Trimesters: three

The sixth grade English course is a year-long study of literature and grammar, in which students develop connections in reading and writing. The course largely focuses on American poetry and prose, allowing students a language experience that promotes cultural understanding and historical perspective in both traditional and modern forms. Text analysis, interpretation of meaning, and literary appreciation are paramount goals of the course. Practicing fundamental skills in grammar and usage as well as diagramming various sentence structures promote the application of writing in response to literature. Major literary selections for sixth grade English include: “The Tell-Tale Heart,” ”To Build a Fire”; The Red Pony; Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry; Friedrich; and Walk Two Moons. 

Trimesters: three

Enrollment in Honors English is determined by the English department, working in concert with the division director, and is based on a combination of standardized test scores, prior classroom performance, and overall demonstrated ability. The sixth grade Honors English course is a yearlong study of literature and grammar, in which students develop deeper connections in reading, writing, grammar, usage and mechanics. The course largely focuses on the independent reading of American poetry and prose, allowing students a language experience that promotes cultural understanding and historical perspective in both traditional and modern forms. Advanced text analysis, interpretation of meaning, literary appreciation and frequent essay writing are paramount goals of the course. Honors English students are expected to practice more advanced skills in grammar and usage as well as diagramming advanced sentence structure at a faster pace. Challenging literary selections include: “The Tell-Tale Heart”; “To Build a Fire”; The Red Pony; Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry; Friedrich; “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”; The Call of the Wild; and Walk Two Moons.

Trimesters: three

The sixth grade language arts class is comprised of two basic components: writing and vocabulary. Students are encouraged to write often and in many modes. Some compositions, such as journals, are informal and directed to increase fluency; other works, such as essays, are formal and progress through all of the stages of the writing process. Students collaborate as editors and workshop participants. A study of writing and vocabulary enjoy a reciprocal relationship. The Wordly Wise program provides a basis for a thorough effort to enhance students' reading and writing vocabularies.

Trimesters: three

This course is comprised of three trimesters, and each trimester has a different focus. The first trimester consists of math problem solving, while the second and third trimesters focus on research paper writing and reading comprehension. During the fall trimester, students will learn specific strategies for solving math problems that require higher-order thinking. During the winter, students will review and expand their research skills while writing an extensive research paper on a topic approved by the instructor. During the final trimester, students will read, analyze, and write about classic short stories and poetry, while honing their reading comprehension skills. Note: Same as course appearing in Mathematics section.

Trimesters: three

In seventh grade Accelerated English, students will practice the drafting and editing process to produce clear, concise writing to express their ideas and to analyze information. This will include direct instruction on sentence mechanics, usage, and grammar as it applies to the students’ own writing. Reading is an important focus of the class as well, particularly reading for an appreciation of the writer’s craft. Classroom work with literature will focus on providing students with the tools and experience needed for more in depth literary analysis. In addition to their independent reading, students will study these works: Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare. Through writing, reading, and class discussions, students will become critical thinkers who are well-prepared for the rigors of eight grade English. The continuation of the Wordly Wise program will also provide a basis for a thorough effort to enhance students’ reading and writing vocabularies.

Trimesters: three

Enrollment in Honors English is determined by the English department, working in concert with the division director, and is based on a combination of standardized test scores, prior classroom performance, and overall demonstrated ability. Seventh grade Honors English students will practice the drafting and editing process to produce clear, concise writing to express their ideas and to analyze information. This will include direct instruction on sentence mechanics, usage, and grammar as it applies to the students’ own writing. By studying more challenging literature, students will elevate their current reading levels. Therefore, classroom work with literature will focus on providing students with the tools and experience needed to investigate difficult vocabulary, allusions, and idioms. Specific works studied include: The Best of O’Henry Short Stories by O’Henry, Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain, Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare. With an understanding of the fundamentals of literary analysis, students will be able to construct multi-paragraph essays with greater depth, complexity, and independence. Through writing, reading, and class discussions, students will become critical thinkers who are well prepared for the rigors of more advanced literary analysis. The continuation of the Wordly Wise program will also provide a basis for a thorough effort to enhance students’ reading and writing vocabularies.

Trimesters: three

In seventh grade Language Arts, students will reinforce and continue the skills and concepts they have learned in seventh grade English. They will focus on becoming critical readers, writers, and thinkers through a holistic and thematic approach to understanding and using the English language. This approach integrates literature, reading comprehension, vocabulary, and grammar. A study of writing and vocabulary enjoy a reciprocal relationship. The Wordly Wise program provides a basis for a thorough effort to enhance students' reading and writing vocabularies.

Trimesters: three

Accelerated English 8 is thematically designed by trimester. In the fall trimester, students explore the corrupting nature of power through a study of Lord of the Flies and Animal Farm. In the winter trimester, students analyze the hero’s journey by studying the theory of scholar Joseph Campbell and applying it to the film Whale Rider and a novel of choice. Spring trimester centers on the ideas of ambition and greed, as illustrated through The Chocolate War, A Separate Peace, and Julius Caesar. Short stories and poems paired with each thematic unit add depth and nuance. Writing is a major focus of the course; students write short analytical essays at various points in their reading of each text as well as craft long analytical essays after reading the texts in entirety. Writing instruction emphasizes the importance of using evidence from the text to support an original argument. 

