Overview
The English curriculum focuses on preparing students to succeed in college. With this in mind, the English faculty seeks to provide students with a progressive curriculum that stresses analytical reading, logical writing, and effective speaking. Writing assignments require a careful reading of a variety of literature and give students an opportunity to respond critically to what they have read. The English department supports a classical literary education; therefore, reading assignments may not always reflect our Christian beliefs. Often, however, class discussion will focus on how a literary work may espouse a Christian worldview. Discussions like these allow students to learn to express and defend their faith, something they may be called upon to do when they attend college.

Each of the four required English courses focuses on specific types of writing, beginning with paragraph construction in the eighth grade and ending with documented persuasive and argumentative essays in the twelfth grade. Literary selections from various genres provide the basis for most writing; however, students will also write from their own experiences in other more creative, less formal pieces. All courses require students to use the writing process for most assignments, beginning with prewriting discussion and ending with a revised final product. In addition, students will use technological aids in writing and research to help develop skills they will use often in college courses. The aim of the English department is to develop confident student writers who are capable of exceptional college work.

In addition to writing, the English curriculum stresses a chronological study of literature of all genres, including fiction, drama, poetry, and non-fiction. Students develop critical thinking skills as teachers guide them through the more difficult works, and independent reading provides an opportunity for students to develop and support their personal responses to literature. Though we acknowledge that varied reading is the best way to improve verbal SAT scores, we also focus on vocabulary development. Beginning in the eighth grade, students prepare to take the PSAT and the SAT by participating in a systematic study of vocabulary based on Greek and Latin root words. While all courses are college-preparatory, Providence offers Honors English courses in grades 9-11, and an AP English course for twelfth grade.

Ninth Grade Literature and Composition  23.0610   1 CRE
Ninth grade students will review basic grammar and mechanics as they begin to understand sentence effectiveness and variety. They will apply this to their writing as they master the short, multi-paragraph essay introduced in eighth grade. Freshmen will also respond to literature and independent reading through journal entries and book reports. Reading skills will be further developed in the ninth grade as students participate in a survey of literature from a variety of genres, including short stories, novels, drama and poetry. During the second semester, ninth graders will research a topic, which will require them to organize information from on-line and print sources using the MLA style of documentation. Students will share the results of their research with their peers, as they begin to develop confidence in speaking before a group. While some new vocabulary words will come from the literature, students will continue to study Greek and Latin root words for PSAT and SAT preparation.

Honors Ninth Grade Literature and Composition  23.0610041   1 CRE
The honors placement committee must place students in the ninth grade honors course. Though all ninth graders will cover the same basic material, honors students will move more rapidly through some review material while slowing down to look at other material more critically. Honors students should expect to read difficult selections and to respond often in writing as they move away from the literal level to a more advanced level of literary analysis. Application required.

American Literature and Composition  23.0510001  (10th)   1 CRE
The tenth grade course provides a chronological study of American literature. Journaling will provide students with an opportunity to become more fluent as they respond in writing to the required reading. The course also requires students to master the multi-paragraph essay as they begin to focus on literary analysis; in fact, by the end of the sophomore year, students will be familiar with the 5-paragraph essay. Students will become more stylistically mature as they apply certain rules of grammar, mechanics and usage to final written products. In the second semester, students will research a literary topic using on-line and print sources, and will write a short literary analysis research paper using proper MLA documentation. Vocabulary study in the tenth grade continues with a focus on Greek and Latin roots in preparation for the SAT. Short presentations based on the reading will allow students to practice speaking before a group.

Honors American Literature and Composition  23.0510041  (10th)   1 CRE
The tenth grade honors course requires students to continue to develop reading skills that go beyond the literal level of a work; students will begin to apply critical analysis to required reading. The honors course content is much the same as the other world literature course, but students will study at least one more selection in each chronological unit. Honors students should expect to write often and to meet high standards in the final product. They should also expect to read more advanced selections from the independent reading list. Vocabulary and grammar will be covered at a rapid pace, as will some of the literary selections. The honors placement committee must recommend all tenth grade Honors English students. Application required.

