English | The Dunham School, Baton Rouge, LA

English 5 is a comprehensive study of grammar, usage, mechanics, and sentence diagramming.  Students will build upon the foundation they received from the Shurley method in lower school, learning, practicing, and using formal grammar and conventions. Major units of study include sentence structure, the eight parts of speech, phrases, complements, and agreement. This course aims to solidify, with repetition and guided instruction, a student’s mastery of the English language, creating a solid foundation for their future academic classes.

English 5 Advanced is a comprehensive study of grammar, usage, mechanics, and sentence diagramming.  Students will build upon the foundation they received from the Shurley method in lower school, learning, practicing, and using formal grammar and conventions. Major units of study include sentence structure, the eight parts of speech, phrases and clauses, complements, and agreement. This course aims to solidify, with repetition and guided instruction, a student’s mastery of the English language, creating a solid foundation for their future academic classes. Students will create representations of concepts learned and focus more extensively on pronoun types and differentiation.

Literature 5 is the study of short stories, poems, and novels to enhance reading fluency, comprehension and analysis. Students will learn foundational literary elements and consider their effects upon literary meaning. Major works may include A Father’s Promise and Tuck Everlasting. Literature 5 also includes an in-depth approach to the five stages of the writing process with an emphasis on the various genres of writing.  Feature assignments include an introduction to the writing process, paragraph construction, poetry, description, exposition, persuasion, literary analysis, and research writing. Weekly vocabulary lessons reinforce the knowledge of language and improve reading comprehension.

Literature 5 Advanced is the study of short stories, poems, and novels to enhance reading fluency, comprehension and analysis. Students will learn foundational literary elements and consider their effects upon literary meaning. Major works may include A Father’s Promise, Prince Caspian, and Tuck Everlasting. Literature 5 also includes an in-depth approach to the five stages of the writing process with an emphasis on the various genres of writing.  Feature assignments include an introduction to the writing process, paragraph construction, poetry, description, exposition, persuasion, and research writing with an extensive introduction to literary analysis. Weekly vocabulary lessons reinforce the knowledge of language and improve reading comprehension.

English 6 is a comprehensive study of grammar and conventions. Using The Dunham School’s Grammar Handbook as a guide and tool for practice, students will learn, practice, and use formal grammar as a solid foundation for its application in communication. Major units of study include sentence structure, the eight parts of speech, phrases and clauses, complements, agreement, capitalization, and punctuation. This course aims to solidify, with repetition and guided instruction, a student’s mastery of the English language.

English 6 Advanced is a comprehensive study of grammar and conventions. Using The Dunham School’s Grammar Handbook as a guide and tool for practice, students will learn, practice, and use formal grammar as a solid foundation for its application in communication. Major units of study include sentence structure, the eight parts of speech, phrases and clauses, complements, agreement, capitalization, and punctuation. This course aims to solidify, with repetition and guided instruction, a student’s mastery of the English language. Students will create varying sentences that demonstrate a mastery of structures through the composition of an autobiography. Students will also focus on verb type and tense.

Literature 6 is the study of short stories, poems, plays, and novels to enhance reading fluency, comprehension and analysis. Students will learn foundational literary elements and consider their effects upon literary meaning. Major works may include A Christmas Carol and A Wrinkle in Time. Students will utilize a literary textbook throughout the year in addition to other selected works. Fostering greater understanding of drama in literature, students will perform a Reader’s Theater workshop of A Christmas Carol at the conclusion of the first semester. Weekly vocabulary lessons reinforce the knowledge of language and improve reading comprehension. Students will learn foundational expectations of quality writing and incorporate important conventions rules.

English 6 Advanced is the study of short stories, poems, plays, and novels to enhance reading fluency, comprehension and analysis. Students will learn foundational literary elements and consider their effects upon literary meaning. Major works may include A Christmas Carol, Johnny Tremain, Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry,  and A Wrinkle in Time. Students will utilize a literary textbook throughout the year in addition to other selected works. Fostering greater understanding of drama in literature, students will perform a Reader’s Theater workshop of A Christmas Carol at the conclusion of the first semester. Weekly vocabulary lessons reinforce the knowledge of language and improve reading comprehension. Students will learn foundational expectations of quality writing and incorporate important conventions rules.

English 7 incorporates literature, grammar, and writing into one cohesive course. Major texts may include Treasure Island and The Hiding Place, along with a variety of short stories and poetry, enrich the yearlong theme of empathy. Students continue their mastery of grammar, language, and etymological vocabulary building.  Concentrating on textual evaluation and essential questions, students will build their writing skills in order to write multiple text-referenced, five-paragraph essays and a research report written collaboratively with another subject. The Harkness learning method is introduced, with a specific focus on discussion behavior, expectations, and effective listening.

English 7 Advanced incorporates literature, grammar, and writing into one cohesive course. Major texts may include Treasure Island, Fever 1793, The Hiding Place, and The Miracle Worker, along with a variety of short stories and poetry, enrich the yearlong theme of empathy. Students continue their mastery of grammar, language, and etymological vocabulary building.  Concentrating on textual evaluation and essential questions, students will build their writing skills in order to write multiple text-referenced, five-paragraph essays and a research report written collaboratively with another subject. The Harkness learning method is introduced, with a specific focus on discussion behavior, expectations, and effective listening.

English 8 is a survey of literary genres with an emphasis on academic writing and organization. Students study novels such as To Kill a Mockingbird, Lord of the Flies and Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet in addition to a variety of short stories and poems. This course provides a formal introduction to the Harkness method of learning focusing on evidence-based discussion and using quality text based support during discussion to foster new ideas and defend analysis. Through this discussion-based course, students grapple with the theme of identity as it applies to a diverse selection of classic literary works. The aspects of literature, discussion, grammar, vocabulary and writing combine to help each student leave middle school with a sense of his identity as well as a clear written voice with which to express it.

