ENGLISH 10 Level: Grade 10 and select international students Prerequisite: Grade 9 English course, or approval of the ESL and English departments
The learning theme of English 10 is “othering in action,” focusing on how human beings create groups and justify mistreatments of others. The objective of the course is to provide a robust reading and writing experience whereby students analyze and consider texts connected to dystopia, group making and discrimination in society. Reading assignments include Fahrenheit 451, Night, The Crucible, Persepolis and The Color of Water. The course also includes a major research unit. Class discussions and writing assignments based on these texts are supplemented with grammar instruction and preparation for the SAT. They will also work to build solid critical reading skills and acquire the process of analytical writing through classroom discussion and regularly scheduled thesisdriven papers. Assessments include: daily class discussions, weekly reading checks, literary analysis assignments and a final research paper, under the department theme of “the Golden Thread.”
HONORS ENGLISH 10 Level: Grade 10 and select Grade 11 students Prerequisite: Grade 9 English course and dept. permission
This honors level course is designed to prepare students for the rigors of AP Language & Composition in their junior year. Students are expected to complete reading and writing assignments at an accelerated pace and participate in class discussions on a deeper level. Students also read ancillary texts in conjunction with each major work studied to further their understanding of historical context and global perspectives. Students explore contextual relevance of the texts to individual and world perspectives; examine character and plot in the context of global themes; expand 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. The learning theme of English 10 is “othering in action,” focusing on how human beings create groups and justify mistreatments of others. The objective of the
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course is to provide a robust reading and writing experience whereby students analyze and consider texts connected to dystopia, group making, and discrimination in society. Reading assignments include Fahrenheit 451, Night, The Crucible, Persepolis and The Color of Water. The course also includes a major research unit. Class discussions and writing assignments based on these texts are supplemented with grammar instruction and preparation for the SAT. Students will also work to build solid critical reading skills and acquire the process of analytical writing through classroom discussion and regularly scheduled thesis-driven papers. Assessments include: daily class discussions, weekly reading checks, literary analysis assignments and a final research paper, under the department theme of “the Golden Thread.” AMERICAN LITERATURE Level: Grade 11, select Grade 12 students Prerequisite: English 10 or approval of the ESL/English depts.
This American literature survey course introduces students to the best of the American writing tradition, including iconic works such as The Great Gatsby. These classics are often paired with contemporary works such as The Kite Runner, A Raisin in the Sun, Fences and The Round House. Course reading also includes short stories, poetry and essays. Students engage in intensive reading of the literature and focus on developing their critical reading and writing ability. Students write several analytical essays and complete assignments in a variety of other forms: personal, creative, expository, argumentative and research. Process writing – brainstorming, outlining, drafting, revising, editing – of each major paper assignment is expected. The goal is to have students expand upon the five-paragraph essay format and develop a clear, economical and honest style in their prose. Instruction is given on elements of essay structure, syntax, grammar and MLA formatting. Teacher conferences are an important component of this writing program. Assessments include: four to six major writing assignments, as well as journals and process writing assignments; quizzes on the reading; and a final paper focusing on an essential question that covers the entire course. Daily class participation is expected, and participation is graded based on class preparation and engagement in class discussion. CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE Level: Grade 12, PG Prerequisite: Department placement required
The goal of this course is to offer students an environment with guided instruction for needed skillset review. A rich reading experience will help develop stronger comprehension, reading endurance and additional foundational strategies for improved academic performance. This course will reinforce literary analysis skills and the instructor will scaffold approaches to offer students more practice with reading strategies. The instructor will also reinforce and review paragraph