Course of Study: English

The Highland School English Department seeks to develop in all students the abilities to read critically and to think independently; to write effectively and confidently across the disciplines; to understand and to appreciate great literature; and to respect the literary traditions of all cultures. Specific course content and discrete objectives associated with these goals are designed developmentally as part of a four-year program within the following broad parameters: Literature/Drama, Composition (including a Research Paper), Grammar, Vocabulary and Poetry.

English I (intended for freshmen) (full year) (course number 001)

English I is a foundations course, presenting groundwork texts, themes, and skills that are essential to the student’s high school and college careers. The major works are selected to expose students to archetypal ideas and characters on which Western literature and thought is largely based, and touch on fundamental questions of existence such as man’s understanding of self in community and the nature of good and evil. Narrative, responsive, and analytical writing is explored, in addition to special emphasis on responsible methods of reporting research. Vocabulary and grammar are taught both in context of student work and according to structured texts. Literary texts include Romeo and Juliet, The House on Mango Street, The Oedipus Cycle, Lord of the Flies, and Red Scarf Girl.

English I Honors (with permission) (full year) (course number 002)

English I Honors covers much of the same material as English I, but more is expected from students in this class and they are assessed by higher standards of growth. In addition to the works taught in English I, Honors students read The Odyssey (Fagles translation), Macbeth, and In My Hands.

English II (intended for sophomores) (full year) (course number 003)

In English II students will develop an appreciation of different genres of world literature as they hone their critical thinking, reading and writing skills.  Typical units covered include short story, novel, drama, poetry, and nonfiction. Literary works covered include Beowulf, Things Fall Apart, Metamorphosis, The Tempest, Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, and The Journey of Ibn Fattouma.  Students will improve their writing skill by following the writing process of prewriting, writing and revision.  Students will use great literature as models of writing and will write for different purposes including narration, persuasion, and exposition.  Grammar, learned by students in lower and middle school, will now be used by students for self-editing to improve the clarity, unity and fluency of their writing.  Through discussions, oral projects, and dramatic presentations, students will enhance their listening and speaking skills. 

English II Honors (with permission) (full year) (course number 004)

English II Honors covers much of the same material as English II, but more is expected from students in this class and they are assessed by higher standards of growth. Students explore the relationship, in a given society, between the community and the individual.  They also examine the ways in which a culture’s concerns are reflected in its literature.  In addition to the works taught in English II, Honors students read Julius Caesar (in lieu of The Tempest) and Angela’s Ashes.

English III (intended for juniors) (full year) (course number 011)

This course is an exploration of themes in American literature, from the optimism of its founding to the stark existentialism of the twentieth century to the frenetic overload of the post-modern era. Texts include The Catcher in the Rye, Of Mice and Men, The Great Gatsby, Their Eyes Were Watching God, The Things They Carried, and Streetcar Named Desire. We will focus on sentence and paragraph structure, logical development, rhetorical strategies, and narrative techniques. For the dual purpose of improving written expression and preparing for the SATs, we will study vocabulary and practice the two verbal sections of the test.

English III Honors (with permission) (full year) (course number 010)

English III Honors covers much of the same material as English III, but more is expected from students in this class and they are assessed by higher standards of growth. In addition to the works taught in English III, Honors students read selections from early American literature and Ethan Frome.

Advanced Placement English Language & Composition (with permission) (full year) (intended for juniors) (course number 006)

This intense course serves two distinct but complementary purposes. As AP language and composition, it requires students to use a college-level mastery of language to critically deconstruct non-fiction prose and compose analytical and artful responses that reveal a comprehensive world view. The writing emphasis is persuasive analytical, with additional attention given to responsible research practices. Vocabulary is studied in context and according to a structured text; grammar is reviewed as needed. All AP students must sit for the exam in May. Preparation for the exam begins in the first quarter and continues through April.

The texts studied for the above purposes are American, including the texts listed for English III Honors and supplemental readings in literary non-fiction.  As American Literature, the course works chronologically to construct the development of our nation’s thought and understanding of literature through all its major periods and styles. Students are exposed to a wide range of historical, social, and cultural perspectives on what it means to be an American and wide-ranging definitions of the American Dream.

