The primary goal of the English 9 curriculum is to improve and enhance writing skills so that every student leaves the ninth grade with a basic understanding of expository writing. Throughout the year, students work extensively on descriptive, comparative, and argumentative essays. This writing program is supplemented by a study of literature, in which students read works from different parts of the world, and discussions explore the literary, thematic, and historical aspects of these works. In the spring, students complete an I-Search, extensive research project in which they investigate a contemporary topic primarily through personal interviews, and secondarily, through library and Internet research. We teach grammar throughout the year, with an emphasis on sentence structure in student writing.
Vocabulary units supplement vocabulary from the readings.
In English 10 students develop close reading and writing skills at a more advanced level. Students continue to work with a variety of compositional modes including descriptive, narrative, cause and effect, and persuasive essays. The course focuses on major works of American Literature. Students grapple with themes from both traditional and contemporary works, and explore the use of characterization, dialogue, plot and symbolism.