|
English Department Curriculum Overview and Objectives
General Objectives
Students should be able to:
- Read and analyze literature appropriate to their grade level
.
Develop and use critical thinking skills about literature and issues raised by literature.
Express ideas effectively
in writing with proper grammar and clear, organized arguments.
Express ideas orally with clarity.
Think creatively.
Complete successfully a college-level English and/or Composition course by the time they graduate.
Curriculum Overview
7th and 8th Grades
These courses are intended to introduce students to many of the basic skills needed for high school
English: comfort with reading and writing, grammar, and study skills.
Freshman Year
This course takes an interdisciplinary approach to three ancient
civilizations (Egypt, Greece, and Rome) and the Middle Ages. Students read literature relevant to each period or civilization. There are one or two major
interdisciplinary projects during the year, as well as an emphasis on the reading and
analysis of literature, clear written and spoken expression of ideas, and the writing of traditional expository
essays.
Upper Division I
and II
Upper Division I (grade 10) is divided into two distinct courses. One semester is Newark Studies, which
is an interdisciplinary urban studies course (with social studies) that analyzes issues important to
Newark and other cities. Emphasis is on research skills and persuasive, clear writing. The other semester
is a more traditional English course that is devoted to intensive reading, writing, and discussing of
thematically organized literature.
Upper Division II (grade 11) focuses on American
literature, but also includes one play by Shakespeare. Writing
again emphasizes expository essays, and the use of secondary sources is introduced.
Senior Year
This course continues the study and analysis of literature. The content has been determined by the
instructor. It includes study and writing of a college essay and research report.
**Note: All classes are heterogeneously grouped. However, there is one section each of English I, II, and
III intended to help students with particularly weak skills.
Electives
Electives are taken by Upper Division II and Senior students. There are usually one or two English
electives. Recent offerings have included Poetry, African-American Literature, and Journalism.
| 
