English Literature

AP English Language and Composition prepares students to become skilled readers of complex prose and purposeful writers across a range of rhetorical situations. Students analyze nonfiction texts to evaluate an author’s purpose, audience, and use of rhetorical strategies, while composing their own writing for varied purposes and contexts. The course emphasizes close reading, critical thinking, and evidence-based argumentation, aligning with college-level expectations for analytical writing and discussion. Students read Between the World and Me, Narrative of a Slave, The Fire Next Time, Beloved and Citizen, along with a curated list of poems, articles and essays. 

To take this course, returning students need an A- or higher in Literature 3: Independence Honors; a sample of analytical writing submitted to the English Department Chair; completion of significant summer assignment; approval of the previous instructor. New students: approval of English Department Chair based upon placement test scores and previous English grades.

AP English Literature and Composition focuses on the close analysis of fiction, drama, and poetry, requiring students to interpret how meaning is shaped through structure, style, language, and theme. Students engage with challenging literary works and develop sophisticated analytical writing that addresses complexity, ambiguity, and multiple interpretations. The course emphasizes sustained textual analysis, command of literary terminology, and revision of ideas, preparing students for advanced academic study and lifelong engagement with literature. Students read The Things They Carried, Metamorphosis, Hamlet and Frankenstein, along with a curated list of poems and short stories.

To take this course, returning students need an A- or higher in Literature 3: Independence Honors; a sample of analytical writing submitted to the English Department Chair; completion of significant summer assignment; approval of the previous instructor. New students: approval of English Department Chair based upon placement test scores and previous English grades. 

Literature 1 Honors: Society and the Individual (Yearlong)

Literature 1 Honors: Society and the Individual builds students’ skills in academic literary analysis through the thematic exploration of how individuals and societies interact. Students examine novels that foreground different kinds of protagonists, each modelling a different relationship between the individual and society: the ethical protagonist, the heroic protagonist, the poetic protagonist, and the dystopian protagonist. Students learn to apply literary terms, develop interpretive claims, and write analytical responses in MLA format, grounding their ideas in close textual evidence. Through the study of modern texts, students examine issues of responsibility, identity, and choice, using literature as a lens for understanding both society and their own roles within a global community. Core texts may include Long Way Down, A Christmas Carol, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, and Unwind, as well as a selection of short stories and poems.

Honors sections assume more background knowledge, move at a quicker pace, cover additional material, and expect students to work at a higher level relative to College Prep sections. 

Literature 2 Honors: Journeys students read and analyze texts from around the world to explore commonalities across cultures and examine universal truths about human nature. Through these readings, students learn to identify the underlying meaning of a text and to consider where their own self-identities reside. Writing assignments focus on narrative, informative, analytical, and persuasive skills, while multiple presentations give students the opportunity to practice their English-speaking skills and build confidence. Once these world literature concepts have been sufficiently explored, they are placed alongside contrasting perspectives. Texts may include The Odyssey by Homer (translated/edited by Emily Wilson), The Body by Stephen King, Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel García Márquez, and Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe.

Honors sections assume more background knowledge, move at a quicker pace, cover additional material, and expect students to work at a higher level relative to College Prep sections. 

Literature 3 Honors: Independence challenges students intellectually and emotionally by examining complex dimensions of independence, self-discovery, social alienation, and personal development through literature. The course emphasizes analytical independence, asking students to formulate original interpretations, evaluate competing perspectives, and support claims with close textual evidence. Students also learn about major movements in American literature and how they contribute to an ongoing dialogue about American identity. Texts may include The Crucible, Citizen, Song of Myself and Other Poems, The Great Gatsby, and Brave New World as well as many poems, essays and short stories.

Honors sections assume more background knowledge, move at a quicker pace, cover additional material, and expect students to work at a higher level relative to College Prep sections. 

Literature 4 Honors: Critical Lenses focuses on elevating literary analysis through the application of the critical lenses of feminism, Marxism, and psychoanalysis to canonical texts in English. Students become more sophisticated readers, more eloquent speakers, and more authentic writers of the English language by learning about how critical lenses open up new perspectives in textual analysis. The course helps develop critical thinking and analytical skills by encouraging students to focus on multiple meanings and various interpretations of text. Students study literary movements and understand the defining characteristics of each while learning new vocabulary and concepts that make their literary analyses deeper and more sophisticated. Texts may include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (feminist lens), Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (psychoanalytic lens), Animal Farm (Marxist lens) and Frankenstein (students choose the lens) as well as selected poems and short stories.

Honors sections assume more background knowledge, move at a quicker pace, cover additional material, and expect students to work at a higher level relative to College Prep sections.

