2020-21 Academic Bulletin fall

history. Students will read both classic and contemporary works by such American writers as Emerson,
Thoreau, Hawthorne, Twain, Whitman, Douglass, Dickinson, Fitzgerald, Miller, and various Harlem
Renaissance and Beat poets. In addition, students will be encouraged to revel in the fun of vocabulary,
embrace the writing process, and hone their writing skills by writing journals, papers, and creative
assignments. Although an attempt will be made to align some of the reading selections in this course with
the AP U.S. History curriculum, enrollment in that course is not a requirement for success in this one.
Students who commit to this class will graduate prepared to take AP English Literature and Composition
in their senior year. This course includes a mandatory summer reading assignment. Prerequisite:
recommendation of teacher and a B+ or better in English 9 or a B or better in honors English 9. Honors.
6 credits
No Textbook Required
American Studies English (Honors American Literature): This two-period course combines Honors
American Literature with Honors US History. By focusing on the economic, social, and political
connections between the literature and the history, we seek to integrate the two disciplines. As an in-depth
exploration of American history and the development of a distinct American literature, this course
attempts to replicate an introductory college experience in terms of pace, volume, and complexity of the
material. In the course, we embed the works of the major American writers (Irving, Cooper, Emerson,
Thoreau, Poe, Hawthorne, Melville, Twain, Whitman, Dickinson, Frost, and Ginsberg to name a few) in
U.S. historical context, drawing connections between literary and historical developments. A variety of
historical texts will be employed, including primary sources, statistical compilations, and secondary
sources. Enrollment is limited. This course includes a mandatory summer reading assignment.
Prerequisite: recommendation of teacher and a B+ or better in 10th grade English and History. Honors.
12 credits
Textbook: The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Vol. 1 & 2 Shorter Ninth Edition ISBN:
978-0-393-26451-7
AP English Literature & Composition: Students enrolled in AP English Literature & Composition will
be introduced to the rigors and pleasures of a college-level literature course. In order to prepare students
for the breadth of material included in the AP exam, we will consider works of literature from a wide
array of periods, movements, cultures, and genres. We will also refine our critical lexicons through an
extensive engagement with literary terminology. By developing fluency with that terminology, we will be
better prepared to participate in the ongoing conversation of literary study. While the backbone of the
course will be thoughtful discussion, students will be asked to complete a number of in-class writing
exercises similar to those encountered on the exam. In addition to these in-class writing assignments,
students will compose more refined essays and responses out of class, exhibiting the thoughtfulness,
structure, and strength of argument necessary for successful writing. Students earning a 3, 4 or 5 on the
AP English Literature and Composition examination may be offered college credit and/or advanced
placement by the colleges they attend. This course includes a mandatory summer reading and writing
assignment. Prerequisite: recommendation of instructor and a B+ or better in American Studies Honors
English or Honors English, or an A- or better in English 11. AP, 6 credits
No Textbook Required
Individualized English: For a detailed discussion of Individualized English, please see the “Special
Programs” section on page 45. 6 credits
10