Grade Level: 9 (General Studies)
Credit: 0.5 or 1.0
Prerequisite: None
This course emphasizes the use of composition to reflect upon, analyze, and evaluate various literary texts. Students edit their work for errors in sentence structure, usage, mechanics, and spelling. They study representative pieces of world literature as unique reflections of their time and culture. They also engage in research processes and recognize various documentation techniques.
**As we explore important and thought-provoking literature in this course, some texts may include themes, language, or ideas that challenge different perspectives or touch on sensitive topics. These works are chosen to deepen our understanding of complex issues and to encourage critical thinking. Click on the Syllabus below for a list of readings.
Grade level: 10 (General Studies)
Credits 0.5 or 1.0
Prerequisite: English 1 or English 9
Through Greek literature, students analyze chosen readings and connect them to present-day occurrences. By connecting their present with the past, students can make connections to the importance of ancient Greek literature. Students are responsible for the language mechanics of their work and must make corrections and edit as needed. Students also plan, compose, and edit a 5-paragraph essay with emphasis on a strong introduction, conclusion, and supporting details. Students are also introduced to research and documentation.
**As we explore important and thought-provoking literature in this course, some texts may include themes, language, or ideas that challenge different perspectives or touch on sensitive topics. These works are chosen to deepen our understanding of complex issues and to encourage critical thinking. Click on the Syllabus below for a list of readings.
Grade Level: 11 (General Studies)
Credit: 0.5 or 1.0
Prerequisite: English 1 & 2 or English 9 & 10
This course emphasizes communication and critical thinking skills. The non-college preparatory course focuses on the ability to think, speak, and write logically. Students analyze and evaluate the historical, cultural, political, and biographical influences on a variety of literary genres. Students apply writing skills and strategies to communicate effectively for different purposes. Students generate a clearly worded and effectively placed thesis statement to develop an essay that has a clear, logical progression of ideas in the introduction, body, and conclusion. Students apply listening, speaking, and media literacy skills and strategies to communicate for different purposes. Grammar and documentation skills are also directly reinforced in several lessons. Students edit all their work for errors in sentence structure, usage, mechanics, and spelling.
**As we explore important and thought-provoking literature in this course, some texts may include themes, language, or ideas that challenge different perspectives or touch on sensitive topics. These works are chosen to deepen our understanding of complex issues and to encourage critical thinking. Click on the Syllabus below for a list of readings.
Grade Level: 12 (General Studies)
Credit: 0.5 or 1.0
Prerequisite: English courses 9-11 or 1-3 completed
Business English is an upper level English course choice designed to prepare students to properly communicate in the business world. Students will learn to organize and write concise, correct, and complete business correspondence. They will learn to recognize and adapt messages for the intended audience while eliminating bias from the correspondence. Other topics covered include letter and memo formatting, report writing, documentation/plagiarism/
**As we explore important and thought-provoking literature in this course, some texts may include themes, language, or ideas that challenge different perspectives or touch on sensitive topics. These works are chosen to deepen our understanding of complex issues and to encourage critical thinking. Click on the Syllabus below for a list of readings.
Grade Level: 9 (College Prep)
Credit: 0.5 or 1.0
Prerequisite: None
This course emphasizes the use of composition to expand writing, comprehension, and communication skills. Students edit their work for errors in sentence structure, usage, mechanics, and spelling. They study various genres and writing styles. They also engage in research processes and recognize various documentation techniques.
**As we explore important and thought-provoking literature in this course, some texts may include themes, language, or ideas that challenge different perspectives or touch on sensitive topics. These works are chosen to deepen our understanding of complex issues and to encourage critical thinking. Click on the Syllabus below for a list of readings.
ENGLISH 9 HONORS (NCAA approved)
Grade Level: 9
Credit: 0.5 or 1.0
Prerequisite: None
GPA Weighting: 1.0
Honors English 9 teaches students how to do critical analyses of literary and historical texts. It introduces the concepts of theme, tone, structure, pace, point of view, character development, context clues, word choice, and figurative language, guiding students in the application of these concepts as they analyze various types of texts. Students compose a range of writing, including argumentative, narrative, and informative, as well as creating a multimedia project. Students strengthen their grammatical and self-expression skills both through the revision of their own writing as well as grammar exercises.
**As we explore important and thought-provoking literature in this course, some texts may include themes, language, or ideas that challenge different perspectives or touch on sensitive topics. These works are chosen to deepen our understanding of complex issues and to encourage critical thinking. Click on the Syllabus below for a list of readings.
