Goals

• Reality vs. Truth: How does literature shape our ideas of what is real?

• The Human Experience: How has the human experience changed over time?

• Historical/Social Context: What is the relationship between texts and context?

• Constructing Identity: How is a character’s identity forged within a work of literature?

• Literary Merit: What makes literature valuable?

• Scholarship: How does the study of literary criticism impact a reader's experience?

• Purpose: What is the appropriate way to develop a position when writing?

• Process: How does the writing process affect the quality of a piece?

• Audience: How can a writer best achiever her position with a specific audience?

• Research: How does the study and synthesis of source material support a claim?

• Language: How do appropriate conventions improve communication?

The English curriculum at Mercy follows the ACT College and Career Readiness Standards for Reading and English. These statements reflect important skills for succeeding beyond high school and will define the specific learning goals for each lesson and assignment.

All formal writing assignments will follow the MLA (Modern Language Association) Style, a set of specific guidelines for formatting papers and citing sources when composing scholarly writing within the humanities.