Students are given individualized instruction in the use of writing strategies, in the writing process, and in the use of standard written English. Based on students' personal experiences and writing prompts from past standardized tests, the assignments reflect a variety of writing models. Students engage in frequent revision and editing. Students are required to keep a portfolio of their writing. Individual conferences with the instructor are a frequent and important part of this class.
Students have opportunities to publish their work both within and outside of the school context.
An introductory course, Journalism is for students who wish to learn the basics of journalism. They receive instruction in writing fundamentals, e.g., news, features, editorials, editing, and headline writing. They also receive training in copy reading, page make-up, and printing. Articles completed during this class may be used for the school newspaper. In addition, they read and analyze memorable speeches from literature.