English

This course focuses on the genre of creative nonfiction. Students explore varieties of creative nonfiction, such as memoir; biography; the personal essay; travel, science, and food writing; and “new journalism.” As its name suggests, creative nonfiction borrows elements from fiction and poetry (e.g., description, scene construction, dialogue, etc.) yet still aims to tell the truth. For a writer to “tell it slant,” however, is to acknowledge the ways in which one’s subjective viewpoint shapes what counts as “the truth” in telling a story about one’s own or another’s experiences. Students will have the opportunity to experiment with style, genre, and subject in a writing studio environment and to read varied examples of contemporary creative nonfiction. For Fifth and Sixth Formers.

Origin stories, myths, and legends are narratives that span many cultures but often attempt to make sense of and add explanation to universal questions of existence and life. Students begin with the origin of myths, proverbs, and legends that span all cultures by studying their similarities and differences. In addition to learning how to recognize mythological metaphors, allusions, analogies, and symbols, students will also analyze the significance of how cultures use myths and legends.

Language: This course cultivates the reading and writing skills that students need for college success and for intellectually responsible civic engagement. Students are guided to become curious, critical, and responsive readers of diverse texts, and become flexible, reflective writers of texts addressed to diverse audiences for diverse purposes. The reading and writing students do in the course should deepen and expand their understanding of how written language functions rhetorically: to communicate writers’ intentions and elicit readers’ responses in particular situations. The course prepares the student to take the AP English Language examination in May. For Fifth Formers.

Literature: This course seeks to help students read, write, and think more deliberately. As readers, they focus on authors’ use of language to elicit responses from their readers. As writers, they strive to write consciously rather than as an afterthought, seeking to communicate ideas more effectively. By improving their reading and writing skills and practicing thoughtful discussion, students learn to think more clearly and precisely. The course prepares the student to take the AP English Literature and Composition examination in May. For Sixth Formers.

This course will explore what it means to write with a unique “American Voice.” We will consider how this definition has evolved since the birth of our nation by tracing its development through poetry, prose, drama, and film. The curriculum explores the complexities of society and the individual, the role of nature, neglected voices, and the American Dream. Students will explore current issues and high-interest topics through the close analysis of literature. The writing curriculum gives students the opportunity to focus on writing organized paragraphs and extended essays while practicing the various essay modes of the English Department writing curriculum. Honors section available.