English

English Department

Department Chair:  Evva Starr

Grade 9 English Courses 

Honors English 9 

ENG2001A Hon English 9A

ENG2001B Hon English 9B

Course Description: Students will develop skills for close reading, textual analysis, and writing for a variety of purposes. Major tasks focus on narrative, analytical, and argumentative writing, with an emphasis on how to write the high school essay. 

Prerequisite: None

Grade 10 English Courses 

Honors English 10

ENG2003A Hon English 10A 

ENG2003B Hon English 10B 

Course Description: Students will develop skills for close reading, textual analysis, and writing for a variety of purposes. Major tasks focus on narrative, analytical, and argumentative writing, with an emphasis on personal and historical narratives.

Prerequisite: English 9

AP Seminar 10 

ENG2092A: English 10 AP Sem A

ENG2092B: English 10 AP Sem B

Course Description: AP Seminar 10 combines the Honors English 10 framework with the AP Seminar course, and students will be able to earn MCPS English graduation credit and College Board AP Seminar credit at the same time. AP Seminar is a foundational course that engages students in cross-curricular conversations that explore the complexities of academic and real-world topics and issues by analyzing divergent perspectives. Students practice reading and analyzing articles, research studies, and foundational literary texts; listening to and viewing speeches, broadcasts, and personal accounts; and experiencing artistic works and performances. Students learn to synthesize information from multiple sources, develop their own perspectives in research-based written essays, and design and deliver oral and visual presentations, both individually and as part of a team. During the AP Seminar 10 course, students complete two through-course performance tasks and an end-of-course exam for their final AP score, as well as specific Honors English 10 assignments and assessments. Students enrolled in this course will be required to take the MCAP in the spring, and will be eligible to enroll in AP Research should they wish to complete the AP Capstone Diploma. 

Prerequisite: English 9

Grade 11 English Courses 

Honors English 11

ENG2005A Hon English 11A

ENG2005B Hon English 11B

Course Description: Students will develop skills for close reading, textual analysis, and writing for a variety of purposes. Major tasks focus on narrative, analytical, and argumentative writing, with an emphasis on rhetorical analysis and synthesis.

Prerequisite: English 10 or AP Seminar 10

AP Language & Composition (Grade 11)

ENG2031A AP Language and Comp A

ENG2031B AP Language and Comp B

Course Description: A rigorous course focuses on building close reading and analytical writing skills, with an emphasis on rhetorical analysis and synthesis writing. Taking the AP exam is expected. Juniors in AP Lang 11 are highly encouraged to take AP Lit 12.

Prerequisite: English 10 or AP Seminar 10

Grade 12 English Courses 

Honors English 12

ENG2007A Hon English 12A

ENG2007B Hon English 12B

Course Description: Students will develop skills for close reading, textual analysis, and writing for a variety of purposes. Major tasks focus on narrative, analytical, and argumentative writing, with an emphasis on global narratives.

Prerequisite: English 11

AP Literature & Composition (Grade 12)

ENG2032A AP Literature and Comp A

ENG2032B AP Literature and Comp B

Course Description: This college level course provides a survey of classic and contemporary literature, with an emphasis on poetry, plays, and novels. Students work to develop close reading and writing skills in preparation for college level essay writing and success on the AP exam. Students are expected to take the AP exam.

Prerequisite: English 11

AP Language & Composition (Grade 12)

ENG2031A AP Language and Comp A 

ENG2031B AP Language and Comp B 

Course Description: A rigorous course focused on building close reading and analytical writing skills, with an emphasis on rhetorical analysis and synthesis writing. Students are expected to take the AP exam. Juniors in AP Lang 11 are highly encouraged to take AP Lit 12.

Prerequisite: English 11

Elective Courses 

Journalism A

ENG2053A Journalism A: Editing, Gathering, and Reporting the News (Introduction to Journalism- S1)

ENG2055 Publications Editing, Layout, and Business Management (Newspaper- S2)

Course Description: This progression is for first-year journalism students. Students learn the basics of journalistic writing including news, sports, features and opinion, as well as photojournalism, graphic design and page layout. Students who take 2053A in semester 1 are encouraged to sign up for 2055 (Newspaper - S2) for the spring semester, especially those who wish to serve as an editor. 2053A may be taken as a stand-alone, one-semester course without 2055 in the second semester.

Prerequisite: None

Grades: 9-12

Newspaper

ENG2054 Techniques of Advanced Journalism (Newspaper- S1) 

ENG2055 Publications Editing, Layout, and Business Management (Newspaper- S2)

Course Description: This advanced-level progression is for returning journalism students who have already taken 2053A. Students produce the school newspaper, Common Sense, writing, designing and editing both print and digital content.

