Department of English
College Prep English I A (Grade 9)
College Prep English I B (Grade 9)
College Prep English I is the study of literature from a variety of periods, genres, and cultures. Major works include Animal Farm, The Odyssey, Romeo and Juliet, and Night. Emphasis will be placed on reading comprehension, writing, basic grammar skills, vocabulary study for PSAT preparation, and speaking. Students will practice research skills and develop an understanding of MLA format and works cited lists. Students will also produce 5-10 pages of polished work to put in their writing portfolios. Students will be expected to complete summer reading.
Honors English I A (Grade 9)
Honors English I B (Grade 9)
This course is an intensified approach to the genres of literature studied in English I. It is the study of literature from a variety of periods, genres, and cultures. Major works include Animal Farm, The Odyssey, Romeo and Juliet, and Night. Emphasis will be placed on reading comprehension, writing, basic grammar skills, vocabulary study for PSAT preparation, and speaking. Students will practice research skills and develop an understanding of MLA format and works cited lists. Students will work more independently than in CP English. Students will also produce 5-10 pages of polished work to put in their writing portfolios. Students will be expected to complete summer reading.
Prerequisites: an “A/B” average or better in the previous English class, a score in the 90th percentile on an approved standardized test or the Bishop McGuinness placement test.
College Prep English II A (Grade 10)
College Prep English II B (Grade 10)
This course is a comprehensive study of American literature from the Colonial Period to the present. Study includes the historical background to the literature, essays, sermons, short stories, poetry, drama and novels. Major works include: The Scarlet Letter, The Great Gatsby, The Crucible, Of Mice and Men, and A Farewell to Arms. Emphasis is placed on reading, vocabulary in context, responding, writing and analyzing. Students will write essays, perform research, study writing strategies, read extensively, listen and speak in class and maintain and submit a writer’s portfolio with 10-15 pages of polished writing. Students will be expected to complete summer reading.
Honors English II A (Grade 10)
Honors English II B (Grade 10)
This course is an intensified study of American literature from the Colonial Period to the present. Study includes the historical background to the literature, essays, sermons, short stories, poetry, drama and novels. Major works include: The Scarlet Letter, The Great Gatsby, The Crucible, Of Mice and Men, and A Farewell to Arms. Emphasis is placed on reading, vocabulary in context, responding, writing and analyzing. Students will work more independently than in CP English. Students will write essays, perform research, study writing strategies, read extensively, listen and speak in class and maintain and submit a writer’s portfolio with 10-15 pages of polished writing. Students will be expected to complete summer reading.
Prerequisites: an “A” average in COLLEGE PREP English I or at least a “B” in Honors English I, a 54 or higher average on the verbal and writing portion of the PSAT and teacher recommendation.
College Prep English III A (Grade 11)
College Prep English III B (Grade 11)
This is a study of the development of British literature from early Anglo-Saxon times through the present. Selections will include examples of poetry, essays, novels and drama. Major works include: Beowulf, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, Pride and Prejudice, Paradise Lost and A Room of One’s Own. Emphasis will be placed on the development of critical responses to literature, and students will produce a 15-20 page portfolio of polished writing, including a research essay. All students are expected to complete summer reading.
Honors English IIIA – (Grade 11)
Honors English IIIB – (Grade 11)
This is an intensified study of British literature from early Anglo-Saxon times through the present. Selections will include examples of poetry, essays, novels and drama. Major works include: Beowulf, Macbeth, Much Ado About Nothing, Pride and Prejudice, Paradise Lost and A Room of One’s Own. Students will work more independently than in CP English III. Emphasis will be placed on the development of critical responses to literature, and students will produce a 15-20 page portfolio of polished writing, including a research essay. All students are expected to complete summer reading.
Prerequisites: an “A” average in English II, or at least a “B” in Honors English II and a recommended 57 or higher average on the verbal and writing portions of the PSAT, and teacher recommendation.
Advanced Placement English Literature A (Grade 11)
Advanced Placement English Literature B (Grade 11)
This course includes a study of selected major works and composition in preparation for the Advanced Placement examination. Students will learn to form judgments about the effectiveness of language and style, to determine the relationship of passages to the theme of a work and to write effectively under timed and un-timed conditions. Students will be expected to complete summer reading, to read extensively outside of class, to complete research papers, and to participate actively in class discussion. Students are required to take the AP exam in May. AP Exam Fee required.
Prerequisites: Attendance at a mandatory informational meeting (time to be determined), an “A” in College Prep English II or a “B” or higher in Honors English II, an average of 60 on the verbal and writing skills portions on the PSAT or equivalent SAT score, adequate performance on a readiness assessment, and teacher recommendation.
College Prep English IV A (Grade 12)
College Prep English IV B (Grade 12)
The course is designed to help students become skilled readers of prose written by modern writers in a variety of disciplines and rhetorical contexts and to become skilled writers who compose for a variety of purposes. By their writing and reading in this course, students should become aware of the interactions among the writer’s purpose, audience expectations, and subjects, as well as the way generic conventions and the resources of language contribute to effective writing. This is a writing intensive course as students engage actively in writing and revision processes. Students will focus on one extended research project.
