Students write critical and personal essays. Through the study primarily of literature but also of historical, philosophical, and artistic works, students are introduced to some of the most influential writing of Western civilization, with a strong emphasis on classical Greece and Rome. Special attention is paid to the authors' concern with human nature, ideals of human conduct, and the relationship between the human and the divine. Students write critical and personal essays. Spring Term Electives Students in the sixth form choose electives for the spring term.
Selections change from year to year and usually reflect teacher and student interests.
This course explores the wide range of feature writing to be found in magazines and some newspapers. Students read and then imitate interviews, profiles, science articles, travel writing, sports essays, movie reviews, etc. They focus on the personal essay, paying special attention to how nonfiction writers incorporate fictional techniques into their articles. Texts will include Annie Dillard's Teaching a Stone to Talk, Tom Wolfe's The Tom Wolfe Reader, and selections from various magazines. This course is designed for those who know they enjoy writing poetry and also for those who are interested in trying their hand at this form of creative writing.