English

English

Students develop and refine their language skills. In the writing portion of the course, they use the writing process to develop a sense of form and methods of discourse for descriptive, narrative, and expository essays. Students increase their proficiency in editing and proofreading by gaining an awareness of sentence variety, transitions, and topic sentences. In literature, students read and discuss short stories, drama, and poetry, focusing on the theme “Individual and Society”.

College Writing

This writing course prepares high school students for college-level writing. Instruction centers on argumentative and narrative writing, with coursework ranging from writing editorials to analytical literary papers to annotated bibliographies. SHS students graduate confident in their analytical writing abilities. 

AP English Language

The AP English Language and Composition course aligns with an introductory college-level rhetoric and writing curriculum, requiring students to develop evidence-based analytic and argumentative essays that proceed through several stages and drafts. Students evaluate, synthesize, and cite research to support their arguments. Throughout the course, students develop a personal style while making appropriate grammatical choices. Additionally, students read and analyze the rhetorical elements and their effects in non-fiction texts, including graphic images as forms of text, from many disciplines and historical periods.

AP English Literature

The AP English Literature and Composition course engages students in the careful reading and critical analysis of imaginative literature. Through the close reading of selected texts, students deepen their understanding of the ways writers use language to create meaning. They learn to consider a work's structure, style, and themes, as well as smaller-scale elements such as the use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism, and tone.