(010) English I, H(012) (9) – World Literature
The English I curriculum exposes students to a survey of world literature and the historical backgrounds that frame each reading. Through the analysis of fiction and nonfiction texts, poetry and plays, as well as through grammar exercises and writing prompts, students develop a deeper understanding of how to convey their ideas both orally and through the written word. The course provides students with opportunities to improve their written communication skills, develop critical thinking skills through reading and writing, and learn the proper mechanics for research-based writing in preparation for college academics.

(052) Introduction to Journalism Through Documentary Photography (10-12)
This course will expose students to the works of many great documentary photographers and photojournalists. In this class, the students will create a documentary project of their own start to finish that will distill down, a fraction of the world in motion, to a set of images that convey an exposure or strong message. Students will tell creative, well-researched, carefully crafted, true stories about people, about places and how they relate to a pressing issue. The process of physically making images and writing about those images is powerful and revealing in a variety of contexts and settings. By teaching literacy through photography, students will become both more artistic, better writers and, will learn how images can be used to stimulate conversations about social issues and become agents of change.

(085) Survey of College Freshman Texts (12-PG)
This course will allow students to explore fiction and non-fiction texts that they may encounter in a freshman-level college curriculum in English or Literature. Emphasis will be placed on reading and interpreting the works and creating compelling, written arguments on a prominent theme in the selected literature for the course. The drafting and revising process will also be stressed to prepare students for the rigors of college writing.

(081) *AP English Literature and Composition (11-12)
AP English Literature and Composition focuses on intensive reading and analysis of literature. Students are expected to understand how authors use language to provide meaning to the audience. Throughout the course, students master literary elements such as diction, figurative language, imagery, tone, theme and symbolism. AP Literature and Composition also incorporates advanced writing that focuses on critical analysis of texts. The goal of writing in AP Literature and Composition is to master the skills of interpreting college-level texts and writing clear and concise explanations and analyses of such texts.

(018) *AP English Language and Composition (11-12)
AP English Language and Composition is an intense reading and writing program with an emphasis on rhetoric and how language is used in a variety of texts from multiple time periods. Complex writing assignments will encourage students to develop their abilities to write various modes of essays at a collegiate level. The course is predominantly based on non-fiction texts, visuals and other sources including, but not limited to: pictures, films, music and advertisements. This course is designed to develop and build upon complex practices, and does not include the teaching of foundational skills. At the completion of this course, students are expected to have developed the following: effective use and understanding of rhetoric thorough understanding of AP Language vocabulary, effective writing skills, ability to analyze various sources for information, proper incorporation of sources in writing (attribution), and analytical reading skills.

*AP courses are offered based on student interest, enrollment and instructor availability and are subject to change at the discretion of Administration.

Storytelling and Memoir (Creative Writing)
This course will be an elective in the English department and focus on the written art of storytelling. Through various writing exercises and prompts, students will create original stories based on events from their own personal lives. Students will then expand these into longer memoirs and/or performance pieces. Students will use their acquired skills to then create fictional pieces based in other real life events and observations. Students will be able to collaborate in a group environment and deliver and receive constructive feedback on their work and the work of their peers.

(573) Advanced Placement (AP) Music Theory
This is a full-year course designed to prepare students for the Advanced Placement exam in Music Theory. Students will challenge themselves to develop a keen awareness of musical techniques present in significant works of the major musical periods and genres. Open to Upper School students in grades 11 and 12 who sing and/or play an instrument; placement at the discretion of the Chair of the Visual and Performing Arts Department.

Survey of Shakespeare
This course will focus on deconstructing Shakespeare’s language by analyzing his plays through in class group reading as well as “on our feet” practical work, exploring the text using the body and voice. As a class, we will focus on two plays (a history, tragedy, and/or romance) as well as monologues from other plays to help investigate and break down Shakespeare’s poetry and prose. Students will focus on one of the two class plays to explore more in depth in either a final performance or written assignment.

Unpacking Racism in History
The students in this class are interested in issues surrounding equity and justice for all people and are ready to have honest, sincere, mature, and respectful conversations about racism. They are open-minded to learning new things via the examination of primary source documents, the analysis of data, and the sharing of
ideas and experiences.

2020 has probably been one of the most tragic, confusing, and thought-provoking times in all of our lives. A global pandemic has interrupted life as we know it on all levels; injustice, inequity, and prejudice against marginalized groups are abundant, and natural disasters continue to compound what is already one of the most difficult times in American history. As much as we would like to, we can’t solve all the problems of the world. What we can do is become educated, grow passionate about a cause, and focus our efforts where they matter the most to become change agents not just in society, but right here on our own campus.

In conjunction with the examination of realistic fiction and non-fiction texts and primary source documents, students will engage in authentic conversations about race and racism. Written responses to readings and other forms of information curation utilized in the course will serve as springboards for discussion and more in-depth writing assignments. The material presented in the course will also allow students to develop the academic vocabulary necessary to speak confidently about issues surrounding racism.

Honors English Designation (9-12)
Students who are interested in further challenging themselves and earning Honors credit may enroll in an English course with Honors Designation. The assignments demand deeper academic work and additional readings related to the material within the course curriculum. Students must maintain a grade of 85% or above to remain in Honors.

(083) Academic Writing (9-10)
This course will introduce students to the art of writing – creative, academic, expository, literary analysis, and researched writing. Students will learn to identify and articulate a text’s central issue and argument (the art of argumentation), create their own central issues and arguments, and express and practice argumentation in several genres of writing styles (again, creative, academic, expository, literary analysis, and researched writing). Students will master secondary-school writing, writing for test-taking, and collegiate level writing. Students will write creative works, master the art of the five-paragraph or expository essay (for high school, college, and test-taking), write succesful literary analyses, and produce shorter and longer researched essays. We’ll use an array of techniques to internalize these skills. We’ll write in every class period. We’ll read critical works about writing and writing skills. And, we’ll produce our own writings for homework, major assignments, and tests. Students will master the art of writing for high school, test-taking, and college and acquire a sense of artful writing which will be of use to them in the scholastic, professional, scholarly, and creative worlds.

(075) College Writing and Presentation (11-12)
This course is designed to prepare students for the rigors of college writing. Students continue to work with MLA format and are introduced to APA format. Students learn to enhance their writing skills by focusing on format and development of details. A writing workshop-style of teaching is used, requiring students to complete multiple steps including peer and self-edits. This course prepares students for public speaking and presentations that will be expected of them in college, and encourages students to overcome public speaking anxiety and develop strong delivery skills.

(076) Graduate Capstone Project (12-PG)
This course is designed to develop college-level writing skills with a focus on research. Students will learn to be aware of the perspectives of others and use those perspectives to examine their own insights on strong topics. They will practice making intentional choices while learning to defend and justify their logic while connecting ideas and concepts across disciplines. Students will choose and explore a topic, issue, or idea of individual interest while designing a year-long study to answer a research question in 5,000 words or more.

(084) Graduate Seminar (12-PG)
Graduate Seminar is designed to allow PG students an opportunity to explore a wide variety of personal and academic topics that will assist them in their future academic and professional careers. Some topics include: test taking and college preparatory skills, collegiate learning strategies, time and stress management skills, ethics, conflict resolution, and mindfulness will be explored through real-world simulations and in-class exercises. Upon completion of this class, students will be prepared to enter their respective colleges and universities with an increased level of confidence in their organizational, academic, and life-management skills.