Prerequisite: ENG2053A Journalism A

Grades: 10-12

Yearbook 

ENG2060A Yearbook 1A

ENG2060B Yearbook 1B

Course Description: An elective course teaches photojournalism, graphic design, page layout, and more. At the end of the year long course, students will have contributed to building a 300+ printed yearbook. Students who take Yearbook in the fall are encouraged to sign up for Yearbook B for the spring semester, especially those who wish to serve as an editor. Students must have taken a full year of Yearbook to be an editor.

Prerequisite: None

Grades: 9-12

ENG2103A Yearbook Executive Staff A 

ENG2103B Yearbook Executive Staff B 

Course Description: This course code is for second year and above Yearbook students. An advanced-level elective course where students work in leadership roles to help teach photojournalism, graphic design, page layout, editing, and more. At the end of the year-long course, students will have contributed to building a 300+ printed yearbook.

Prerequisite: Yearbook 1A/B 

Grades: 10-12

Film 

ENG2072 Media in Society (S1)

ENG2073 Literature As Film (S2)

Course Description: Let’s go to the movies! In this course, we will explore the history of film, study a variety of production techniques and genres, and critically analyze classic and contemporary films.

Prerequisite: None

Grades: 9-12

True Crime

ENG2033 Culture in Lit (True Crime)

Course Description: True Crime is a course that examines America’s fascination with true crime through examination of novels, podcasts and articles from a variety of publications. If you’re interested in mystery, unsolved crimes, discussion, and theory, then this is the class for you!

Prerequisite: None

Grades: 9-12

Modern African American Literature

ENG2039 Modern African American Literature

Course Description: Grandmaster Flash.  Rita Dove.  Toni Morrison. Yusef Komunyakaa. What do they have in common? They are just some of the voices  – along with those in  stories, music, poems, films and essays – we will examine as we learn about modern African American literature and culture. What is African American literature today? Come find out.

Prerequisite: None

Grades: 9-12

Shakespeare, Race, and Gender

ENG 2086 Shakespeare, Race, And Gender

Course Description: Analyze Shakespeare to ask questions about societal problems like racism, antisemitism, sexism, homophobia. No worksheets, no lectures, no translating. Yes to discussions, movies, acting, music, art, and creativity. We’ll use interpretations of Shakespeare to battle White supremacy and be critical of Shakespeare’s historical position as a tool of colonialism.

Prerequisite: None

Grades: 9-12

Creative Writing 

ENG2048A Creative Writing A

ENG2048B Creative Writing B

Course Description: Creative Writing is an opportunity to explore and dabble with a range of writing forms including creative nonfiction, (memoir, personal narrative, nature writing, journalistic essays, combined disciplines like science/storytelling) as well as fiction, poetry, lyrics, playwriting, collaborative compositions, and science fiction.  

Prerequisite: None

Grades: 9-12

AP Electives

AP Seminar Elective

NSS2023A AP Seminar A

NSS2023B AP Seminar B

Course Description: This is a foundational course that engages students in cross-curricular conversations that explore the complexities of academic and real-world topics and issues by analyzing divergent perspectives. Students learn to synthesize information from multiple sources, develop their own perspectives in written essays, and design and deliver oral and visual presentations. The course aims to equip students to craft and communicate evidence-based arguments.  Participation makes students eligible for participation in the AP Capstone Diploma Program.  This course (or the AP Seminar 10 course) is required for students completing Wootton Science Capstone Plus and Humanities & Arts programs.  Find more information about the course at the College Board website.  

Prerequisite: English 9

Grades: 10-12

AP Research Elective

NSS2024A AP Research A

NSS2024B AP Research B

Course Description: AP Research allows students to explore deeply an academic topic, problem, or issue of individual interest. Students design, plan, and conduct a year-long research-based investigation to address a research question. Students further their skills acquired in the AP Seminar course by understanding research methodology; employing ethical research practices; and accessing, analyzing, and synthesizing information. The course culminates in an academic paper of 4000–5000 words and a presentation with an oral defense.  Completion of AP Research is required for participation in the AP Capstone Diploma Program. This course is required for students completing Wootton Science Capstone Plus and Humanities & Arts programs.  Find more information about the course at the College Board website.  

Prerequisite: AP Seminar A/B (10 or Elective)

Grades: 11-12

*Humanities & Arts Signature Program