English

This course for students in grades 8 and 9 involves high-intensity instruction in which the student concentrates on review and practice of those basic skills necessary for the writing of effective sentences and for detecting and correcting common structural errors in sentences. The goal of the course is the development of the student’s ability to write acceptable high-school-level prose in unified, coherent, adequately developed expository paragraphs. This goal is reached by covering the areas of grammar, mechanics, punctuation, spelling and diction, effective sentences, and finally, the paragraph. Writing assignments vary from critical to expository to creative. (Also listed for Middle School.) 

This dynamic and collaborative writing course will teach students strategies to plan, evaluate, and edit their writing, as well as to develop their personal writer's goals. Students will engage in brainstorming, peer review, workshopping, and self-assessment activities to grow as intentional and imaginative writers. Some exciting final project examples include a podcast segment, a poetry chapbook, a collection of op-eds on current events, and short stories. Also listed in Upper School.

Many of the most convincing pieces are both creative and grounded in reality. This dynamic and collaborative writing course will prepare students for writing college acceptance essays, developing a unique voice, and creating nuanced arguments. We will examine a wide variety of “texts” to learn and apply an analytical method for creative nonfiction writing that still leaves space for creativity rather than a formulaic approach. Listed for Middle & Upper School.

The English Review class is designed exclusively for students seeking to enhance their grammar and writing skills. This intensive course will delve into the intricacies of English grammar, exploring essential concepts such as sentence structure, parts of speech, and punctuation rules. Through engaging writing exercises and personalized feedback, students will sharpen their composition abilities, honing their proficiency in crafting clear, concise, and impactful written pieces.

June 17 - July 3

Through this week-long course, students will engage in close reading and academic writing and receive individual guidance and feedback from a teacher. For the first hour, students will learn and practice close reading skills through the books they are reading over the summer. The books they bring may either be assigned by the school or a predominantly text-based book for pleasure. In the second hour, students will practice analytical writing in which they will craft a thesis and support it with evidence from the text. Students should look forward to completing some summer reading as well as improving their reading and writing skills for their upcoming school year.