English I: This is a full year reading and writing course for freshmen. Students read, analyze, evaluate and respond to various literary genres. They are asked to compose in many modes and the emphasis is on the writing process in a workshop format. Vocabulary is increased through varied reading and writing activities. This course establishes the foundation of critical thinking and study of writing and literature.

English III: This full year course, required for all juniors, introduces students to major periods and genres of English literature, with points of emphasis from selected writers chosen by individual teachers. Writing assignments include various modes, but mastering the analytical essay remains paramount.

English IV - Gender Perspectives: This elective for seniors is a one semester reading and writing course. The aims of the course are to make students aware of the varying and universal roles that females have played in literature and to read literature written by women, especially from cultures where males have traditionally been the purveyors of literature. We will explore the commonalties of women as characters in literature, the themes about which women write, and the perspective from which men view women. Included are such authors as Charlotte Bronte, Jean Rhys, Isabel Allende, Tillie Olsen, Alice Walker, and Julia Alvarez, as well as personal selections.

English IV - Shakespeare: This course is an in-depth study of Shakespeare’s history and comedy plays, a variation from the more traditional study of his famous tragedies. Texts may include Richard II, Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2, Henry V, The Tempest, Twelfth Night and The Taming of the Shrew. Most of the plays will be supplemented by a film adaptation.