Honors English IV A (Grade 12)
Honors English IV B (Grade 12)
This course is for students who already have strong written and communication skills and are ready to transition to college level writing competency. The course is designed to help students become skilled readers of prose written by modern writers in a variety of disciplines and rhetorical contexts and to become skilled writers who compose for a variety of purposes. By their writing and reading in this course, students should become aware of the interactions among the writer’s purpose, audience expectations, and subjects, as well as the way generic conventions and the resources of language contribute to effective writing, both timed and untimed. This is a writing intensive course, but students are expected to complete summer reading and to read extensively from current periodicals/publications outside of class, as well as engage actively in writing and revision processes. Students will engage in two extended research projects.
Prerequisites: an “A” in COLLEGE PREP English III (or continued enrollment in Honors English III or AP English Literature) and teacher recommendation.
Advanced Placement English Language and Composition A (Grade 12)
Advanced Placement English Language and Composition B (Grade 12)
This year-long course is for students who already have strong written and communication skills and are ready to transition to college level writing competency. The course is designed to help students become skilled readers of prose written by modern writers in a variety of disciplines and rhetorical contexts and to become skilled writers who compose for a variety of purposes. By their writing and reading in this course, students should become aware of the interactions among the writer’s purpose, audience expectations, and subjects, as well as the way generic conventions and the resources of language contribute to effective writing, both timed and untimed. This is a writing intensive course, but students are expected to complete summer reading and to read extensively from current periodicals/publications outside of class, as well as engage actively in writing and revision processes. Students will engage in two extended research projects. Students must take a semester exam in January to prepare specifically for the exam and they are required to take the AP Language and Composition exam in May. AP Exam Fee required. Prerequisites: Attendance at a mandatory informational meeting at a time to be determined, an “A” in College Prep English III (or continued enrollment in Honors English III or AP English Literature) and teacher recommendation. Students must also have an average of 63 on the verbal and writing skills portions on the PSAT or be recommended by The College Board’s AP readiness index, and show a basic level of competency on the timed writing sample.
English Electives (These courses do not replace English requirements)
The Short Story (Grade 11, 12)
Story-telling and story reading are an integral part of every culture. This course will explore short stories written by classic and contemporary authors and survey a broad range of genres within the short story—fiction, non-fiction, essay, satire, science fiction, fantasy, detective fiction, allegory, and stream-of-consciousness. Students will analyze works for content, style and literary devices and consider how the works comment on society and reflect particular time periods and cultures. This is a one-semester course.
Literature and Film (Grade 11, 12)
This course is a study of classic and contemporary works of literature and film. Students will read, view, analyze, research and write in their exploration of literary, dramatic and cinematic qualities and techniques of film and the parallels of literature and film. Students will maintain a writer’s portfolio. This is a one-semester course.
A. Film genres will include film noir and comedy, both romantic and screwball.
B. Film genres will include tragedy, drama, and western.
This is a one-semester course.
Introduction to Newspaper A (Grade 9, 10, 11) Semester I
This is a publication preparation course. At this level students will be responsible for learning the basics of newspaper design, writing, and production and contribute to the completion of at least four editions of Blueprints, the school’s newspaper. Tasks will include examining, compiling and analyzing journalistic samples, long and short term planning, developing page design and layouts; writing news copy, editorials, feature articles, and newspaper columns, taking pictures and integrating digital photography and imaging.
Introduction to Yearbook (Graphic Design) B (Grade 9, 10, 11) Semester II
This is a publication preparation course. At this level, students will be responsible for learning the basics of yearbook design, writing, and production and contributing to the completion of Blueprints, the school’s annual. Focus will be on graphic design/photography. Tasks will include examining, compiling and analyzing journalistic samples, long and short term planning, developing page design and layouts, writing copy, taking pictures and integrating digital photography and imaging.
Advanced Yearbook A (Grade 10, 11, 12)
Advanced Yearbook B (Grade 10, 11, 12)
This is a publication intensive course. Students will be responsible for the planning, development, and completion of Blueprints, the school’s annual. Tasks will include long and short term planning, developing page design and layouts; writing copy; taking pictures and integrating digital photography and imaging; and generating income by selling advertisements.
Prerequisites: Completion of coursework in Graphic Arts, Photography, or Introduction to Yearbook with at least “C” average and teacher recommendation. Seniors who have maintained “As” in art or English will also be considered for staff positions. Students must apply formally for honors editorial positions.
Advanced Newspaper A (Grade 10, 11, 12)
Advanced Newspaper B (Grade 10, 11, 12)
This is a publication intensive course. Students will be responsible for the planning, development, and completion of at least four editions of Blueprints, the school’s newspaper. Tasks will include long and short term planning, developing page design and layouts; writing news copy, editorials, feature articles, and newspaper columns; taking pictures and integrating digital photography and imaging; and generating income by selling advertisements.
Prerequisites: Completion of coursework in Graphic Arts, Photography, or Introduction to Newspaper with at least “C” average and teacher recommendation. Seniors who have maintained an “A” in English class will also be considered for staff writer positions. Students must apply formally for editorial positions and those jobs are only open to students with at least one year background in journalism/newspaper/graphic arts.