ELA (English Language Arts)

Welcome to the English  Department!

Michele Washington
Assistant Principal, English and Communication Arts

All courses offered by the English Department reflect our commitment to an integrated program in the Language Arts, which tightly adheres to our City and State standards in the English Language Arts Curriculum. It is our duty to enhance our students listening, critical thinking, speaking, reading and writing skills in a context that sensitizes them to the need for developing proficiency with language. We provide a curriculum that addresses the needs of our students through collaborative learning techniques as prescribed by the Chancellor's Handbook for Balanced Literacy.

Developing our students literacy skills is our main objective, as our
students progress through the four-year English curriculum. The course of studies prepares our students for the Comprehensive English Regents
Exam, the SAT and College Now under the aegis of York College.  We
want to send our graduates to college or into the work force with the
necessary skills to succeed in our highly competitive world.

We also offer Advanced Placement English this is an intensive college
level course that aims to instruct students in the art of writing and literature appreciation. The course follows the requirements set by the College Board.


COURSE OFFERING

E1/E2
The 9th grade curriculum has been revamped by the Department of
Education to reflect and highlight literacy. Ninth grade students who score a 2 or less on their ELA 8th Grade Assessment test will have a double period of English and follow the Ramp-Up Program. This program will enable students to become more fluent readers and writers through
independent, cooperative, and whole group instruction.   Those 9th grade students who score a 3 or better on the 8th Grade ELA exam will have a single period of English based on the Balanced Literacy Model.

E3/E4
This course themes are the same as the E3H/E4H. Students will write their own narratives and responses to literature. Students will continue to be familiarized with the four parts of the English Regents exam that they will take at the end of their junior year. This course strengthens students listening and writing skills. Students writing abilities will be constantly crutinized and accessed to meet state and city standards for English Language Arts, and to continually build skills to meet the Regents requirement the following year.

E3H/4H
This course tackles the themes of rites of passage and man's fight for
survival. Within this context, the course provides a wide array of short
stories, novels, plays and poems. The literature is multicultural and
represents literary works from around the world. The writing component is intensive and builds upon the essential skills of process writing, and more specifically, expository and creative writing. This is the precursor to the ELA Regents class next year.

E5/E6
Like the 5H/6H class, this is a Regents preparatory course where students will read American novels and continue to develop their proficiency in writing skills and general test-taking skills. Writing about a controlling idea and a critical lens will be stressed. It is an intensive reading and writing course that will lead to the successful passing of the Regents exam.

E5H/E6H
This is an Honors Regents course in which American Literature is the
focus. Students will be preparing for the English Comprehensive Regents Exam in June, a requirement for graduation. Reading American classics and writing about the literature, largely comprises this course. Vocabulary study, the study of literary terms and reading comprehension are important topics of the course. Students will be required to write a thesis paper on an American author and two of his works. There is continuous preparation for the ELA Regents in June.

E7/E8
This senior level English class offers different topics each year, but writing still remains the focal point. The senior essay is discussed and written this term, as well as a research paper. The fall term's focus is the literature of mystery where students get to explore the themes and devices employed by famous mystery writers. The spring term's focus is on public speaking and communications.

E7H/E8H
This honors class focuses on comparative literature encompassing all
genres. Students will write their senior essays as well as a literary research paper. This course seeks to broaden students knowledge of classical and contemporary literature with emphasis on literary style and criticism.

E7X/E8X

The Advanced Placement Course offers students the opportunity to read a comprehensive selection of works by British and American authors from many time periods and genres.  Students will be expected to critically interpret and analyze texts read in class and to apply evaluative and critical processes to independently read texts.