English 

English Full-Year Core Courses

English 9               Grade 9

English 9 provides a wide range of language arts skills in the areas of speaking, listening, writing, reading, and technology as established by the New Jersey Student Learning Standards. The course emphasizes the critical reading and thinking skills involved in the study of appropriate age-level World Literature with increasing text complexity, in a variety of genres including fiction and nonfiction: novels, plays, short stories, poetry, and memoirs. The course also emphasizes contextual vocabulary acquisition and a variety of writing skills. Basic elements of grammar, mechanics, and usage are emphasized throughout the writing process. Various methods of assessment including common skill based benchmarks are used. Students are expected to access and incorporate a variety of appropriate technology.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of English 8.  

Approved for NCAA DI and DII athletic eligibility. 

Honors English 9              Grade 9

Honors English 9 provides a wide range of language arts skills in the areas of speaking, listening, writing, reading, and technology as established by the New Jersey Student Learning Standards. The course emphasizes the critical reading and thinking skills involved in the intensive study of challenging appropriate age-level World Literature with increasing text complexity, in a variety of genres including fiction and nonfiction: novels, plays, short stories, poetry, and memoirs. The course also emphasizes contextual vocabulary acquisition and a variety of writing skills, focusing on students organizing and presenting several well-developed, thesis-driven, multi-paragraph essays that are refined in grammar, sentence structure, sophistication, and style. Various methods of assessment including common skill based benchmarks are used. Students are expected to access and incorporate a variety of appropriate technology. Comprehension, critical thinking, and literary analysis are reinforced, as well as independent reading.

Prerequisite: Minimum grade of a ‘90’ in 8th Grade English and Teacher Recommendation Required.  

Approved for NCAA DI and DII athletic eligibility. 

English 10                 Grade 10

English 10 provides a wide range of language arts skills in the areas of speaking, listening, writing, reading, and technology as established by the New Jersey Student Learning Standards. The course emphasizes the critical reading skills involved in the study of early American Literature in a variety of genres including novels, plays, poems, short stories, and memoirs. The course also emphasizes developmental vocabulary acquisition and expository writing skills, with a particular concentration in the persuasive essay and research done in conjunction with the Social Studies Department. Various methods of assessment including common skill based benchmarks are used. Students are expected to access and incorporate a variety of appropriate technology.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of English 9.  

Approved for NCAA DI and DII athletic eligibility. 

Honors English 10                 Grade 10 

Honors English 10 provides a wide range of language arts skills in the areas of speaking, listening, writing, reading, and technology as established by the New Jersey Student Learning Standards. The course emphasizes the critical reading and thinking skills involved in the intensive study of challenging appropriate age-level American Literature with increasing text complexity, in a variety of genres including fiction and nonfiction: novels, plays, short stories, poetry, and memoirs. The course also emphasizes contextual vocabulary acquisition and a variety of writing skills, focusing on students organizing and presenting several well-developed, thesis-driven, multi-paragraph essays that are refined in grammar, sentence structure, sophistication, and style, with a particular concentration in the persuasive essay and research done in conjunction with the Social Studies Department. Various methods of assessment including common skill based benchmarks are used. Students are expected to access and incorporate a variety of appropriate technology. Comprehension, critical thinking, and literary analysis are reinforced, as well as independent reading.

Prerequisite: Minimum grade of a ‘90’ in English 9 and Teacher Recommendation Required.  

Approved for NCAA DI and DII athletic eligibility. 

English 11                   Grade 11

English 11 provides a wide range of language arts skills in the areas of speaking, listening, writing, reading, and technology as established by the New Jersey Student Learning Standards. The course emphasizes the critical reading skills involved in the study of various texts that focus on the internal conflict of diverse characters and the connections that can be made with them, focusing on a variety of genres including novels, plays, poems, short stories, and memoirs. The course also emphasizes contextual vocabulary acquisition and a variety of writing skills. Basic elements of grammar, mechanics, and usage are highlighted throughout the writing process. Various methods of assessment including common skill based benchmarks are used. Students are expected to access and incorporate a variety of appropriate technology.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of English 10.  

Approved for NCAA DI and DII athletic eligibility. 

Honors English 11                  Grade 11

Honors English 11 provides a wide range of language arts skills in the areas of speaking, listening, writing, reading, and technology as established by the New Jersey Student Learning Standards. The course emphasizes the critical reading and thinking skills involved in the intensive study of challenging appropriate age-level literature with an emphasis on the internal conflict of diverse characters and the connections that can be made with them, focusing on a variety of genres including fiction and nonfiction: novels, plays, short stories, poetry, and memoirs. The course also emphasizes contextual vocabulary acquisition and a variety of writing skills, focusing on students organizing and presenting several well-developed, thesis-driven, multi-paragraph essays that are refined in grammar, sentence structure, sophistication, and style. Various methods of assessment including common skill based benchmarks are used. Students are expected to access and incorporate a variety of appropriate technology. Comprehension, critical thinking, and literary analysis are reinforced, as well as independent reading.

Prerequisite: Minimum grade of a ‘90’ in English 10 and Teacher Recommendation Required.  

Approved for NCAA DI and DII athletic eligibility. 

