English

English 1 invites students to develop their reading and writing skills in a collaborative classroom environment. By reading and discussing works of various genres (Macbeth and “The Odyssey”, along with a variety of poetry, plays, novels, short stories, and essays), students develop analytical abilities essential to their careers at Kent and beyond. Through both critical and creative written responses, as well as instruction in grammar and mechanics, students learn to share their ideas in writing that is effective, persuasive, and engaging.

By carefully analyzing works of British literature (including Othello, Paradise Lost, and Frankenstein, as well as Romantic, Victorian, and modern poetry), English 2 students discover what literature reveals about our humanity and the contemporary age. Through critical and creative written responses, as well as continued instruction in grammar and mechanics, students learn to share their ideas in writing that is effective, persuasive, and engaging. Prerequisite: departmental approval for enrollment in Honors level.

English 3 students read a variety of American literature (including The Underground Railroad, The Things They Carried, The Great Gatsby, and a selection of narratives, short fiction, plays, essays, and poems) to develop a broad understanding of American voices and perspectives. Through both critical and creative responses, English 3 students will build upon the skills developed in earlier classes to express their ideas in writing that is effective, persuasive, and engaging. Prerequisite: departmental approval for enrollment in Honors level.

This course will appeal to students who have a deep and abiding appreciation for the written word, who delight in both reading and writing. Students will analyze texts closely and produce literary analysis of a high caliber, while also experimenting with creative forms in their own style. The sophistication and the volume of the reading require that students can already read, discuss, and write about these texts with demonstrated grace and discernment. Students will read both classic and contemporary authors, and they should be able draw connections between these works. Prerequisite: open to students in sixth form with departmental approval.

All sixth form students not enrolled in Advanced Studies in English Literature (described above) begin the year with a fall term course that encourages students to develop their own authentic written voice. Using successful college essays from past Kent seniors and a variety of other narrative and personal essays as mentor texts, students workshop and revise their own personal and college essays. Students will then read a variety of texts to examine how different authors, from Shakespeare to Trevor Noah, have addressed the development of identity and the human desire to understand the self in relationship to the world and others. In the winter and spring terms, English 4 students can choose from a variety of elective courses (also open to Advanced Studies in English Literature students). The English 4 electives vary from term to term.

Students are placed in this course following a review of relevant testing (including TOEFL). ESL Language stresses the acquisition of academic language skills through reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

Students are placed in this course following a review of relevant testing (including TOEFL). ESL Literature provides an introduction to works of British and American literature. In this course, students become familiar with the basic elements of critical analysis through readings of, and written responses to novels, short stories, poetry, essays, and plays.

An integrated skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) course for non-native English-speaking students at the advanced level of English proficiency. Students develop active and passive vocabulary through learning word roots. Students do both informal (journals) and formal (paragraphs and essays) writing. We focus on editing strategies to make writing more clear, concrete, and concise. Class discussions and student presentations increase students' confidence using spoken English and listening skills in an academic environment, while students work together on projects, learning to collaborate. In this class, students have the opportunity to help determine course content and activities.