English
English courses are designed to help students improve their proficiency in reading, thinking, and writing through grammar and vocabulary work, through reading and discussing literature, and through extensive writing. Word processing, which both departments regard as an integral tool for thinking and writing, is required for all outside assignments. All Upper School students have laptop computers for note-taking, preparation of classroom presentations, internet research, and word processing; however, the Brunswick English Department considers the annotation of texts a skill of critical importance which students must develop. At the 9th and 10th grade levels, grammar and vocabulary are studied formally, while at the 11th and 12th grade levels, they are studied informally as the emphasis shifts to refining, editing, and revision.The Brunswick English program for the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades is coordinated with our sister school, Greenwich Academy.
English 9, which is not coordinated with Greenwich Academy, has as its theme Emerging Male Archetypes. In this course, the students examine men as they perceive themselves and as they are perceived by others. Through the examination of models such as Beowulf, Sir Gawain, Prince Hal, Roy Hobbs, and Henry Fleming, the boys begin to develop an understanding of what society has traditionally defined as honorable male behavior.
English 10 focuses primarily, but not exclusively, on British writers. Such works as The Canterbury Tales, Macbeth, and Frankenstein are covered, as are poetry, short stories and autobiography. The courses on both campuses aim to expand interpretive and critical skills and to develop a personal style by providing a variety of reading and writing experiences, revision, and active reading.
English 11 traces the American experience from Puritanism to the twentieth century. The students gain an understanding not only of how attractive the "American Dream" has been and continues to be, but also of the anguish suffered by those to whom the dream has been denied. Students study various genres, and learn to write more complex expository and creative papers. Preparation for the SAT-I and II is included, and selected students sit for the A.P. Language and Composition Examination and the Literature and Composition Examination in May.
English 12 is taught in the form of year-long elective courses involving more advanced study of a variety of literary genres. Students may take courses in Shakespeare, African-American Literature, literature and its film interpretations, Literature of the Lost Generation, to name a few examples. Students write frequently to explore what they read, and develop critical and interpretive skills in more formal essays. They continue to learn to respond effectively to work by other writers, to develop strategies for active reading, and to analyze their own progress. Review materials for the SAT-I and II are assigned where appropriate. Eligible students may elect to sit for the AP Literature and Composition Exam in May.
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