The English department curriculum is a four-year program with two levels of instruction. All four years prepare students for college work. Qualified students in their junior and senior years may take AP instruction. All English courses include extensive analytical writing and address the principles of organization and correct expression.
The ninth grade curriculum offers a blend of American and classical Greek literature, and the tenth grade offers a survey of British literature. The junior year is a survey of American literature and the senior year is a final refining of critical reading and writing skills and a survey of World literature. |
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NOTE: All levels of English at St. Agnes have a summer reading assignment. Students are required to do the reading before school resumes in August, and they are given a test on the book or books during the first week.
Department Members
Connie Bitto, Department Chair
Jonathan Filardo
Sharon Gehbauer
Stephanie Granito
Eric Kerr-Heraly
Cindy Lusby
Patricia McFarlin
Felicia Miller
Charles Novo
Lesli Vollrath
English Courses
105 ENGLISH 1 (1 credit)
The regular English 1 course focuses primarily on grammar, sentence structure, and composition with emphasis on paragraph development leading to literary analysis. In literature, the student will be required to identify different literary elements and to recognize character development through a study of American and classical Greek literature as well as Greek mythology. The students' vocabulary skills will be expanded through the vocabulary encountered in their literature and through their vocabulary workbook. At least one novel or non-fiction work will be required summer reading.
110 HONORS ENGLISH 1 (1 credit)
In addition to the objectives of regular English 1, students will write more sophisticated compositions based on their reading. They will do a more detailed analysis of language and literary devices in the works they study. A group research project on twentieth century American poets will allow them to develop research and presentation skills.
115 ENGLISH 2 (1 credit)
English 2 encourages students to increase their vocabulary through writing as well as from the study of major British writers. Students read and study poetry, drama, and novel selections from the various major periods of British literature. They learn to analyze literature using the literary terms mastered in English 1 and build their knowledge of these concepts in their formal writing, which includes at least three literary analyses. Students begin with the three-paragraph formal critical essay and expand to the five-paragraph literary analysis. This analysis is the central composition objective for sophomore literature study. Students also learn research skills and the MLA documentation format through work on a research paper. Through the use of the text as well as oral and written application, English 2 students further sharpen their grammatical skills.
120 HONORS ENGLISH 2 (1 credit)
This course addresses in more depth than English 2 the areas of English composition, vocabulary, literary analysis, and critical thinking skills. Grammar is studied in the context of writing as well as topically. This course requires extensive composition and emphasizes reasoning skills in the close reading of selected works of British literature. Vocabulary enrichment is based on lists from the literature.
125 ENGLISH 3 (1 credit)
English 3 is a survey of American literature which focuses on the development of the American literary tradition. The students study the works of Twain, Chopin, Fitzgerald, Williams, and Lahiri as well as selected short stories, poetry, and nonfiction. Students write formal literary analysis papers, refine their grammar skills through composition, and study vocabulary from their reading.
130 HONORS AP ENGLISH 3 (1 credit)
This course, an Honors survey of American Literature, parallels the rhetorical focus of a first semester college composition class. The students in this course are committed to a college-level study of the complexities of literature, non-fiction as well as fiction, and also to an analysis of the relationship between the rhetorical structure of a written work and its meaning. Students demonstrate their skills through attentive reading, analysis, and interpretation of a given text. In the first semester, students put their research skills into practice as they research and write a rhetorical analysis essay on a particular literary work. In order to hone their writing abilities and in preparation for the Advanced Placement Language and Composition exam in early May, students write in a variety of forms throughout the year, with a focus on timed writings in the second semester. Students also study the thematic effect of rhetorical and literary devices, in addition to a thorough study of the vocabulary they encounter in their readings.
AP Course fee (includes AP exam): $88
135 WORLD LITERATURE (1 credit)
The English 4 program culminates the study of literature and the refinement of writing the literary analysis essay. The purpose of this course is to read the works of writers around the world, connecting a study of literary and rhetorical forms with an exploration of cultural expression. Personal essay and literary analysis essay writing will be reviewed and refined with a minimum of one formal essay per quarter. Vocabulary study will continue through contextual use in every reading assignment. Students will read extensively and with concentration in the traditional genres or types of literature (lyric, epic, tragedy, satire and essay) and more contemporary modes of literary expression (novel, short story, memoir).
140 HONORS AP ENGLISH 4 (1 credit)
The Honors AP English 4 program culminates the study of literature and the refinement of writing the literary analysis essay. Students read important works by major British, American, and world writers from the ancient through the contemporary periods. The emphasis of this course is the analysis of the relationship between form and content. Students work on precise analysis of literary texts, exploring how the writers devise strategies and use literary and rhetorical techniques to create meaning. The course gives much attention to writing skills through timed essay writing practice, formal out-of-class literary analysis essays, and the personal essay. The course is designed to offer the student a strong and varied background for possible placement out of the second semester English requirement in college. As a course requirement, students take the AP exam in Literature and Composition given in May.
AP Course fee (includes AP exam): $88
