English Department

Faculty Members

Vicki Nast, Department Chair
Mary Powalisz
Kristine Stein
Kevin Dineen

Students in this technological age often do not realize the importance of English, their basic means of communication.  They experience English being misused in all aspects of life.  They must come to know that people who speak correctly, who can comprehend and think logically, will advance in our society.  Students can do this through refining vocabulary and through advancing their knowledge of grammar, literature, and composition.  The goal of the English curriculum is to facilitate the development of basic communication skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing.  In addition, students need to apply the writing process skills to laptop composition.

Therefore, English is required all four years of high school.  English 1-4 is taught on three levels.  Through learning and practicing the basic rules of language, the students will develop the skills necessary for communicating accurately and logically.  Through reading of classical, traditional, and modern selections, students will advance their knowledge of literary techniques and genres, and they will also develop the skills necessary for understanding and appreciating literature.  A four-year study of the writing process will enable students to have writing skills in all four composition styles: narrative, descriptive, persuasive, and expository.

1026 Basic English Skills  - Grade 9 - 0.5 credit Elective
Basic English Skills provides an opportunity for freshmen that need additional support in reading, writing, and speech. The course focuses on basic grammar and usage, vocabulary, and study skills. It emphasizes the reading and comprehension of high interest biography, drama, and short stories. It offers additional opportunities for the students to speak, write, and evaluate short narrative and expository materials.
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1000-1005 English 1 - Grade 9 - 1.0 credit (Required)
English 1 is a course in which students develop their abilities in oral and written communication.  These forms of communication include:
1.)  Grammar - parts of speech, phrases, clauses, verbals and correct usage.
2.)  Composition - development of the thesis statement, the paragraph, and the essay.
3.)  Literature - the short story, poetry, drama, non-fiction, and novel.
4.)  Speech - the techniques of oratory and opportunities for speech delivery.
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1006-1011 English 2 - Grade 10 - 1.0 credit (Required)
(Honors section available)
English 2 places emphasis on the skills of freshman year as well as on the development of more complex oral and written expression.  The course includes an intensive study of all grammatical parts of the English language, development of the five-paragraph essay with a thesis statement, various genres of literature, and opportunities for giving speeches.  Full-length works are included from authors such as Shakespeare, Ernest Hemmingway, and Ray Bradbury.
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1014/15 English 3 - Grade 11 - 1.0 credit (Required)
This course explores the historical progression of American literature from Native American writings through the 20th century.  Offerings include a survey of short stories, poetry, essays, novels, and drama from literary movements including Early American, Age of Reason, Romanticism, Transcendentalism, Symbolism, Modernism, and Post-modernism.  Formal writing exercises, class discussions, speeches, and presentations will afford students opportunities to further develop their verbal skills.  Grammar and mechanics will be continuously reviewed and reinforced, especially in preparation for ACT testing.
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1012/13 Advanced Placement American Studies - Grade 11 - 1.0 credit (Elective)
Prerequisites: B average in history/social science courses and signatures of recommendation by previous history teachers and department approval plus overall B average.  Enrollment in English Honors 2 and departmental approval.
Lmit: 25 students enrolled
American Studies is an academically demanding course, team-taught by members of the History and English departments.  It seeks to promote an understanding of the connections between American History and American Literature, and to prepare students for the Advanced Placement test in United States History.  The course is a chronological survey, beginning with the Native American cultures and continuing through the latter half of the 20th century.  There is some integration of philosophical movements and the humanities.  Wide-ranging class activities including debates, intensive projects, and papers require that students do a great deal of independent study.  This is a two-semester course.  It fulfills the English 3 requirements and two semesters of United States History.  Students taking this course are strongly urged to take the Honors American Government course senior year to fulfill the three-semester U.S. History/Government requirement.
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1018-1023 English 4 - Grade 12 - 1.0 credit (Required)
(Advanced placement section is available; consent of instructor is required)
Senior English covers the British tradition, which begins with the Anglo-Saxon period and proceeds through the various stages of development from Beowulf to the present.  Some included authors are the Beowulf poet, Shakespeare, Milton, Swift, and various Romantic, Victorian, and Modern authors.  The last quarter brings in world authors for an intensive study of prose culminating in a college-style research paper.
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1024/1025 Yearbook - Grades 9, 10, 11, & 12 - 0.5 credit (Elective)
This class is designed to produce the Chancellor.  Students will learn all aspects of the yearbook: layout, publishing software, design, photography, marketing and finance, decision making, and caption composition.  The students work not only with the moderator, but also with the company's representative.  Grades are based upon completion of assigned work and meeting of deadlines.  The class will meet every other day for the entire year.  Students who wish to be on the yearbook staff may take this class more than once.  Class size is limited.  
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1027 Journalism/Creative Writing - Grades 10, 11, & 12 - 0.5 credit (Elective)
Students will write personal essays, short fiction, and poetry.  They wil be expected to submit writing for publication, contests, and the simple joy of writing.  Their final writing portfolio will be reviewed by the English Department.  Students will experience journalistic writing style in several formats, including articles, reviews, editorials, and interviews.  They must meet deadlines.
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1028 Speech - Grades 9, 10, 11, & 12 - 0.5 credit (Elective)
Through this course students will learn to organize, research, and select languages for effective speech writing.  The goal is to acquire self-confidence and the ability to express ideas and opinions in an organized and convincing manner.  Students will have the opportunity of giving a variety of speeches.
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