English

Creative Writing & Fiction 1 

Students will write narrative pieces and read, think critically and discuss a variety of literary novels. 

When reading novels and short stories, students will analyze and evaluate literary elements and the author’s choices. Students will write engaging, real or imagined narratives, effectively using literary techniques (description, sensory language, dialogue, point of view voice, characterization, pacing, description, and setting) to capture action and detailed experiences. Students will write in a variety of genres, including poetry, children’s picture book writing, flash fiction, short stories, and creative book reviews.

Research Writing and Historical Nonfiction 

Students will write research papers, read and think critically about and discuss nonfiction and historical nonfiction texts. Students will conduct research on and prepare presentations about the historical nonfiction texts they have read, focusing on incorporating key details and claims, from reliable, cited sources, while tailored for the purpose and audience of the presentation.

When reading nonfiction text, students will analyze and evaluate the author’s choices to better understand text, pose important questions, identify, locate, and evaluate sources, make sense of relevant information and inference, and communicate findings for discussions.

When writing, students will write well-organized and cohesive informative research papers, as well as a variety of other writing genres based on research, through precise language, vocabulary, and style that appeals to the task, purpose, and audience.

Creative Writing & Fiction 2 (grades 9 and up)

Students will write narrative pieces and read, think critically and discuss a variety of literary novels. 

When reading novels and short stories, students will analyze and evaluate literary elements and the author’s choices. Students will write engaging real or imagined narratives effectively using literary techniques (description, sensory language, dialogue, point of view voice, characterization, pacing, description, and setting) to capture action and detailed experiences. Students will write in a variety of genres, including poetry, children’s picture book writing, flash fiction, short stories, creative book reviews and more. 

Students will write engaging real or imagined narratives effectively using literary techniques (description, sensory language, dialogue, point of view voice, showing vs. telling, character development and pacing) to capture action and detail experiences.  Students will also write in other genres, including poetry, a children’s picture book, personal narrative & short story.

Public Speaking and Debate (grades 10 and up)

Students will learn the basics of public speaking, presentation, debate, and Socratic discussion. Students will evaluate a variety of speeches and presentations, write and present various speech types, read and think critically about and discuss nonfiction texts, participate in debates, and cooperative discussions with group scenarios. Students will conduct research on and prepare presentations, tailoring the presentation to purpose and audience, understanding multiple perspectives on a variety of topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas, and expressing their own ideas clearly and persuasively.

Students will initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative debates and discussions and will present well-organized, well-developed, and unbiased arguments that are supported by substantive, valid reasoning and evidence, as well as offer intelligent counter-arguments. Student will learn about fallacies and how to spot them in discussion and debate. Students will also become familiar with the trial-by-jury system and participate in a mock trial, analyzing evidence and detecting bias.