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MS English (MS)
The English Department nourishes intellectual curiosity and enriches a student’s unique way of seeing the world and responding to it. The heart of our program is studying literature from a variety of genres and cultures, practicing literary analysis and creative expression, mastering grammar and syntax, exploring methods of research, and expanding working vocabulary. With an emphasis on age-appropriate literature and skill development, the Department encourages each student to communicate with competence and confidence.
The goal of English 7 is to support students in developing solid communication skills, with an emphasis on written expression. The course rests upon four pillars of study: writing, analysis, metacognition, and learning processes. Students are challenged to develop critical questioning strategies, a deliberate writing process, deep reflection skills, and solid study-management habits. Texts for this course include Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, March (Book One), The House on Mango Street, Climbing the Stairs, and other titles.
Throughout English 8, students work to build their foundational skills with the goals to read actively, write effectively, listen deeply, and speak persuasively. These skills allow us to explore our central theme: the relationship between language and power. To parallel students’ study in their American Government course, we explore various power structures and the way social policies and philosophies can affect individuals’ lives and dreams. Through student-led discussions on the texts we read, students consider how both leadership and language illustrated in these texts proves to be effective or ineffective in creating an environment where individuals can thrive. In this course, students build vocabulary to discuss texts and ask essential questions to make connections between our literature and the world around them. Ultimately, as students practice writing both analytical and imaginative pieces for different purposes and audiences, they explore the power of their own expression and their own voices.