The English Skills course introduces students to the foundational practices of literary study, with an emphasis on close reading, academic writing, and evidence-based interpretation. Students learn basic literary terms and apply them to a range of texts while developing strategies for reading with attention to language, structure, and meaning. They also build their reading fluency and pronunciation. 

The course emphasizes the interconnected nature of reading, writing, thinking, and discussion, helping students build confidence as emerging literary thinkers. Through guided analysis and structured writing tasks, students learn to support interpretations with textual evidence and to articulate ideas clearly in both written and oral forms. Texts may include selections from Brown Girl Dreaming, novels from the Harry Potter series, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, and The Hunger Games, along with selected short stories and poetry. 

Literature 1: Society and the Individual introduces students to academic literary analysis and formal writing, with a focus on how literature explores the relationship between individuals and the societies they inhabit. Students learn to apply literary terms, develop interpretive claims, and write analytical responses in MLA format, grounding their ideas in close textual evidence. Through the study of modern texts, students examine issues of responsibility, identity, and choice, using literature as a lens for understanding both society and their own roles within a global community. The course emphasizes critical thinking, structured discussion, and revision of ideas as students encounter texts that resist simple interpretations. Core texts may include Long Way Down, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, and Unwind, as well as a selection of short stories and poems. 

This course examines physical, emotional, and spiritual journeys in literature, emphasizing how authors use narrative structure, character development, and symbolism to convey meaning. Students continue to build essential literary vocabulary while advancing from comprehension to sustained textual analysis. The course integrates close reading, analytical writing, and academic discussion, encouraging students to interpret complex texts and consider multiple perspectives. Public speaking assignments require students to present interpretations supported by textual evidence, helping them develop confidence and clarity in oral communication. Texts may include The Odyssey, The Body, Chronicle of a Death Foretold, Things Fall Apart and selected short stories and poems.

Literature 3: Independence explores the theme of independence through texts that examine personal freedom, cultural identity, and self-determination, particularly within American and American-influenced traditions. Students analyze how literature reflects and challenges the ideas that shaped movements such as the American Revolution and Transcendentalism. The course emphasizes analytical independence, asking students to formulate original interpretations, evaluate competing perspectives, and support claims with close textual evidence. Writing projects require students to engage deeply with complexity and ambiguity while refining their academic voice. Texts may include American Born Chinese, The Joy Luck Club, Being Henry David, The Great Gatsby, as well as selected poems and short stories. 

Literature 4: Critical Lenses focuses on advanced literary analysis through the application of critical lenses, including feminism, Marxism, and psychoanalysis. Students examine how different interpretive frameworks shape meaning and evaluate the strengths and limitations of each lens when applied to complex texts. Through close reading, analytical writing, and discussion, students analyze authorial choices, rhetorical strategies, and thematic development, preparing them for college-level literary study. Emphasis is placed on constructing nuanced arguments, engaging multiple perspectives, and revising interpretations in response to evidence. Texts may include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (feminist lens), Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (psychoanalytic lens), Animal Farm (Marxist lens) and Frankenstein (students choose the lens) as well as selected poems and short stories. 

 Our imagination has shaped the world we live in and will determine what the world of tomorrow will look like. Science-Fiction harnesses that imagination and has given us laws and technology. Science-Fiction has given us dire warnings and utopias to strive for. It has given us reasons to be afraid and reasons to hope. This course will examine the Science-Fiction genre in film and literature using multiple lenses and we will analyze how these fictional stories have had real-world effects. For the duration of this course, students will engage in meaningful discussions, philosophical debates, deep-dive analysis, and be able to express themselves creatively. 

To take this course, students require ESL Level 3 or higher.

One of the defining traits of humanity is curiosity. The desire to Know has driven humanity from the Stone Age to the Modern Era. The mortar that fills in the gaps of our knowledge and keeps our society together are the stories we tell each other. The stories we tell about the world we live in has shaped the course of society from campfire to 8K screens. This course will examine the myths and legends from around the world using multiple lenses and analyze the specific effects they have had on societies across history. Students will engage in meaningful discussions, deep-dive analysis, extensive research, and build on and continue to develop skills that are integral to their educational success. 

To take this course, students require ESL Level 3 or higher.

Creative Writing encourages students to find their own voice and write authentically in it. Students read a wide range of published creative writing and discuss how it works: how writers use language, rhythm, images, and structure to express something powerful and surprising in perfect clarity. These readings aren’t about finding the “right answer” but about noticing what makes a poem, story, or essay concrete and tangible to the reader. Students also write their own poems, stories, and essays. They experiment with different techniques and share their drafts in a supportive workshop setting. By the end of the course, students have produced polished work in multiple genres, and they have learned about the art of submitting their own work for publication.

To take this course, students require ESL Level 3 or higher.