English
More about the English program
The English program focuses on improving students’ writing skills, grammar, and vocabulary. We help students practice skills to enable them to write and speak clearly. The literature ranges from poetry and short stories to the classics and modern novels, allowing students to participate in different types of literary analysis. Grammar is taught directly and indirectly through literature and writing. Compositions range from five-paragraph essays to literary analysis to informative research papers. Oral presentations are also an essential element of our curriculum. Additionally, students develop study and test-taking skills.
Required Courses
Literature and Composition
9th Grade
1.0 credit, year long course
Students will be immersed in novels, short stories, and a play, as well as exploring both creative and research writing. The study of grammar and ACT level vocabulary will help to provide the reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills essential for today’s students. Reading assignments may include: Of Mice and Men, To Kill a Mockingbird, Fahrenheit 451, The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, and Speak.
World Literature
10th Grade
1.0 credit, year long course
This year-long course is required for all 10th grade students at MSA. Students will develop their research, synthesis, writing, and reading skills. They will read and analyze a variety of fiction and nonfiction texts, and become experts at the use of MLA format. Reading assignments including Frankenstein, The Latehomecomer, Things Fall Apart, romantic poetry, and a Shakespeare drama. Students will read texts from around the world and analyze universal themes found in all storytelling. Students will also engage in a research project during the second semester.
American Literature
11th-12th Grade
1.0 credit, year long course
This year-long course will trace the history and development of literature in America from the colonial days to the early twenty-first century. Students will have a deeper understanding of the American experience after reading texts that include The Scarlet Letter, Of Mice and Men, The Great Gatsby, and others. Students will also be analyzing art, music, poetry and short stories from a variety of American authors, including works from the Harlem Renaissance and the Jazz Age. A culminating activity allows students to explore their own voice and make a contribution to Contemporary American Literature.
Composition
11th-12th Grade
0.5 credit, semester course
This semester long course is designed for students to work on proofreading skills, writing for a specific audience, and the three “C’s” of technical writing (clear, concise, complete). The writing will focus on: short clear, concise, and complete pieces of writing, college essays, and presentations that effectively include text, graphics, images and sound with writing. Preference is given to 12th grade students because this is a graduation requirement course.
Research Writing
11th-12th Grade
0.5 credit, semester course
This semester course is designed to help students practice an effective research writing process: prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing. Students will work on developing complex sentences with grammar exercises throughout the course; also, they will write four academic essays: a persuasive essay, a how-to research paper, a narrative research paper, and a multi-genre research paper. Each research paper will be written within a creative writing format. Preference is given to 12th grade students because this is a graduation requirement course.