English Literature and Composition  23.0520003  (11th)   1 CRE
Junior English focuses chronologically on British literature, reading selections from various genres, including short stories, novels, plays, poetry, and non-fiction. The writing emphasis in the eleventh grade is on mastering the five-paragraph essay, specifically through definition and comparison/contrast. In addition to formal essay writing, students will develop a personal writing voice through various informal formats, including the reader’s response journal. Independent reading will include several British novels or plays, which will provide the basis for a literary research paper. Students will write this formal research paper during second semester and will share this research in a brief “book talk” given after the paper is finished. This will allow students to develop confidence speaking before a group.

Honors English Literature and Composition  23.0520041  (11th)   1 CRE
Similar in content to the Junior English course, the honors course requires students to take an in-depth look at the assigned reading in order to understand how British literature developed. Honors students should be adept at writing in the 5-paragraph format; as juniors they will begin to expand upon that structure to write essays that provide thoughtful literary analysis. Independent reading will focus on novels and plays chosen from a selected list; students will be expected to read several major British works this year. Since some juniors will eventually take the 12th grade AP course, students will be held to a high standard in all course work. The honors placement committee must place all students in the course. Application required.

English Literature and Composition  23.0520001  (12th – Class of 2007)  1 CRE
The senior English course seeks to refine writing skills mastered in earlier courses. Students will, therefore, write regularly on literary topics, focusing on expanding earlier writing formats and becoming more stylistically mature. Occasionally, students will write in-class essays to allow them to become comfortable in the timed situations they may encounter in college. Students will revise their writing often, as they learn to correct the most common mechanical and grammatical errors in beginning college writing. While some of the writing will come from the student’s own experiences, most writing will be based on the literature. This portion of the course stresses British authors, though students will also read some important world literature. Students will be expected to read several selections from the independent reading list and discuss their impressions with the class. In addition, students will write a research paper during second semester, which will provide critical analysis of the reading.

AP Literature and Composition  23.0650001  (12th)   1 CRE
Because this course will be taught as a college level course, all students taking AP English must have demonstrated superior writing and analytical skills throughout their high school English career and be placed there by the honors placement committee. AP students will read many selections from the approved AP reading list and write extensively about what they’ve read. This course focuses on world literature, with an emphasis on British works as well as important American classics. Students will refine their writing skills as they practice regularly in timed situations. The aim of the course is to prepare students to take the Advanced Placement exam in the spring, which often exempts students from their first quarters of college English.

World Literature and Composition  23.06300  (Class of 08 and beyond)   1 CRE
The senior English course seeks to refine writing skills mastered in earlier courses. Students will, therefore, write regularly on literary topics, focusing on expanding earlier writing formats and becoming more stylistically mature. Occasionally, students will write in-class essays to allow them to become comfortable in the timed situations they may encounter in college. Students will revise their writing often, as they learn to correct the most common mechanical and grammatical errors in beginning college writing. While some of the writing will come from the student’s own experiences, most writing will be based on the literature. This portion of the course stresses important world literature. Students will be expected to read several selections from the independent reading list and discuss their impressions with the class. In addition, students will write a research paper during the second semester, which will provide critical analysis of the reading.

Journalism I  23.0320011   1 CRE
This course explores all aspects of journalism through the process of yearbook production. Students are engaged in journalistic interviewing, copy writing, photojournalistic documentation editing, as well as graphic design. In this “real world” atmosphere students learn how to balance creativity with time and budget concerns in addition to learning to work productively in a team-oriented environment and meet critical deadlines. Application required. May fulfill Fine Arts credit.

Journalism II  23.0330001   1 CRE
This course offers students the opportunity to further advance their journalistic skills while managing and/or supervising Journalism I students in the process of yearbook production. Journalism II students are responsible for developing the yearbook theme, maintaining a positive staff morale, proofreading staff work, making sure all deadlines and budget requirements are met, as well as perfecting their own journalistic interviewing, copy writing, graphic design, and photojournalistic documentation. Application required. May fulfill Fine Arts credit.