English Department

For Summer Reading Lists, Please Click on Appropriate Course Under Quick Links.

Main Office: (203) 797-4800

Attendance Office: (203) 790-2893 or (203) 790-2864

ENGLISH I (LEVELS 2,3,4) 9

Ninth grade English is the first step of a four-year program to develop basic skills in reading, writing, researching, speaking, listening and viewing. The fundamentals of writing as a process, including the skills of grammar and mechanics will be emphasized. Reading emphasis will include vocabulary development, the four dimensions of reading comprehension, recognition of literary elements, and reader response strategies. Reading selections will be taken from world literature. Students will complete a summer reading assignment and will be assessed upon return to school.

HONORS ENGLISH (LEVEL 5) 9

The Freshman Honors Course emphasizes practice and instruction in composition. Through a study of world literature, students will analyze, synthesize, critically evaluate, and respond to a variety of texts. Enrollment is limited; students must make special application. Applicants must be highly motivated, presently achieving in the top 10% of their class and have the strong
recommendation of their English teacher and/or guidance counselor. Students will complete a summer reading assignment and will be assessed upon return to school.


TRANSITIONAL ENGLISH/READING II (LEVEL 3) 9-12

This Reading/English team-taught course incorporates the skills included in the English II curriculum with those reading skills necessary for comprehension and interpretation of the required course material and subject matter. This double period class is open to students who have successfully completed the ESL program to assure a smooth transition in their second language acquisition progression. Any student who progresses and achieves satisfactorily meets the requirements for graduation.
This course may be used for 5 English credits. Meets 10 periods a week.

ENGLISH II (LEVELS 2,3,4) 10

Tenth grade English is the second step of a four year program to develop the basic skills of communication. The specific aims of this course are to help the student gain greater facility in using the correct forms of written expression and to continue the development of reading skills, particularly comprehension and interpretation of all types of world literature.

HONORS ENGLISH II (LEVEL 5) 10

The grade 10 honors English course emphasizes clear expository writing and intensive critical reading of short fiction, non-fiction, novels, drama, and poetry from a variety of cultures and time periods. Students are expected to be highly motivated in their desire to gain deeper insights into literature through extensive literary analysis and to refine their writing skills. Enrollment is limited; applicants accepted for admission into the course should be in the top 10% of their class, have demonstrated appropriate writing skills, and expect demanding and challenging work. Students will complete a summer reading assignment and will be assessed upon return to school.

ENGLISH III (LEVELS 2,3,4) 11

Eleventh grade English is intended to help the student to increase ability in writing through emphasis on the longer forms of written expression such as essays and research papers. The literature used is primarily American from the Colonial Period to the present. Specific preparation for the Scholastic Aptitude Test is also included in college preparatory sections for those who customarily take it in their junior year.

HONORS ENGLISH III (LEVEL 5) 11

The junior honors course is similar to English III in content but the level of achievement expected is higher. Particular emphasis is placed on preparation for competitive national examination programs. Since enrollment is limited, students must make special application. Applicants should be highly motivated, presently achieving in the top 10% of their grade, and have the strong
recommendation of their English teacher. Students will complete a summer reading assignment and will be assessed upon return to school.

AMERICAN STUDIES (LEVEL 3, 4) 11

American Studies is a course that integrates American literature and history to examine the development of the American character. Students will study the beliefs, words and deeds of the American people to analyze the patterns that underlie and shape this nation.
Meets 10 periods a week.

ENGLISH IV (LEVELS 2, 3, 4) 12

Twelfth grade English offers a review of all the forms of written expression and fosters an appreciation of craftsmanship in good writing. It continues the development of reading skills through an emphasis on the chronological study of selected pieces of English literature. It stresses vocabulary development through the study of literature.

A.P. HONORS ENGLISH IV (LEVEL 5) 12

The senior level A.P. Honors course is a college freshman level English program. Predicated upon previous learning in World and American Literature, this course utilizes careful reading and critical analysis of imaginative works of literature with emphasis on English literature. Students consider literary works in their historical context and in relation to their own lives and experiences. The writing assignments are designed to increase students’ ability to understand what they read and to explain clearly, cogently, even elegantly what they understand about literary works and why they interpret them as they do. This course prepares students for the A.P. examination in English which most colleges use as a basis for awarding college-level credit. Enrollment is limited; students must make special application. Applicants must be highly motivated, presently achieving in the top 10% of their class, have a minimum score of 500 on the verbal portion of the S.A.T., and have the strong recommendation of their English teacher. Students will complete a summer reading assignment and will be assessed upon return to school.

BASIC COMMUNICATIONS (LEVEL 2) 11-12

This course is designed to improve students’ media literacy and critical thinking skills. Students will analyze and interpret the messages of newspapers, magazines, radio, TV, movies, advertising, and the Internet. Participation is an important part of the course.

CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY (LEVEL 3) 11-12

In this course the student will be introduced to Greek and Roman mythology and will become acquainted with the commonplace facts and fables that serve as the basis of much of the great literature of Western civilization. The first part will deal solely with an intense investigation of the pantheon of gods; the second part will include reading from major works of classical authors
in translation.

CREATIVE WRITING I (LEVEL 3) 11-12

This course attempts to develop the basic writing ability of the student in all areas rather than primarily in exposition. The approaches used emphasize effectiveness of communication through extensive writing.

