ENGLISH CURRICULUM
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
The English Department’s general philosophy is to enable each student to increase her comprehension and appreciation in the areas of oral and written communication including grammar, composition, vocabulary, reading and speech skills. The student will be able to appreciate the value of literature and learn how to apply her skills to other disciplines. The English Department strives to use the experiences of literature to appeal to and help develop the whole person – intellectually, spiritually, morally, and socially.
ENGLISH 9: REGENTS Course # 210 Credit: 1.0
This course is an integrated combination of genre study and pursuit of a mastery of English mechanics, including writing skills, grammar, and vocabulary. This structure will ensure that all students are more than adequately prepared for literary study on a higher level.
ENGLISH 9: HONORS REGENTS Course # 211 Credit: 1.0
This course is a literature and language arts course for participants in the Ferrer Scholars Program and other freshman students whose Placement exam and academic record show them to be excellent students of English.
The course is designed to introduce the different genres in literature, reinforce grammar and vocabulary skills and help the students to develop a more sophisticated pre-college approach to English.
ENGLISH 10: REGENTS Course # 220 Credit: 1.0
This is a study of American Literature from the early Colonial to the Modern period. The study proceeds chronologically offering the students historical, cultural and political backgrounds for the literature produced in each period. Students will be required to make connections between the writing and the societal influences that contributed to its creation.
ENGLISH 10: HONORS REGENTS Course #221 Credit: 1.0
This course is a literature and language arts course for students in the Ferrer Scholars program and for those sophomores who have an average of a 93% in English 9 Regents and the permission of their English 9 teacher.
This course presents a study of American Literature from the early Colonial to the Modern period. In class essays, presentations, projects, and a research essay are included as a part of the coursework in order to help the students achieve a more sophisticated approach to literary study.
ENGLISH 11: REGENTS Course # 230 Credit: 1.0
World Literature: This course will include the reading of a variety of literature – novels, poetry, and plays from the past and present. Coursework will include continued development of reading comprehension strategies, writing skills, vocabulary, and grammar, with a focus on argument essays, literary essays, and creative pieces. In addition, students will prepare for the New York State Regents exam in English which will be given in January of the junior year.
ENGLISH 11: HONORS REGENTS Course # 231 Credit: 1.0
World Literature: This course is a literature and language arts course for students in the Ferrer Scholars program and for those juniors who have at least a 93% average in English 10 and the permission of their English 10 teacher.
This course will include a variety of literature – novels, poetry, and plays from the past and present – as well as in-class writing, creative projects, vocabulary development, and advanced grammar work, all of which is aimed at helping students achieve a more sophisticated approach to reading and writing. Students also prepare for the New York State Regents Exam in English, which will be given in January of the junior year.
ENGLISH 12 Course # 240 Credit: 1.0
This full year course will include composition, world literature, communications, and cinema. Vocabulary development will continue and a 4-7 page annotated essay will be required in the first semester.
ENGLISH 12: HONORS Course # 240 Credit: 1.0
Prerequisites: A class average of at least 90% and the recommendation of the junior year English instructor.
English 12: Honors is a two-semester intensive college preparatory class in which students will continue to develop as writers and writers. We will survey world literature—fiction, poetry and prose. A 5–8-page research paper will be due at the conclusion of the first semester. Students are expected to bring their curiosity, engagement, and effort to the coursework, which will include regular reading assignments, essays, reflections, projects and speeches.
ENGLISH 12: ADVANCED PLACEMENT Course #245 Credit: 1.0
Prerequisites: A class average of at least 93%; the recommendation of the junior year English instructor; a reading comp/essay entrance exam written essay administered. All of the above requirements must be met.
This senior elective is a college level course given in preparation for the Advanced Placement Exam in English Literature and Composition. Students study a wide variety of genres, including novels, drama, short stories, and poetry, from the Renaissance to the late twentieth century. A college level course, all students are expected to read challenging texts, to write analytical essays and to actively participate in class discussions. In addition, students undertake an independent reading project in the spring semester.
All students enrolled in the course are expected to take the AP exam. The cost of the exam is approximately $90.00.
INTRODUCTION TO CREATIVE WRITING Course #246 Credit 0.5
Introduction into Creative Writing is an elective course that is meant to explore the students’ creativity regarding the written word. Genres such as fiction, non-fiction and poetry are inspected through a variety of prompts. More specifically, we look at short stories, journaling, freewriting, flash fiction, drabbles, writing with music, spoken word poetry etc. Feedback is given by the teacher and peers alike through employing the workshop model of sitting in a semi-circle, while taking turns commenting on the written work.
ADVANCED CREATIVE WRITING Course # 247 Credit: 0.5
Advanced Creative Writing is an elective course that is meant to further engage the students with more complex types of writing. After having learnt the basics in the introductory course, we will now focus on improving the style of the students’ writing. Skills to be strengthened will be proofreading and editing, research, developing personal voice and organization of the writing itself. Genres such as folklore, historical fiction, fairytales, and fantasy will be explored. Workshop classroom model will still apply.