Grade Level: 10
Credit: 0.5 or 1.0
Prerequisite: English 9
English 10 CP challenges students to grow their composition and reading comprehension skills through a focus on World Literature and themes such as freedom and heroism. Students read key works of historical non-fiction, poetry, short stories, a novel, Shakespeare, as well as film as literature. Students compose works in various genres, including expository, narrative, and multimedia.
**As we explore important and thought-provoking literature in this course, some texts may include themes, language, or ideas that challenge different perspectives or touch on sensitive topics. These works are chosen to deepen our understanding of complex issues and to encourage critical thinking. Click on the Syllabus below for a list of readings.
ENGLISH 10 HONORS (NCAA approved)
Grade Level: 10
Credit: 0.5 or 1.0
Prerequisite: English 9
GPA Weighting: 1.0
Honors English 10 guides students in refining their critical reading and writing skills through the examination of World literary and historical texts. Students explore the meaning of freedom, the tale of Pyramus and Thisbe reflected in Shakespeare, the Gothic mystery genre, and the hero’s journey reflected in Beowulf and the Odyssey. Students hone their grammar and self-expression skills as they discuss these topics in a variety of modes, including argument, narrative, research, and multimedia projects.
**As we explore important and thought-provoking literature in this course, some texts may include themes, language, or ideas that challenge different perspectives or touch on sensitive topics. These works are chosen to deepen our understanding of complex issues and to encourage critical thinking. Click on the Syllabus below for a list of readings.
Grade Level: 11 (College Prep)
Credit: 0.5 or 1.0
Prerequisite: English 9, 10
Students will refine and enhance their foundation in literature and the writing process through academic mastery. Throughout the course, the ability to think, listen, and write logically will be the primary focus, as well as school-to-career experiences, including college entrance exam preparation. This course will emphasize proper grammar and mechanics while developing the writing process. Students will be asked to implement research and writing skills throughout the curriculum as well as to adapt and evaluate literature.
**As we explore important and thought-provoking literature in this course, some texts may include themes, language, or ideas that challenge different perspectives or touch on sensitive topics. These works are chosen to deepen our understanding of complex issues and to encourage critical thinking. Click on the Syllabus below for a list of readings.
ENGLISH 11 HONORS (NCAA approved)
Grade Level: 11
Credit: 0.5 or 1.0
Prerequisite: English 9, 10
GPA Weighting: 1.0
Honors English 11 is an intensive literary analysis and critical thinking course. It includes the units “Humor” which looks at a Shakespearean comedy and early works of satire, “The Highest Court in the Land” which looks at the legal reasoning in Supreme Court cases, “Survey of American Literature” which looks at sample works from the Puritan period to Modernity exploring key themes of each literary movement, and “What is missing? Reading Omissions” in which students are encouraged to read historical and literary texts with an eye for what is left out. Through writing assignments of various lengths as well as specific exercises, students are encouraged to refine their use of syntax with a focus on style. Students must also lead a debate with at least two friends and complete a multimedia project.
**As we explore important and thought-provoking literature in this course, some texts may include themes, language, or ideas that challenge different perspectives or touch on sensitive topics. These works are chosen to deepen our understanding of complex issues and to encourage critical thinking. Click on the Syllabus below for a list of readings.
Grade Level: 11, 12 (College Prep)
Credit: 1.0
Prerequisites: English 9 and 10
American Literature allows students to delve into the variety of literature produced by American writers from colonial times forward. The course uses the poetry, essays, and short stories of American writers to teach key literary concepts and devices, including style, imagery, irony, tone, diction, and structure. The class culminates in the writing of a final essay about several pieces of literature through which students practice the writing process of literary analysis, thesis formation, outlining, and drafting. **Can be taken in place of English 11.
**As we explore important and thought-provoking literature in this course, some texts may include themes, language, or ideas that challenge different perspectives or touch on sensitive topics. These works are chosen to deepen our understanding of complex issues and to encourage critical thinking. Click on the Syllabus below for a list of readings.
AP ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION (NCAA approved)
Grade: 11, 12
Credit: 1.0
Prerequisites: English 9, 10 with a grade of B or better
GPA Weighting: 1.0
*Deadlines: Must enroll and begin the course by October 1, and complete the course by May 1 if taking the AP Exam, or June 31, if not taking the AP Exam.
AP English Language and Composition is an introductory college-level composition course. Students cultivate their understanding of writing and rhetorical arguments through reading, analyzing, and writing texts as they explore topics like rhetorical situation, claims and evidence, reasoning and organization, and style.
Students will spend 45-60 minutes daily on reading assignments, one-to-one teacher-led discussions, and writing activities that strengthen their skills in argumentation, analysis, rhetorical strategies, and interpretation. They work to refine their writing style and structure through frequent practice. In addition to reading a broad range of novels, plays, poems, and short stories, students write a variety of essays and short responses, revising their work to improve clarity and depth. The course also includes longer, research-based essays that require proper MLA formatting and source integration.