English IV (intended for seniors) (full year) (course number 007)

English IV offers a sweeping survey of British literature including, but not limited to, Hamlet, Pygmalion, A Modest Proposal, Remains of the Day, and Frankenstein. Students study its evolution and work towards its genuine appreciation and understanding. Students engage in high-level dialogue regarding the assigned readings and respond to the texts in both personal and analytical writings that proceed from draft form to a final product.   Improving the technical use of the English language and advancing vocabulary skills are additional goals of this course.  Readings include fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama. 

English IV Honors (with permission) (full year) (course number 009)

English IV Honors covers much of the same material as English IV, but more is expected from students in this class and they are assessed by higher standards of growth. In addition to the works taught in English IV, Honors students read additional texts.

Advanced Placement English Literature & Composition (with permission) (full year) (intended for seniors) (course number 008)

This intense course is structured to prepare dedicated students for the AP English Literature and Composition exam in the spring and to further train them as learners for their college experience.  As part of this process, students read, study, and critically respond to a survey of British literature, including many of the classics from the Medieval Period to Contemporary times. Texts include The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Hamlet, Mrs. Dalloway, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and Pygmalion, among others. This response “to” and “from” fiction, nonfiction, drama, and poetry is done both orally and in writing.  High-level dialogues, including Socratic Seminars, aid students in exploring all components of the literary experience.  Literature logs, response essays, and longer analytical papers help develop the students’ readiness both for the exam and for the many writing assignments that await them in college and beyond.

ENGLISH ELECTIVES

All English electives are open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors.

Creative Writing (semester elective) (course number 016)

This writing-intensive course offers students the opportunity to explore their narrative voices and receive personal, critical feedback from peers and the instructor. Studying a wide variety of texts, students develop the ability to articulate what makes writing powerful and to infuse their own prose and poetry with the techniques of the masters. Students develop a writing portfolio, and opportunities to submit writing to competitions and publications are presented. This elective combines writing workshop and class instruction models.

The History of the Short Story (semester elective) (course number 088)

This course will study the most explosive, artistic, and modern of literary forms: the short story. Students taking the course will read a wide range of short stories, from Gogol and Poe to the fiction being published currently in The New Yorker and McSweeney’s. Along the way, students will analyze how short stories communicate their meanings to readers. In particular, students will return to an essential question: How do short stories use language and characterization differently than novels do? The course is designed for students who wish to strengthen their writing and improve their skills of literary analysis. Students will complete a number of writing exercises, including stylistic imitations, short scenes, and literary analysis. Class time will be devoted to discussion, writing activities, and workshopping student writing. For the course’s final evaluation, students will compose an original short story. Since this is a course on a form of literature, prospective students should be willing to complete reading assignments and writing exercises as homework.

Media Literacy (semester elective) (course number 076)

The impetus for offering this elective stems from the desire to expand the notion of  “text” beyond the traditional printed word to other media, including photographs, film, television, advertising, and the internet, with the goal of preparing Highland students for life in a complex, media-rich, technologically dynamic environment. Using  higher order critical and creative thinking skills, students will explore issues of media influence, examine advertising from a critical perspective, and reflect/analyze visual approaches to narrative, thereby enabling them to “read” media more effectively. In addition to photographs, advertisements, and websites, content possibilites may include, but are not limited to: Ken Kesey, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (book and film); A. Huxley, Brave New World; Jean Kilbourne, “Killing Us Softly: Advertising and the Image of Women;” “Consuming Kids: The Commercialization of Childhood.”

Myth and Legends (semester elective) (course number 024)

This elective provides an overview of multi-cultural mythologies with the exception of Greek and Roman classical mythology.  Ancient Egyptian, Celtic, Norse, Indian/Hindu, and other mythologies are studied.  Topics to be covered include: Development and Purposes of Myth, Types of Myth, Deities and Lesser Spirits, and Mythological Heroes.  Students focus their study of legends on the legend of Dracula.

Speech (semester elective) (course number 021)

In speech or forensics students learn the art and skill involved in oral presentations.  Students develop self-confidence through oral presentations and in-class competition. Students learn to develop and apply criteria to evaluate, appreciate and respond to oral presentations by others.  They learn to work within time constraints and thematic possibilities of selected pieces of literature.  Finally, they demonstrate the ability to analyze literature and communicate their understanding through their own vocal physical expression.