English 8 Advanced is a survey of literary genres with an emphasis on academic writing and organization. Students study novels such as Animal Farm, Jekyll and Hyde, To Kill a Mockingbird, Lord of the Flies and Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet in addition to a variety of short stories and poems. This course provides a formal introduction to the Harkness method of learning focusing on evidence-based discussion and using quality text-based support during discussion to foster new ideas and defend analysis. Through this discussion-based learning method, students grapple with the theme of identity as it applies to a diverse selection of classic literary works. The aspects of literature, discussion, grammar, vocabulary and writing combine to help each student leave Middle School with a sense of his identity as well as a clear written voice with which to express it.

English I is a survey of classical mythology, Greek and Roman literature, and the early canon of Western Literature. From the creation accounts in Genesis and Gilgamesh, to the stories of Sophocles and Virgil, to Beowulf and Dante, students will explore the elements of a story and the notion of hero as it evolved through cultural development of Western Europe. Included in this course is a foundation in language skills to expand vocabulary use, polish grammar and punctuation, practice essay writing with literary analysis, and introduce the fundamentals of rhetorical analysis. The Harkness method of discussion, with a heavy reliance on close reading and analysis, is the primary method of instruction (1 credit).

English I Honors is a survey of classical mythology, Greek and Roman literature, and the early canon of Western Literature. From the creation accounts in Genesis and Gilgamesh, to the stories of Sophocles and Virgil, to Beowulf and Dante, students will explore the elements of a story and the notion of hero as it evolved through cultural development of Western Europe with greater emphasis than in English I. Included in this course is a foundation in language skills to expand vocabulary use, polish grammar and punctuation, practice essay writing with literary analysis, and introduce the fundamentals of rhetorical analysis. The Harkness method of discussion, with a heavy reliance on close reading and analysis, is the primary method of instruction (1 credit; weighted on maximum 4.5 point scale).

English II Honors is a chronological examination of British Literature with the goal of examining the evolution and significance of the English language and writing.  Through extensive Harkness discussion, analytical writing, and written evaluation, students will critique a selected body of British Literature.  In addition to the works used the college preparatory English II course, this course will expect students to appraise literary works through the critique of primary authors/works of the Middle Ages, the Elizabethan Period, the Seventeenth Century Puritans, the Restoration, the Romantic, Victorian, Modern, and Postmodern Periods. Supporting the literary emphasis are grammar and ACT reviews is an in-depth exploration of satire in the Enlightenment and modern day media (1 credit; weighted on maximum 4.5 point scale).

English III is an examination of the formation of the American identity through the study of American literature in an individual or small group setting. The course will explore the roots of American identity through core writings which may include The Scarlet Letter, The Great Gatsby, A Raisin in the Sun, and other voices in history and literature.  The course attempts to provide insight to fundamental questions of “Americanness” such as, “What does it mean to be American?”  Students will discuss the use and effectiveness of rhetorical devices and techniques in American writing and literature during Harkness discussions.   The course includes a research paper based on literature and American culture as well as extensive grammar review and standardized test preparation (1 credit).

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English IV is a study of cultural reflections and literature of new greats, as well as prominent writers from the last 1oo years.  Through reading quality examples of fiction and poetry, students will examine important individual and societal moralities from all corners of the world.  Significant course emphasis will be focused on understanding the voices with which the writers tell their stories and appreciating the artistry with which they write their stories and verse. In a Harkness environment, students will analyze and synthesize ideas and information, culminating in one significant essay’s examination of a theme throughout several texts. Early in the fall semester, students will focus on professional and personal writing, including resumes, cover letters, and a personal narrative coinciding with the college application season (1 credit).

AP English Language and Composition is modeled on a comparable college course, offers students a college level course experience, and gives students the experiences needed to be successful on the College Board English Language and Composition exam.  Instead of simply examining the themes and literary devices in writing, the class examines how the author creates an intended effect in his audience and evaluates the effectiveness of those techniques.  The course will center on primarily non-fiction pieces, concentrating on famous speeches and persuasive articles that lend themselves to rhetorical analysis.  Students are expected to annotate text for rhetorical appeals, rhetorical devices, inferential statements, and argument, as well as recognizing and understanding the use of rhetorical devices in the reading and applying these devices to analytical discussion.  Writing emphasis is on the process of writing, and students will learn to self-revise and develop an effective voice to enter academic conversation. Writing is expected in a variety of genres, including personal logs, analytic logs, structured paragraphs, and formal essays.  Students completing the course are required to take the AP exam in May (1 credit; weighted on maximum 5 point scale).

Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition is modeled on a comparable college course, offers students a college level course experience, and gives students the experiences needed to be successful on the College Board English Literature and Composition exam.  The course incorporates the study of British, American, and World literature from the 15th century to present day. Students will be responsible for reading, annotating, analyzing, discussing, and writing about various texts, as well as memorizing literary and rhetorical terminology.  The course demands that students can perform critical analyses, practice close readings of both poetry and prose, and polish their writing with extensive editing and re-editing of their own work.  The course allows for practice in writing timed essays using exam prompts from previous College Board exams. In addition, students will be responsible for writing critical responses outside of class, analytical journals, structured paragraphs, and formal essays. Beginning with an essay’s structural components, the course will build on foundational writing techniques and strategies by encouraging syntax variation, interesting and specific diction, and incorporating detail and text to eventually hone their own distinct and unique writing style.  Students completing the course are required to take the AP exam in May (1 credit; weighted on maximum 5 point scale).