AP English Language and Composition is designed to prepare students to take the College Board Advanced Placement Exam (optional) in May. Due to the rigor of this course, it is recommended that students who plan to take the AP Exam enroll before September 15th. Students may earn Dual Credit after completing this course and passing the AP Exam (1.0 credit toward their Whitmore School graduation requirements and 3.0 college credits).
**As we explore important and thought-provoking literature in this course, some texts may include themes, language, or ideas that challenge different perspectives or touch on sensitive topics. These works are chosen to deepen our understanding of complex issues and to encourage critical thinking. Click on the Syllabus below for a list of readings.
Grade: 12 (College Prep)
Credit: 0.5 or 1.0
Prerequisites: English 9, 10, 11
The course focuses on the reading and analysis of literature, the development of writing skills, the expansion of vocabulary, and the enhancement of critical thinking skills. Students are exposed to different genres through both reading and writing. It emphasizes essay writing in different styles and for different audiences to establish good writing skills. Students edit their work for content and for errors in sentence structure, usage, mechanics, and spelling. They read and critique canonical works, works of their own choosing, as well as study works across different genres. They engage in research processes and documentation techniques. By the end of the course, students will have improved their reading, writing, research, critical thinking, and communication skills.
**As we explore important and thought-provoking literature in this course, some texts may include themes, language, or ideas that challenge different perspectives or touch on sensitive topics. These works are chosen to deepen our understanding of complex issues and to encourage critical thinking. Click on the Syllabus below for a list of readings.
ENGLISH 12 HONORS (NCAA approved)
Grade: 12
Credit: 0.5 or 1.0
Prerequisites: English 9-11
GPA Weighting: 1.0
English 12 Honors Composition introduces students to the writing process as a series of steps building to a final draft. Students learn that formal academic writing is a particular rhetorical situation with specific requirements and standards, including proper grammar and punctuation, formal diction, and use of present tense, active voice, third person, and parallel structure. Students learn to write a thesis, then gather, organize, develop, and cohere information and ideas to support that thesis. They learn to use MLA style to format a page and to properly cite sources of information. Students learn the critical thinking skills of evaluating sources of information and recognizing logical fallacies. Students learn to use rhetorical devices to lend to their personal academic writing style and strength.
**As we explore important and thought-provoking literature in this course, some texts may include themes, language, or ideas that challenge different perspectives or touch on sensitive topics. These works are chosen to deepen our understanding of complex issues and to encourage critical thinking. Click on the Syllabus below for a list of readings.
AP ENGLISH LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION (NCAA approved)
Grade: 12
Credit: 1.0
Prerequisites: English 9, 10, 11 with a grade of B or better
GPA Weighting: 1.0
*Deadlines: Must enroll and begin the course by October 1, and complete the course by May 1 if taking the AP Exam, or June 31, if not taking the AP Exam.
Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition is a challenging course offered to high school seniors who have completed English 9, 10, and 11 successfully, earning a grade of B or better. It is designed for motivated high school students who are ready to engage in college-level work. By reading stories, plays, and poems from different times and cultures, students will learn about important aspects of literature — theme, character, and style—and build skills to understand and analyze what they read. Lessons are carefully designed to align with college-level objectives, emphasizing the ability to understand, interpret, and evaluate literature while developing clear, thoughtful, and sophisticated writing. The course covers nine units of study and focuses on the five Big Ideas (Character, Setting, Plot and Structure, Narration, and Literary Argumentation).
Students will spend 45-60 minutes daily on reading assignments, one-to-one teacher-led discussions, and writing activities that strengthen their skills in argumentation, analysis, rhetorical strategies, and interpretation. They work to refine their writing style and structure through frequent practice. In addition to reading a broad range of novels, plays, poems, and short stories, students write a variety of essays and short responses, revising their work to improve clarity and depth. The course also includes longer, research-based essays that require proper MLA formatting and source integration.
Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition is designed to prepare students to take the College Board Advanced Placement Exam (optional) in May. Due to the rigor of this course, it is recommended that students who plan to take the AP Exam enroll before September 15th. Students may earn Dual Credit after completing this course and passing the AP Exam (1.0 credit toward their Whitmore School graduation requirements and 3.0 college credits).
**As we explore important and thought-provoking literature in this course, some texts may include themes, language, or ideas that challenge different perspectives or touch on sensitive topics. These works are chosen to deepen our understanding of complex issues and to encourage critical thinking. Click on the Syllabus below for a list of readings.
Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition Syllabus
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