English (Cont.)

Advanced English Seminar: Whitman, Dickinson, and the American Voice (0.5 credit, spring only)

Prerequisites: Fundamentals of Literature and Composition, Genre Studies and Departmental recommendation

11th/12th

The poetry of Emily Dickinson and Walt Whitman will form the core reading for this semester elective. Students will examine the two poets’ original and distinctly American voices, both of which have reverberated through the last one hundred and fifty years of American Literature. Looking closely at Dickinson’s and Whitman’s unique poetic perspectives, stylistic innovations, and subject matter, students will read a diverse compilation of American poets whose ideas and styles were influenced by these two seminal bodies of work. Alongside the poetry, the class will also read two novels that reflect the divergent voices of Dickinson and Whitman. Through the combination of poetry and prose, students will practice a variety of approaches to analytical reading and writing. In addition, students will have an opportunity to write their own poetry and experiment with their own artistic styles and voices. Students in advanced courses should be prepared to write with clarity and technical proficiency and to display critical and creative thought in extended arguments. Advanced second semester classes will continue through the end of May, culminating with a final exam. One week will be given in May to instruction of the college essay. This course fulfills the American Literature requirement.

Advanced English Seminar: Writing Your Story: Essays About Place and Memory (0.5 credit, fall only)

Prerequisites: Fundamentals of Literature and Composition, Genre Studies and Departmental recommendation

11th/12th

Explore your own unique story and voice in this non-fiction writing class. We will read many different styles of personal essays from diverse and contemporary authors, and then we will write essays in the style of those authors. We will zero in on those memories and places that make our stories uniquely ours, ultimately building a portfolio of personal essays. Expect to read wonderful pieces from an array of notable authors and write and revise the stories that make your life yours. Time management and critical thinking, as well as a willingness to work independently and with an eye to ever-great written sophistication, are essential skills students should bring to this class. Students may not take both regular Writing your Story and advanced Writing Your Story during their time at EHS. Students in advanced courses should be prepared to write with clarity and technical proficiency and to display critical and creative thought in extended arguments. This course fulfills the writing requirement.

English Seminar: Writing Your Story: Essays About Place and Memory (0.5 credit, spring only)

Prerequisites: Fundamentals of Literature and Composition, Genre Studies

11th/12th

Explore your own unique story and voice in this non-fiction writing class. We will read several different styles of personal essays from authors as diverse and contemporary as Susan Orlean, Roxane Gay, Malcolm Gladwell, Atul Gawande, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Jia Tolentino, and then we will zero in on those memories and places that make our stories uniquely ours, ultimately building a portfolio of personal essays. Expect to read wonderful pieces from an array of notable authors and write and revise the stories that make your life yours. Students may not take both regular Writing your Story and advanced Writing Your Story during their time at EHS. Regular second semester classes will end when the seniors depart for their externships. For non-senior students, the month of May will be dedicated to studying the art of the personal essay, including specific instruction of the college essay. This course fulfills the writing requirement.

Advanced English Seminar: Writing Workshop (0.5 credit, fall or spring)

Prerequisites: Fundamentals of Literature and Composition, Genre Studies and Departmental recommendation

11th/12th

This elective will focus on the craft of writing, developing journals into drafts into polished persuasive pieces and personal essays. Weeks will comprise significant grammar and vocabulary work, required individual conferences, creative exercises and independent reading. In addition to weekly essay work, assessments will include one major literary analysis on a novel of the student’s choice, and a written exam. Students may not take both regular Writing Workshop and advanced Writing Workshop during their time at EHS. Students in advanced courses should be prepared to write with clarity and technical proficiency and to display critical and creative thought in extended arguments. Advanced second semester classes will continue through the end of May, culminating with a final exam. One week will be given in May to instruction of the college essay. This course fulfills the writing requirement.

English Seminar: Writing Workshop (0.5 credit, fall only)

Prerequisites: Fundamentals of Literature and Composition, Genre Studies

11th/12th

This elective will focus on the craft of writing, progressing from the sentence to the paragraph to the polished essay–argumentative, analytical, creative, as well as the personal narrative. Weekly work will comprise grammar and vocabulary exercises, and developing journals into persuasive pieces. Weekly conferences are mandatory, and attention to developing the individual student’s voice will be emphasized through creative exercises and reading samples.

Assessments include weekly essays and a writing portfolio in lieu of an exam. Students may not take both regular Writing Workshop and advanced Writing Workshop during their time at EHS. This course fulfills the writing requirement.

Folger Shakespeare Fellowship (fall only)

Prerequisites: Fundamentals of Literature and Composition, Genre Studies and Departmental recommendation

11th/12th

By application to Folger Shakespeare Library. Applications are due in late May. By department permission.

The Modern and Classical Languages Department at Episcopal teaches six languages: Chinese, French, German, Greek, Latin, and Spanish–along with Arabic and Japanese, which are taught through Global Online Academy. In small classes that allow students the space to interact closely with fellow students and teachers, our courses incorporate not only the more practical aspects of language learning–speaking, writing, listening, and reading, but they also stress the intellectual and cultural elements of that study as well.