Upper School Course of Study: English
  >> Electives

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.

COURSE OF STUDY 2008-09

(All courses are not offered every year.)

ENGLISH

English I (intended for freshmen) (full year)
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 In My Hands.

English I Honors (with permission) (full year)
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 (Fitzgerald translation) and Macbeth.

English II (intended for sophomores) (full year)
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 to be covered include short story, novel, drama, poetry, and nonfiction. Literary works covered include Beowulf, Things Fall Apart, Metamorphosis, Julius Caesar, and Cryano de Bergerac.  Ability to understand and use literary terms unique to each genre will be emphasized.  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 they 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.  Students will use technology for research and word processing.

English II Honors (with permission) (full year)
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. In addition to the works taught in English II, Honors students read Cry, the Beloved Country and Angela’s Ashes.

English III (intended for juniors) (full year)
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 selections from the Norton Anthology of American Literaure as well as The Crucible, Of Mice and Men, The Great Gatsby, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Their Eyes Were Watching God, and The Things They Carried. We will supplement our study of this literature with examinations of art and music—such as the Hudson River School of painting and ragtime music—born of those same time periods. The literature will inspire our writing; we will write analytical, creative, and personal pieces. 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)
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 The Scarlet Letter, Streetcar Named Desire, and Ethan Frome.

Advanced Placement English Language & Composition (with permission) (full year)
This intense course serves two distinct but complimentary 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)
English IV offers a sweeping survey of British literature including, but not limited to, Hamlet, Pygmalion, Jane Eyre, A Modest Proposal, and selections from Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. 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)
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)
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 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Hamlet, Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, To the Lighthouse, 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

Creative Writing (semester elective)
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.

Debate (semester elective)
Debate is a course that will increase a student’s self-confidence as a public speaker.  Students become better critical thinkers by examining both sides of an issue.  A student’s listening and note taking skills, invaluable for college study, are greatly improved through debate.  Research skills and application of that research to argumentation are also enhanced through debating and judging debates.  Students learn how to structure and write Lincoln-Douglas debate, and they participate in a class tournament in a formal Lincoln-Douglas debate. Students are also introduced to policy debate theory and participate in informal classroom debates on a variety of topics. Improvement of both physical and vocal delivery in giving speeches is highlighted.

Journalism (full year)
In this course, students explore journalistic historic and contemporary aspects of writing for newspapers, periodicals, and more extensive non-fiction books. Students expand their creative ability by learning to hone their writing style using innovative, yet concise language. Students learn to express information accurately and truthfully, while considering the impact of their words upon readers. Journalism students use textbook readings and workbook exercises to advance their writing skills, and they read and analyze longer pieces. Students contribute to the publication of the school newspaper by writing and editing one another’s work, so they also learn about layout production and deadlines. In the spring students contribute to, edit, and produce the Highland School literary magazine, Hiatus.

Literary Influences: The Bible as Foundational Text (semester elective)
Do you know the story of the Prodigal Son? Why did Joseph have a coat of many colors?  Would you recognize the phrase “the valley of the shadow of death”? Stories and language from the Bible are a central reference point for much of the great literature from Chaucer to the present. Major authors from Shakespeare to Faulkner had a thorough knowledge of the Bible and filled their writing with allusions to Biblical characters, stories, and phrases. Literature students who are not well-versed in this area of cultural literacy are limited in their ability to appreciate the themes and layers of symbolism in major texts. This course will survey all the stories that are often alluded to in literature, giving students a working knowledge of characters, plots, and names that always carry symbolic weight when transferred into other literature. If you’ve ever felt “left out” when reading a novel, play, or political speech because the footnote about Job or Bathsheba didn’t make sense, this is the course for you.

Myth and Legends (semester elective)
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.

Shakespeare: Analysis and Performance (semester elective)
This elective allows students intrigued by Shakespeare to wallow in his language and works from both literary and dramatic perspectives. Students gain exposure to the texts through readers’ theater, analyze through discussion and writing the textual intricacies that have kept scholars fascinated for centuries, research the historical and political context of Shakespeare’s stories, and bring his drama to life through rehearsed scenes, soliloquies, and spoofs. This high-energy course strengthens skills in English as well as tapping into memorization and sword fighting abilities.

Speech (semester elective)
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. 

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