Upper School Curriculum
English

Literature communicates values, traditions, and beliefs, introducing students to cultures, history, psychology, human existence, and the common struggles of humanity. The English Department is dedicated to the education of the whole student. Now, more than ever, students need space and time for reflection and discussion. The courses in the English Department are designed to bring about thoughtful discussion and contemplation of issues before and beyond our doorsteps and meaningful collaborative work between peers. While students are thoroughly schooled in developing literary and writing skills and an appreciation for literature, texts are chosen for each course with the goal of reaching beyond literary analysis. In an increasingly global and technical society, we strive to develop critical thinkers, problem solvers, listeners, and strong communicators. Through weekly vocabulary study and the varied works read, students develop strong reading skills and foster an appreciation for a variety of perspectives. Putting work in its historical, cultural, and biographical context help students enlarge a text’s value. Students develop skills and confidence in identifying and understanding the significance of figurative language and a wide array of literary devices. The works students read are regularly accompanied by scholarly, critical articles. Students develop confidence in finding and interpreting literary criticism to understand a text and to engage with a critic’s ideas. Each class in the English Department requires students to speak before their peers, either through formal oral presentations or collaborative work. Central to our pedagogy and curriculum is helping students to prepare and write lucid, well-developed responses to literature, whether in essay form or on written examinations. During their sophomore year, students will learn to research and write a comprehensive research paper on a topic in American studies (see Distinctive Coursework). The English curriculum prepares students for academic success in college. It ultimately provides students with the ability and desire to be vibrant, lifelong learners through language arts and literature.
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