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their understanding of global cultures; and compare/contrast literature from various historical and global settings with the aim of achieving a greater understanding of these works as they apply to the students’ world today. Assigned texts include Fahrenheit 451, Night, Things Fall Apart, Woman Warrior, Frankenstein, Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, and essays from the Bedford Reader. The poetry unit consists of poems from global authors, and culminates in our annual Poetry Out Loud recitation contest. Through the close consideration of these works, students also explore authorial intent – the author’s political, religious, social and/or moral position – and then discuss its contemporary world applications and implications. In addition, a rhetoric unit prepares students for the AP course the following year. The writing goals of this course are to expand upon the five-paragraph, thesis-driven essay form, to introduce the concepts of rhetoric, and to put these into practice in essays that take a position and support it. Students will also be introduced to SAT vocabulary and learn to write effective essays for the SAT writing section. Assessments include daily participation in discussion, regular reading and annotation checks, formal literary analysis essays and related assignments, argumentative essays, a major research essay and a final exam. Prerequisite: English 9 and departmental permission
AP SEMINAR (3 CREDITS)
NCAA
Level: Advanced Placement, grade 10 or 11, may be taken in place of English course Overview: AP Seminar is a foundational course that engages students in cross-curricular conversations that explore the complexities of academic and real-world topics and issues by analyzing divergent perspectives. Students will explore the nexus between global political institutions, citizenship and individual rights. Students will research and contemplate such topics as democracy, socialism, universal suffrage, free speech, and human rights. Using an inquiry framework, students practice reading and analyzing articles, research studies, and foundational literary and philosophical texts; listening to and viewing speeches, broadcasts, and personal accounts; and experiencing artistic works and performances. Students learn to synthesize information from multiple sources, develop their own perspectives in research-based written essays, and design and deliver oral and visual presentations, both individually and as part of a team. Ultimately, the course aims to equip students with the power to analyze and evaluate information with accuracy and precision in order to craft and communicate evidence-based arguments. Prerequisite: departmental permission
ENGLISH 11 (3 CREDITS)
NCAA
Level: Grade 11, select grade 12 and international students Overview: This American literature survey course introduces students to the best of the American writing tradition, including Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Death of a Salesman, Cannery Row and The Great Gatsby, as well as short stories and poetry. These classics are often paired with contemporary works, such as The Kite Runner, assorted short stories and essays. Students engage in intensive reading of the literature and focus on developing critical reading and writing abilities. Students write several analytical essays and complete assignments in a variety of other genres: personal, creative, expository, argumentative and research. Process writing – brainstorming, outlining, drafting, revising, editing – of each major paper assignment is required and graded during each phase. The goal is to have students expand upon the five-paragraph essay format and embrace more rhetorical strategies to build more authoritative voice and style in their prose. SAT practice prompts are offered to help prepare for the exam, and instruction is given on structure, syntax, grammar and MLA formatting. Teacher conferences are an important component of this writing program. Assessments include eight to ten major writing assignments, weekly journals, and process writing assignments; regular quizzes on the reading and tests following each major reading unit; and a final exam. Daily class participation is expected. Grades are based on class preparation and engagement in class discussion. Prerequisite: English 10 or approval of the ESL and English departments
AP ENGLISH LANGUAGE & COMPOSITION (3 CREDITS)
10
NCAA
Level: Advanced Placement, grade 11 Overview: The goal of this course is to develop students' writing and reading skills to a college level and prepare students for the Advanced Placement English Language and Composition exam in the spring. Students read and carefully analyze a broad and challenging range of nonfiction (and some fiction) prose selections. The major texts for this course include The Bedford Reader and The Best American Essays of the Century. However, students will also read American literary works such as, The Great Gatsby, The Awakening, A River Runs Through It, and Walden and Other Writings. Writing is examined by utilizing the template of Aristotle's definition of the rhetorical situation. Writing assignments include literary analyses, memoir, creative writing, argumentative essays, editorials, press releases, journals and textual analyses. Students keep a journal comprised of informal, unpolished responses to the assigned readings and write in class each week, including timed impromptus. Individual and group exercises focus on discovery, organization, thesis development, argument development and presentation with detailed feedback in regularly scheduled teacher conferences throughout the school year. The AP exam in May is mandatory. Prerequisite: departmental permission