English

List of 4 items.

• English I

  English I
  (1 credit; required for class 9)
  English I emphasizes the critical reading of literary texts in order to explore how different narratives inform our understanding of the world. Writing assignments – including literary analysis, rhetorical analysis, personal narrative, and creative writing — focus on form, audience, voice, and independence of thought. Grammar and vocabulary instruction prepare students for the stylistic  expectations of Upper School English. Additionally, students extend their oral communication skills through discussion  protocols, group presentations, and individual public speaking opportunities.

• English II

  English II
  (1 credit; required for class 10; prerequisite: English I)
  
  English II emphasizes thematic exploration as well as a deeper understanding of language and voice through an assortment of literary works and genres. The literature studied focuses on the ideas of community acceptance, power, and alienation. Personal writing is continued, and analytical writing is emphasized more strongly: students receive instruction in crafting arguable theses;
  in composing effective introductions and conclusions; and in finding, incorporating, and analyzing appropriate textual evidence. The study of vocabulary and grammar, particularly as used in constructing more sophisticated sentences, continues to be an important part of this course, as it was in English I.

• AP English Language

  AP English Language
  (1 credit; required for class 11; prerequisite: English II)
  
  Working from various American literature texts, AP English Language develops the skills enabling students to read closely, think critically, and write cogently. While including other modes, the writing program stresses analytical argument in both timed explications in class and longer essays written out of class, thereby
  addressing the expectations of the AP English Language exam and preparing students to write the fall semester-ending project and the spring semester-ending synthesis essay, both of which stand in lieu of semester exams. Logical development, textual support, and stylistic clarity are hallmarks of successful AP English Language writing.
  
  

• English IV (H)

  English IV (H)
  (1 credit; required for class 12; prerequisite: AP English Language)
  
  During senior year, students choose from a variety of individual semester-long seminars. While differing in focus and in the material they emphasize, all stress the skills students need to think critically, read closely and write cogently. Class discussion, independent reading and various modes of writing provoke the exploration of sophisticated modes of expression and  interdisciplinary topics. In lieu of a final exam, students complete a college-level synthesis paper in the fall. In the spring, culminating assignments include a major paper, presentation, or performance
  depending on the seminar topic. Seminar offerings change somewhat from year to year, but they have included offerings in Shakespeare, philosophy and literature, Gothic literature, popular culture, memoir, drama, politics and literature, detective fiction, comedy and the Good Life - among others. English IV (H) students will be required to do independent work, to read four to five major literary works per semester, and to write a series of in-class and out-of-class papers totaling approximately 20 to 25 pages.