CREATIVE WRITING II (LEVEL 3) 11-12

Students intent on continuing to develop skills in creative writing will be given the opportunity to explore, with teacher guidance and group criticism, forms of poetry, short stories and plays. The course will stress manuscript submission to appropriate writing markets and will emphasize polishing of creative drafts.

PREREQUISITE: Creative Writing I and/or a portfolio of writing acceptable to the instructor.

ENGLISH WORKSHOP (LEVEL 2) 11-12

This course is designed to improve upon a student’s mastery of written communication through a working of grammatical principles. Emphasis is placed on sentence structure, paragraphing, and unity of composition.

JOURNALISM (LEVEL 4) 10-11-12

Journalism includes instruction and practice in reporting and writing (news, sports, features and opinion), advertising sales, photography, layout and design. The course will also examine concepts such as freedom of the press, ethics, and the role of media in a free society. Class members will contribute to the writing and production of the award winning student newspaper,
The Hatters Herald. As a level 4 course, strong writing skills are required. Some after school commitment is involved in this course.

ADVANCED JOURNALISM (LEVEL 4) 11-12

Through Advanced Journalism, students serve as leaders of the award-winning student newspaper, The Hatters’ Herald. They will learn to research and write in-depth stories while serving as mentors to beginning Journalism students. Advanced students may also apply to work at The News-Times as interns. After school commitment is involved in this course.

PREREQUISITE: Journalism

COLLEGE COMPOSITION -UCONN (LEVEL 5) (College Credit Offered) 12

This is a college-level composition course offered as part of the University of Connecticut’s Cooperative Program for superior students. It is primarily a writing course, although it also complete a summer reading assignment and will be assessed upon return to school. This course allows a prospective UConn student to complete some college freshmen requirements at the high school level (3 college credits), and to receive high school credit at the same time. Students entering other colleges may request official University of Connecticut transcripts showing credits earned in the University program. To be considered for the course a student must be in the upper 15-20% of his or her class or have a combined PSAT or SAT score of 1270 with 530 Verbal. Applications are available from the guidance counselors. A fee will be charged by UConn for students to enroll in this course.

LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION -UCONN (LEVEL 5) (College Credit Offered) 12

The AP English course in Literature and Composition engages students in the careful reading and critical analysis of imaginative literature and prepares them for the AP exam. Through the close reading of selected texts, students deepen their understanding of the ways writers use language to provide both meaning and pleasure for their readers. As they read, students consider a work’s
structure, style, and themes, as well as such smaller scale elements as the use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism, and tone. Students will complete a summer reading assignment and will be assessed upon return to school.

READING/LANGUAGE ARTS (LEVEL 2) 9 (Not for English Credit)

This course is designed to improve reading comprehension and written and oral responses to a variety of texts. Emphasis is placed on building and applying skills in the Four Dimensions of Reading Comprehension: Initial Understanding, Connections, interpretation, and Critical Stance. Focus is placed on developing skills in Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening, Viewing, and Enacting. Enrollment is limited to permit individual instruction. Placement is by recommendation of District Coordinator of English.

VISUAL LITERATURE (LEVEL 3) 11-12

Visual Literature is a one semester course (offered Fall and Spring) and may be taken only once. Students will study the importance of film as a form of literature and for its role in society. The course uses film of different genres/eras as a major teaching tool to discuss literacy devices, to analyze and form opinions, and to develop critical viewing skills. Emphasis of student assessment will be based on student papers and class discussions. Additionally, visual text will be supplemented with written text for comparison and contrast purposes when available and appropriate.



MYSTERY AND SUSPENSE (LEVEL 3) 11-12

The genres of mystery and suspense will be taught through classic and modern examples of short stories, plays, films, and short novels. We will begin studying the genres with the works of Edgar Allan Poe, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Agatha Christie, and move towards studying specific types within the genre such as The English Cozy, The Hardboiled Detective, The Gumshoe, The Police Detective, The Locked Room Puzzle, Capers/Heists and Bickering Teams. The films of Alfred Hitchcock will be used to exemplify the genre of suspense. Students will be performing dramatic readings of plays, writing critical response papers, character analysis papers, and descriptive pieces.

HARLEM RENAISSANCE (LEVEL 3) 11-12

This survey course involves an exploration of the literary, musical, and artistic genre of the Great Migration to our major Northern cities. The course celebrates achievements of African Americans who reclaimed their past and enjoyed a resurgence of their creative exploits in all walks of American life. Students will choose projects that will take them into varied disciplines to share with one another their discoveries from the Renaissance legacy and to make connections to their current world. Opportunities will include attendance at appropriate events, visits to relevant historical sites, guest speakers. Activities include reading and writing from Renaissance models, viewing, enacting, publishing and recording, and research.

POETRY (LEVEL 4) 11-12

The course will include a study of poetry’s history, poetic traditions, its development over time, and cultural, ethnic, national, and minority specific contributions. As part of the course students will imitate specific traditions and forms, will generate original poetry, and will attempt to publish original works. Students will be involved in the reading, analysis, writing, and critiquing of published and student-generated poetry.

SHAKESPEARE – HIS LIFE AND WORKS (LEVEL 4) 12

This course will explore the writings, life and times of William Shakespeare. Students will study selected plays and sonnets of the bard, and the role he played in the development of thought on the world stage. Writing, thinking, and vocabulary skills will be emphasized within the context of his works.