PROGRAM
Grade 9
In the 9th grade, students receive 7 hours of English instruction per week. There is no
established model for the 9th grade; students engage in literary work in a variety of genres
and at different levels. The themes of the five units covered during the academic year include
empathy and personal bias, horror, the Great Depression, poetry, and the story of a hero. The
main writing areas consist of structured paragraphs, comparison-contrast essays, persuasive
essays, short stories, poetry, and paragraph synthesis.
Literary works read in class: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman
Alexie; Various Horror Readings by Bram Stoker, Stephen King, Joyce Carol Oates and
others; Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck; Various Poems by poets of the 19th and 20th
century; Various Myths from a variety of sources
Grade 10
In Grade 10th, English is taught five hours per week. The central theme is stepping into
adulthood. Students explore novels, plays, non-fiction work, and comics. The main writing
areas consist of analytical essays, cause and effect essays, personal narratives, and creative
writing.
Literary works read in class: The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger; Romeo and Juliet by
William Shakespeare; Various Psychology Readings by several prominent 20th century
psychologists; Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Grade 11
In Grade 11th, students receive six hours of English instruction. The themes covered during
the year in regular classes are power, oppression, and rebellion. Students review the types of
writing they previously studied, such as persuasive essays and literary analysis, while also
studying new analysis models that include an intensified research project and a Shakespeare
play project. In consideration of the university applications to be made one year later, two
more short units are covered for students to write their individual essays and personal
statements.
Literary works read in class: Antigone by Sophocles; 1984 by George Orwell; Macbeth by
William Shakespeare; Maus by Art Spiegelman
Grade 11 AP Language & Composition
Students who choose AP English in Grade 11th also receive six hours of English instruction.
This program is completely different from the regular 11th grade English program, and by
enabling students to focus on three different types of essays, namely persuasive, rhetoric
analysis and synthesis, it prepares them for the AP Language exam they will take in May. The
course is enriched with fiction and non-fiction stories.
Literary works read in class: The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde; In Cold
Blood by Truman Capote; Welcome to the Monkey House by Kurt Vonnegut; Various Non-
Fiction Readings by authors from the 18th-21st centuries
Grade 12
In Grade 12, students receive six hours of English instruction. Our primary goal is to prepare
students for the requirements of university-level reading and writing assignments. Fiction and
non-fiction texts are equally studied during the course. While building onto the skills they
acquired in previous years, students also engage in critical writing.
Literary works read in class: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald; A Streetcar Named
Desire by Tennessee Williams; Various Short Stories by a number of 20th century
authors; A Bildungsroman (chosen at student discretion)
Grade 12 AP Literature & Composition
Students who choose AP English in Grade 12 also receive six hours of English instruction.
This program is completely different from the regular Grade 12 English program. Students
read a variety of works starting from the Shakespeare era, including prominent fictional
literature, poetry, and theater. Throughout the academic year, the course focuses on making
connections between texts. The units include intertextuality, Shakespearean tragedies, poetry,
modern and post-modern narratives, and women in literature. A significant portion of the
course consist of preparation for the AP Literature exam to be taken in May.
Literary works read in class: Various Intertextual Readings by authors from ancient times to
the present; As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner; Hamlet by William Shakespeare; Various
Poetry in English by poets from 1600-1950; A Room of One’s Own by Virginia
Woolf; Various Short Stories by authors of the 19th and 20th century
ELECTIVE COURSES
AP Capstone
AP Capstone is a research-based, four-hour, two-year program offered to Grade 11 and 12
students. In the first year, students learn research methods, and in the second year, students
work on an individual research project. This course is more skill based as opposed to content
based. Students who complete both years of this program are eligible for receiving an AP
Capstone certificate. Students who complete 4 AP courses within two years and receive a
score of 3 or above on the exam or eligible for receiving an AP Capstone Diploma.
Creative Writing
This course, which spans the entire academic year, is offered two hours per week to Grade 10
and 11 students. Students reinforce their writing skills partly by studying literature and mostly
through writing workshops that they conduct with other students in the course.