Trimesters: three

Honors English 8 is thematically designed by trimester. In the fall trimester, students explore the corrupting nature of power through a study of Lord of the Flies and Animal Farm. In the winter trimester, students analyze the hero’s journey by studying the theory of scholar Joseph Campbell and applying it to the film Whale Rider and a novel of choice. Spring trimester centers on the ideas of ambition and greed, as illustrated through Great Expectations and Julius Caesar. Short stories and poems paired with each thematic unit add depth and nuance. Honors students are expected to demonstrate willingness to read difficult texts and comfort with challenges in comprehending them. Writing is a major focus of the course; students write short analytical essays at various points in their reading of each text as well as craft long analytical essays after reading the texts in entirety. Writing instruction emphasizes the importance of using evidence from the text to support an original argument. In the honors course, writing is expected to be free of mistakes in grammar and mechanics. Honors students are expected to be ready for the development of high-level writing skills such as clarity, concision, and argument. 

Trimesters: three

In the eighth grade Language Arts course, students will develop and reinforce the skills they have learned in seventh grade, including grammar skills. They will continue to practice the full writing process and will write for a variety of purposes. They will also engage in critical reading, critical thinking, analysis, argumentation, and problem-solving. Students will build upon their seventh grade study of Greek and Roman mythology, and they will also study the Arthurian legends and Shakespeare’s The Tempest, as well as other pieces of short fiction and poetry.

Trimesters: three

In the ninth grade, students focus on the act of grappling with the complexities of literary texts through reading and writing for depth and purpose. Students are encouraged to “dig deep”, both into the texts themselves and into their reactions to the texts. Literary terms are taught as the “language of literature” and form the scaffolding for course discussions. Students begin the year by accessing a series of 20th century texts that find young adults in lead roles, a theme that ushers them into Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Students then shift into the territory of ancient literature, beginning with the literature of ancient belief systems (Tao Te Ching, Old Testament, Greek Mythology) and, ultimately, concluding with a trimester-long study of the various literature contributions of the Greeks. Students learn to interpret and to appreciate ancient literature’s relevance and its impact on contemporary literature and society through exposition and class discussion. Further, students study the Vocabulary Workshop Level D workbook and terms pertinent to the grammar and literature of the course. The development of writing skills involves writing in a variety of modes, from creative to expository to analytical. The Modern Language Association (MLA) citation rules are taught, and students are expected to apply them routinely.

Trimesters: three

The tenth grade English II curriculum revolves around the development of critical and literary tools with which students can approach, appreciate, and analyze diverse pieces of literature. The coursework focuses on medieval literature with an emphasis on the Western Canon. Students will produce close readings of texts, delving into linguistic, symbolic, and thematic particularities, as well as gain an understanding of how a text interacts with and reflects contemporary cultural concerns. Coursework will commence with a focus on the Old and New Testaments, the Qur'an, and Beowulf, and the year will continue with the study of literature from the fall of the Roman Empire through the Renaissance, including Dante's Inferno and Shakespeare's Macbeth. Additionally, students will enrich their own interpretation of literature through discussion, presentations, and extensive analytical, expository, and creative writing.

Trimesters: three

This course offers an in-depth approach to the various facets of American literature. From literature representing the experience of Americans from colonial times through the twentieth century, students read, discuss, evaluate, compare, and contrast genres of literature as varied as the American men and women who wrote the works. Special emphasis is placed on the historical and cultural relevance of these pieces, as well as the students’ writing skills as they begin the last half of their high school careers and think ahead to college. A variety of pedagogical approaches are used to amplify the diversity of the American literature curriculum.

Trimesters: three

See qualifications for advanced/AP courses.
This course is designed to prepare students for the Advanced Placement English Language and Composition exam through the study of rhetorical analysis and argumentation while providing an overview of American literature from the colonial to the Modern period. Focused on helping students move beyond pedestrian thinking, this course challenges students to read for greater understanding, to write with intent and fluidity, and to analyze the genres of writing more critically. All students enrolled in this course must take the AP exam in May.

Trimesters: three

This course offers a fantastic and wide-reaching survey of British literature from the end of the first millennium to contemporary writers. As the students delve into the writings of the English, Irish, Welsh, and Scottish, they will engage in small and large group discussions, various modes of writing, and evaluations. The students will study diverse genres from poetry and short stories to novels and drama. Through the close reading and discussion of these British works, the students will better realize the effect that the British poets, authors, and dramatists have had upon writers in the United States.

Trimesters: three

See qualifications for advanced/AP courses.
This course is been designed to assist students with the tools needed to become better readers, writers, and conversationalists of literature. The course focuses on various areas of prose, poetry, and drama composed throughout the centuries. The concentration of this course emphasizes the skills of close reading, discussion, and written response to literature. This course utilizes Carol Jago’s Literature & Composition as the main resource for short stories, poetry, and drama. Additionally, other texts are listed to test and push reading comprehension skills. These carefully selected works provide not only much enjoyment, but also continue building a personal library of knowledge, which is especially useful during discussion, in-class and out-of-class essay writing, and in preparation for the A.P. English Literature and Composition exam. All students enrolled in this course must take the AP exam in May.

Trimesters: Three

In this year-long elective course, students will undertake an extensive exploration of three special topics in writing and literature under the direction of members of the English faculty. Each trimester will focus on a different topic of writing or literary study, such as poetry writing, detective stories, creative nonfiction, the “other” in literature, contemporary novels, or fiction writing. Course content will largely be driven by the students who are enrolled in the course, under the guidance of their instructors.