The English Department follows the Massachusetts English Language Arts Curriculum Framework's 27 standards arranged in four strands of Language, Reading and Literature, Composition and Media. At Franklin High School students read a variety of literature from classical to contemporary and learn to write clearly and logically, recognizing that writing is a means of developing their own thoughts as well as communicating with others.
Students follow stages of the writing process and rules for standard written English.
All courses provide opportunities to develop speaking and listening skills, and all require a half-hour to an hour of homework per night. All freshmen are taught to write a literary analysis essay using primary source quotes for support. Sophomores must take the required Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System test in the spring. The Grade 11 Honors course is a thematically based study of European and American literature including the classical epic. Lengthy reading assignments are a course requirement as is a 10-page literary research paper.