My Classes

English III AP Language and Composition / British Literature

Course Description: Students in this course will participate in a more in-depth critical analysis of literary works of British Literature from various genres and literary periods as well as an overview of rhetoric and rhetorical strategies employed by writers to meet their purposes in writing. Particular attention will focus on learning, recognizing and using literary devices; close analytical reading, writing, vocabulary building, grammar, spelling, mechanics and punctuation; analyzing a text and timed writings. Students will continue to improve writing skills through essay writing, alternative assessments, bi-weekly reflections posted online, one research paper, and several documented essays.

English I Honors

Course Description: This course focuses mainly on developing writing and grammar skills in addition to a more detailed analysis of literature in preparation for Advanced Placement English classes offered in the Junior and Senior years. Concentration is based in the areas of composition, vocabulary building, spelling, mechanics, and punctuation with emphasis on writing paragraphs, essays, responding to literature and creative writing. Some research projects and alternative assessments are required.

English I

Introduction to Writing and Literature - Course Description: This course focuses mainly on developing writing and grammar skills. Concentration is based in the areas of composition, vocabulary building, spelling, mechanics, and punctuation with emphasis on paragraph and essay writing. Some research will be required and literature study is used to maintain and improve students’ reading comprehension skills and to provide topics for student writings.

Creative Writing

Course Description The design of this course is manifold: to improve student writing in all academic areas; to allow students a written outlet for their opinions, ideas and imaginations; to increase student understanding of vocabulary, syntax, diction, detail, tone, purpose, audience, and subject; to focus on plot development, dialogue, narration, journalistic writing and poetry; and to produce the Immaculate Conception literary Journal, The Pierian Spring.

English III

Course Description: English III British Literature Students in this course will study works of British Literature from various genres and literary periods. Particular attention will focus on learning and using literary devices, writing, vocabulary building, grammar, spelling, mechanics and punctuation. Students will continue to improve writing skills through essay writing about literature and one research paper.

Contemporary Literature

This course is an introduction to the study of popular literature and methods with which to understand how these texts have value and meaning in our world. We will be reading works by American and British authors as well as writers from other countries such as Afghanistan and Brazil. We will explore the texts by reading, discussing and analyzing recent novels and nonfiction selections. In addition to analyzing the literary elements, we will investigate the intellectual, cultural, historical and political concerns of the selection of works. Three works will be studied together by the class; the remainder of the required works will be studied in a Book Club format.