, and themes become more memorable when readers participate study dramas. This course will focus on contemporary plays that reveal great insight into the problems and issues of the age when the playwright created the play and when it was first performed. Students will make connections to literary movements and historical periods in discussing how the play reaches audiences. Reading the plays, analyzing their universal themes, and critiquing performances of these plays will leave students with a greater appreciation for theater and literature as an art. This course fulfills a required 0.5 English credit for eleventh and twelfth grade students.
ENGLISH LITERATURE: TRIUMPHS & TRAGEDIES IN THE WORLD OF SPORTS
Grades 11 & 12
ENG438 0.5 credit
Sport often mirrors life. Many metaphors in our daily conversation originate from the language of sports. This course will look at the lives of heroic sports figures and review their triumphs and tragedies in life and in competition. We will delve into many of the same themes and ideas Shakespeare examines in his greatest works. We will use sports as a lens to look at life, since national and global issues often emerge on the playing field. Classic literature, memoirs, and journalism pieces will inspire discussion and reflection for students to analyze how sports is a lens through which to examine life. The course will require reading, writing, research and participation in class discussion and projects. Students will examine varied sources, including current news from the world of sports, to track the triumphs and tragedies, and the rise and the fall of some of the greatest names in sports. The ultimate goal of this course is to prepare students for success by studying conflict, character, and themes from athletic competition. This course fulfills a required 0.5 English credit for eleventh and twelfth grade students.
ENGLISH ELECTIVES
CREATIVE WRITING
Grades 9-12
ENG501 0.5 credit
During this workshop-style course, students will study the nature of creativity for the purpose of developing fluency and confidence in writing poetry, short stories, and scripts. They will study numerous creative genres and will compose pieces ranging from a personal narrative to a reflective poem to a thematic performance piece. Through daily writing, students will develop a writer’s notebook and maintain a portfolio to reflect on their writing pieces. Students will have the opportunity to share their drafts in conferences with their classmates and teachers as an aid in the revision process.
MYTH AND LANGUAGE
Grades 9-12
ENG505 0.5 credit
This course explores famous myths and legends of primarily Greek mythology, while also investigating the stories from other cultures, such as Norse, Egyptian, Native-American, Japanese, Caribbean, Celtic, and more. Students will analyze the stories of gods and goddesses, heroes, flawed characters, and monsters, showing how these characters and themes are relevant today. Furthermore, weekly lessons on Greek and Latin roots of our language will enhance students' reading, writing, and speaking. This course will provide a strong foundation for further studies of literature and language and is extremely project-based, so students can expect to have a lot of options for how they learn.
PUBLIC SPEAKING – THE ART OF COMMUNICATION AND PERSUASION
Grades 9-12
ENG506 0.5 credit
Students will gain knowledge about the power of the spoken word by exploring the elements of classical rhetoric as it has developed and been refined through the ages. They will study many of the world’s great speakers, both throughout history and in contemporary society. Persuasive writing and the analysis of persuasion used in the media will also be a focus. This course is primarily project-based so that students can practice the skills they learn through speeches and debates. Students will also be guided in the use of 21st Century technology tools to assist them in their research and preparation. Emphasis will be on speaking skills to promote success in the “real world.” The final project is an advertising campaign and it is group-based.
SCRIPT, STAGE AND SCREEN
Grades 9-12
ENG507 0.5 credit
This course explores how works of literature transform from the pages of a book to performance in either movies or stage productions. Studying the works of directors and authors, such as Hitchcock and Shakespeare, students will read books and plays that have made their way onto the big screen as a platform to study characterization, plot changes, costume, make-up design, staging and some elements of production, both for screen and stage. This course is open to students with all levels of interest and understanding. Outside reading, performance, short papers and storyboarding are required.
AMERICA LIKE ME: EXPLORING CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN LITERATURE
Grades 10-12
ENG508 0.5 credit
America proudly gathers strength and beauty from the diversity of its people. As our country continues to evolve, we lend our ear to new voices who share their unique experiences and contribute to America’s beauty and struggle. America Like Me - Exploring Contemporary American Literature examines the intersection of achieving the American Dream with many diverse experiences, including those of immigrants, African Americans, and other groups to understand how they have taken shape in the context of the past 50 years of America’s policies and culture. Students in this class will draw from diverse authors, documentaries, and non-fiction sources to gain a better understanding of these essential stories and experiences. Students will have the opportunity to read, write, research, and discuss contemporary issues in American society. Through the literature, students will ultimately learn to better navigate the world with a deeper appreciation and respect for the great diversity of our nation.