English
Oakwood High School’s four-year, college-preparatory English curriculum is designed to create an atmosphere wherein students learn to appreciate and understand literature and use this understanding as a tool to develop critical thinking and writing skills. Students use literary models to explore written expression and to broaden their understanding of vocabulary and grammar concepts. The English program uses the four strands of language arts – reading, writing, listening, and speaking – to develop and produce students with academic curiosity who possess a facility for interpreting the ideas of others and effectively communicating ideas of their own.
In addition to the eight required semesters of English classes, students take two additional semesters of writing – one during 9th grade and one during 11th grade. These courses prepare students to be successful writers in high school and college, respectively. An Advanced Placement course in English Literature is available as an option for seniors who excel in the English curriculum. Students are required to undertake substantial recurrent practice in writing extensive structured papers, with practice and mastery of basic grammatical and mechanical concepts. All of the courses demand students’ extensive reading of a variety of literary genres, including exemplary works by both classical and contemporary authors.
Freshman Writing
This one-semester course is required of all students during freshman year and is designed to give students the skills that they need to be successful writers in high school. Students are exposed to a wide range of writing styles as they study outstanding writers and explore their own styles and abilities. Students learn that the main purposes of writing are to gather information and evidence, to inform or persuade, and to present material clearly and accurately for the reader. The course emphasizes that writing is a process: prewriting, drafting/composing, evaluating and revising, and editing. Students also spend time strengthening their vocabularies and refining their abilities to communicate clearly and accurately.
English I: Genres of Literature
English I combines a study of the major genres of literature with preparation in writing focusing on the mechanics of language, vocabulary development, and competent writing. Students develop the analytical skills necessary for the understanding of the characteristics of literary genres and the appreciation of literature in a variety of forms. The course increases students’ abilities in oral and written expression through a variety of assignments designed to foster critical thinking and creativity. Students utilize grammar concepts, vocabulary, and writing skills emphasized in Freshman Writing, particularly by expanding writing proficiency.
English II
This course focuses on British Literature as a long standing cultural tradition. In addition to providing a historical survey of the major works from critical movements and traditions of British Literature, it also continues the focus on the elements of literature begun in English I – the structure of different genres of narrative: plot, setting, characterization, theme, and style. Writing is used as a means of expressing understanding of literary concepts, ideas, and techniques. Students are expected to keep a journal of personal observations as they relate to the readings. Students continue to build upon the grammar, mechanics, and vocabulary skills they acquired in English I and Freshman Writing.
Junior Writing
Junior Writing is a one-semester college-preparatory course focused on demonstrating individual progress as an essayist. Students focus on the intricacies of writing mechanics, grammar, and usage in their own writings, as well as through the examination of literary texts. The purpose of this course is to build upon the students’ previous base of knowledge wherein writing has been seen as technical, while allowing the students to develop personal styles through sentence variety, structure, transitions, and organization. Students study the particular technique of writing college application essays as one application of their skills.
English III: American Literature
This course focuses on developing students’ intellectual and critical thinking skills through extensive study of common themes found throughout the selected texts, which represent classics of American Literature. Students expand their bases of grammar, mechanics, and vocabulary and work in conjunction with the Junior Writing course to master sophisticated forms of writing. The course deepens students’ appreciation of American heritage through the analysis and study of American authors and their writings. Collaboration with the Social Studies Department allows integration of students’ concurrent study in U.S. History to help students to understand the themes of American literature in a historical context.
English IV: World Literature
English IV prepares students for the intellectual demands of college English through reading, analyzing, and discussing a broad selection of international literature. Common themes among the works are explored, as well as comparisons and contrasts of characters, settings, plots, styles, and use of literary techniques. Students are exposed to a world view of literature, studying works of writers from around the globe and from a variety of cultures. Students come to appreciate the richness, variety, and scope of world literature, while they master the techniques necessary for successful writing in college and beyond.
AP Literature
Oakwood students have the opportunity to take a college-level course focused on preparation for successful completion of the AP English Literature exam in the spring of their senior year. Students master a variety of concepts and skills, including: making stylistic writing choices appropriate to the audience and purpose, creating and using individual responses of a text for analysis, understanding different writing approaches determined by text and genre, and applying sophisticated literary and rhetorical techniques. Students study a wide range of literary genres, including: poetry, drama, fiction, expository prose, autobiography, biography, critique, essay, journal, political writing, and science and nature writing.