Departmental objectives include the teaching of lucid, persuasive, and appealing writing and the teaching of literature. Simultaneously the Department endeavors to develop a student's enjoyment of writing and reading. Reading in the required 9th, 10th and 11th-grade courses draws from the various genres, with a balance between classical and contemporary writers. The Department also believes that gender equity and cultural diversity are important standards for the selection of literature in its curriculum.
Seniors select one course each semester from a list of elective offerings.
It should be noted, however, that because of schedule considerations, seniors may not always receive their first or second choices. Grammar is formally taught in the 9th and 10th grades and as needed in the last two years. Vocabulary is taught primarily from the texts of the required reading. However, qualified juniors and seniors are encouraged by the Department to take the Advanced Placement examination in English Literature and Composition and are introduced to the exam's format. Approximately 25 percent of our juniors and seniors have taken the exam during the last few years.