English

Upper School English Department 2010-2011

Overview The Upper School English program engages students in a rigorous literature-based curriculum that helps them develop as readers, writers, and thinkers. In classroom environments marked by shared inquiry, collaboration, accountability, and continuous feedback, students are increasingly empowered to voice their critical and creative responses to the texts under study in speech, writing, and mixed-media presentations. Program emphases include close reading, writing as a multi-step, recursive process; vocabulary acquisition; direct instruction in grammar, usage, and mechanics; meaningful participation in a Socratic discussion; the integration of appropriate 21st century technologies; and the passionate modeling of reading and writing as life-long endeavors.

Graduation Requirements

Students are required to take the equivalent of 4 years of English (12 trimesters)

10th and 11th graders can satisfy one of their T3 credits during an approved summer school course

10th and 11th graders can satisfy one of their T3 credits (T1 or T2 for 12th graders) in an approved interdisciplinary course

12th graders must take The Author Project: A Capstone Course in Reading, Writing, and Research during T3

2010-2011 Exam/Project Proposal US English

9th grade: T1 exam; T3 exam 10th grade: T2 exam (cumulative); T3 projects 11th grade: T2 exam (cumulative); T3 projects 12th grade: T1 and T2 (teacher's choice); T3:  major project/presentation