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ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
The English program advances four key objectives:
to analyze literature; to read, think, and evaluate
critically the selected works; to understand and
appreciate language; and to refine the skill of
writing. The four years of English study are unified
by a progressive and comprehensive writing program.
The English Department follows the MLA format
for essays and research papers. In the field of
literary studies, each student reads ten novels
per year besides the scheduled class readings.
ENGLISH I
Freshman English is an integration of reading,
writing, grammar, and vocabulary. Foundational
in nature, freshman English prepares students
for future studies by introducing them to all
aspects of English to enable them to communicate
effectively through the written word. The inclusion
of  multi-cultural
literature gives students the opportunity to broaden
their base of knowledge about other peoples and
their cultures with the hope of building understanding
and tolerance for the differences that exist among
all people. The introduction to and the development
of critical thinking skills form an important
part of their literary studies. Students are introduced
to the core program of writing that develops sentence
structure through varied grammatical and rhetorical
patterns. During the year, freshmen are assigned
a research project that focuses on the fundamental
skills of research.
ENGLISH II
Sophomore literature focuses on world masterpieces.
Students read selections from the ancient Sumerian
epic Gilgamesh to the poems and short stories
of modern third-world writers. During the year,
sophomores explore the complexities of human relationships
through their study of The Merchant of Venice and Julius
Caesar. In their second year in the
core program, they continue to develop and refine
their own writing style as they explore topics
critically and reflectively about their reading
and the values represented in these readings.
Sophomores continue to develop their research
skills and submit a research project during the
fourth quarter. Development of verbal skills is
an important aspect of the sophomore year as students
prepare for the PSATs and SATs.
ENGLISH III
The emphasis in junior English is on the study
of the short story, novel, selected poetry, and
drama. Literary studies include classic British
novels and a wide selection of short stories and
poems. In drama, juniors read Othello and Macbeth as a continuation of their study of  Shakespeare
and Oedipus Rex as an introduction to Greek literature.
Critical study and examination of individual works
allow students to address timeless and universal
themes and to enhance their personal appreciation
of classical literature. Juniors compose cohesive
and analytical compositions in this third year
of their on-going study of writing based on the
core program. Weekly vocabulary drills enhance
word skills for the purpose of improving SAT verbal
skills.
HONORS ENGLISH III
Honors English is a course available to a selected
number of juniors who plan to culminate their
English studies in senior A.P. English. They engage
in an intensive survey of British literature from
Beowulf to twentieth-century classics and read
Oedipus Rex, three Shakespearean plays, novels,
and a wide variety of poetry. During their year
in Honors English, students use their core writing
skills to analyze, parody, and rebut the major
authors. A major part of Honors English involves
active participation in class discussion, weekly
writing assignments, a term paper, and individual
reading and analysis. Other modes of instruction
include lecture, oral presentations, small group
discussions, board work, peer evaluation, and
informal debate.
CREATIVE WRITING
Creative Writing is an alternative selection
to Junior English and Honors English and subsequently
fulfills the requirement for English III. Juniors
continue their study of literature through selected
writings of British authors. These selections
give students the finest examples of a particular
genre for them to emulate in their own work.
The course offers an added dimension of writing
to
those students with a specific interest and/or
talent in writing by giving them the opportunity
to challenge themselves creatively in the four
generic areas of writing: poetry, the short story,
the essay, and drama. Creative Writing students
oversee the publication of The Epic, Scranton
Preparatory School’s literary magazine.
A.P. ENGLISH LANGUAGE
AND COMPOSITION
A.P. English Language and Composition emphasizes rhetoric and composition with
attention to particular forms – argument, narrative, and exposition. This
A.P. course, offered in junior year, engages students in becoming skilled readers
of prose written in a variety of periods, disciplines, and rhetorical contexts
and in becoming skilled writers who compose for a variety of purposes. Selections
for the critical reading for this course come from nonfiction and nonliterary
works (i.e. the sciences, history, politics) and from fiction. The readings take
into account different time periods, genres, and are works written in the English
language. All students sit for the A.P. Examination in May.
ENGLISH IV
In senior English, students study classics of
American literature. They finish their Shakespearean
study with Hamlet and advance their mastery of
Greek classics with the study of Antigone. In
their reading, students examine the works in their
cultural and historical context. Seniors continue
to use the core program which advances in structural
complexity, concentrates on ideas, methods of
development, unity, and style in the writing of
both analytic and imaginative essays. Instruction
in writing a term paper is also an integral part
of senior English; this project requires students
to write a three-to-five page research paper which
follows the MLA format.
A.P. ENGLISH LITERATURE
Advanced Placement English Literature is offered
to seniors. A.P. Literature students focus their
study on American literature. In each of the respective
periods, students learn broadly about the cultural
and historical background of the time as well
as how these forces influence the literature.
With the reading of each work, students additionally
analyze the techniques which are peculiar to the
genre and which distinguish the writer’s
style, characteristic subject matter, and contribution
to the canon. All students sit for the A.P. Examination
in May.
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