English 12                   Grade 12

English 12 exposes the learner to the philosophy, arts and literature of many cultures around the world—including the student’s own heritage. It is hoped that the learner will integrate the power of a culture’s literature, art, and belief system to stimulate an ongoing curiosity and a critical response. It is further hoped that students will learn about the world and its peoples and will teach their own classmates about their own personal heritage and culture. It is further intended that as a result of their exposure, reading and responding, the students will recognize and appreciate the human element of a culture (as opposed to the scientific side) and, as such, broaden their exposure to and acceptance of various human beliefs and behaviors culminating in a philanthropic view of the world and a better understanding of themselves. 

Prerequisite: Successful completion of English 11.   

Approved for NCAA DI and DII athletic eligibility. 

Honors English12                  Grade 12

Honors English12 emphasizes the critical reading and thinking skills involved in the intensive study of challenging appropriate age-level World Literature with increasing text complexity, in a variety of genres including fiction and nonfiction: novels, plays, short stories, poetry, and memoirs. This course exposes the learner to the philosophy, arts and literature of many cultures around the world—including the student’s own heritage. It is hoped that the learner will integrate the power of a culture’s literature, art, and belief system to stimulate an ongoing curiosity and a critical response. It is further hoped that students will learn about the world and its peoples and will teach their own classmates about their own personal heritage and culture. It is further intended that as a result of their exposure, reading and responding, the students will recognize and appreciate the human element of a culture (as opposed to the scientific side) and, as such, broaden their exposure to and acceptance of various human beliefs and behaviors culminating in a philanthropic view of the world and a better understanding of themselves.

Prerequisite: Minimum grade of a ‘90’ in English 11 and Teacher Recommendation Required.  

Approved for NCAA DI and DII athletic eligibility. 

AP English Language and Composition                      Grades 11

AP Language & Composition is a rigorous introductory college level course where students will be required to read and analyze a variety of non-fiction texts arranged thematically to allow a greater understanding of the context of the works. Through their close reading and analysis of daily and weekly essays, speeches, excerpts and visual texts from authors of different genders, cultural backgrounds and time periods, students will gain a better understanding of rhetoric and argument. In addition, students will improve their writing abilities through a variety of assignments including, but not limited to debates, speeches, argumentative, synthesis, and rhetorical analysis papers. Students are expected to participate in class discussions by providing questions, comments or observations on a daily basis. Weekly reading and writing will be assigned. Students enrolled in the AP Language and Composition course are expected to make a commitment to taking the AP Examination administered by the College Board in May. 

Prerequisite: Minimum grade of a ‘90’ in Honors English 10 and Teacher Recommendation Required.  

Approved for NCAA DI and DII athletic eligibility. 

AP English Literature and Composition                  Grades 12

AP Literature & Composition is a rigorous, college level English course that engages students in the careful reading and critical analysis of literature. Through the close reading of selected texts, students deepen their understanding of the way writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure for their readers. As they read, the students consider a writing piece’s structure, style and themes as well as such smaller-scale elements as the use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism and tone. The goals of the writing assignments are to increase students’ ability to explain clearly, cogently, even elegantly, what they understand about literary works and why they interpret them as they do. Emphasis is placed on stylistic maturity. This course includes intensive study of representative works from various genres and periods, concentrating on works and authors of recognized literary merit.  Reading in the AP course is both thorough and deliberate with focus on the work’s complexity, richness of meaning and analysis of literary form. Students enrolled in the AP Literature and Composition course are expected to make a commitment to taking the AP Examination administered by the College Board in May. 

Prerequisite: Minimum grade of a ‘90’ in Honors English 11 and Teacher Recommendation Required or completion of AP English Language and Composition.  

Approved for NCAA DI and DII athletic eligibility.  

English Half-Year Electives 

Creative Writing                Grades 9-12

Creative Writing is an elective course where students can explore their writing capabilities in a workshop environment. The exercises and formal pieces completed in this course will facilitate an improvement in the fluidity, cohesiveness and depth of their writing, both in and outside of the classroom. Students will learn to revise their work using concrete, sensory details and appropriate choice of diction, syntax, purpose, and audience.

Prerequisite: None.

Approved for NCAA DI and DII athletic eligibility.  

Film Studies                  Grades 9-12

Film Studies is a semester elective course that seeks to encourage an enjoyment and deeper understanding of different types of films (silent, narrative, the musical, documentary, and modern film) and the film distribution system through a critical understanding of how films work artistically, technically and socially. This course investigates "the meaning of American film," the history of American film and the ideology surrounding its creation and production. Students will conscientiously analyze the aesthetics of film through a series of films, written assignments, class discussions and internet-based projects and research. Ultimately, this course seeks to encourage an enjoyment and critical understanding of a variety of film genres up to modern day.

Prerequisite: None.

Public Speaking                  Grades 9-12

Public Speaking is an elective course that prepares students to speak in a variety of contexts, with emphasis on speaking with appropriate poise, voice, life, eye contact, gestures, and speed as well as delivering meaningful content. The beginning of the course focuses on research of the art of rhetoric, as well as oral and physical exercises to improve projection, pace, articulation, body language, and the interaction of technology. Students will dissect the written and spoken work of great orators, analyzing the qualities that make them effective (including ethos, pathos, and logos) as well as write original work and present speeches. Formal presentations include informative speeches, planning and executing half and full period lessons to each the class, formal group debates, and a mock graduations speech performed in the auditorium.

Prerequisite: None.

Approved for NCAA DI and DII athletic eligibility.