Classes are held around a large conference table where the teacher and students establish an easy rapport. Classes consist of discussion based on assigned reading and preparation of a novel, poem, play, or essay. The formal expository essay is emphasized in papers which are assigned once or twice weekly. To inculcate correct practices, the lower forms work on basic skills such as grammar, usage, and vocabulary. As a student progresses, the length of writing assignments increases, up to the researched and documented term paper of five to ten pages in the Sixth Form year.
Individual conferences take place frequently at teachers' or students' request.
The basic English curriculum is a core study of literary genres and classics, which culminates in the Sixth Form elective program, a variety of courses focusing on contemporary and international literature. The Department also offers opportunities for exceptional students, including Honors World Literature in the Fourth Form, American Studies in the Fifth Form, and Advanced Placement English Literature in the Sixth Form. Return to the Curriculum page.