English Department
The English Department includes a wide range of courses to meet the needs of all of our students. We meet not only the needs of required testing, the English Regents, PSAT and SAT exams, but also work to prepare our students’creative and critical thinking skills that will prepare them for the challenges they will face in both college and the complex world they will face after graduation.
Freshman Classes
Our freshman students are placed in classes based on their needs, from literature for ESL students to Humanities English, an honors program. In addition there are double period classes to strengthen the skills of lower achieving students, single period classes for students whose skills are at grade level and special classes for Center for Writing students. Center for Writing students are scheduled for a second class in Creative Writing in addition to their literature class. All of our freshman classes begin the preparation for the English Regents with a stress on reading various genres of literature for understanding, vocabulary and the structure of an essay. Both Freshman and Sophomore classes include literature from a variety of cultures to complement the Global Studies curriculum.
Sophomore classes
The sophomore year continues Regents preparation as students continue reading and writing for understanding. Communication skills are also stressed at this level. There are again a variety of classes: ESL, Humanities and special classes for students in the Agriculture and Center for Writing programs. Center for Writing students study Drama or Debate in the Spring in addition to a second class in Creative Writing for the full year.
Junior Classes
Junior classes focus on American literature as students move to American History in Social Studies classes and stresses Regents skills to prepare all students to take the Regents exam in January. As with the earlier grades, classes are offered for ESL and Humanities students in addition to Regents English. Center for Writing students take an elective in addition to American Literature; elective offerings may include such classes as World Literature, African American Literature, Women in Literature, Literature of the Holocaust, Film Study, Journalism, Drama Production and Mythology. Students who do not pass the Regents exam in January will continue to receive Regents preparation in the spring term and will retake the exam in June.
Senior Classes
Most senior students have the opportunity to select an elective class, including all of the electives offered to Center for Writing Juniors with the addition of Yearbook and Advanced Placement English. Students who have not yet passed the Regents exam, including ESL students, receive extensive preparation and remediation in order to prepare them to meet this graduation requirement. Center for Writing students take another elective class in the Senior year in addition to a class in Research, which includes the requirement to produce a Senior Thesis.
