Throughout the semester, students will study graphic narrative: the combination of images and text to convey meaning. This storytelling medium is explored for its cultural significance; the influence of digital technology on the design, distribution and consumption of graphic novels and the thematic links among the primary texts will speak to issues of cultural memory, nostalgia, and identity. 

Students in Honors English create Body Biographies of Henry V characters -- using Shakespeare’s language and symbols to identify the most distinctive and telling traits of a single character!

Sports Literature explores the integral role sports have in our culture; often leading the way for change. The culminating project in this course is the creation of a piece of sports literature, which the students deliver live in class at the end of the semester. Projects include brief plays and event sports poems in the style of Casey at the Bat.

The Science Fiction course is filled with interesting and entertaining literature! The class introduces students to new concepts and engenders serious consideration of the future; issues they are likely to face, both personally and in society in years to come.

Sophomore American Literature students make time capsules inspired by their reading of the Thornton Wilder play, Our Town. A theme of the play is that even the smallest things matter and that every day is “important enough.” Each student contributes one item that represents who they are and what is important to them at this time in their lives. 

In celebration of Black History Month, students in freshmen English were tasked with writing letters to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We took excerpts from those letters and created one piece that represents the project.

A few of our students were happy to share their poetry collections with you!

• Close to You by Nicole Plavec
• Dreams Among Nightmares by Amy Ogle
• Efflorescence by Emma Lesyk
• You Can Flourish or Perish by Katelyn Staron

Here are 2 outstanding videos from our AP Language & Composition students for their final project.  Both of the videos are about A Tale of Two Cities which is the summer reading novel for the rising AP students next year.

Rather than a typical slideshow presentation, students were tasked with giving a presentation that gives the class a demonstration about one of the slices of 19th-century culture/history served in the book.

This course offers fundamentals in grammar and writing that complements World Literature & Composition. Designed for students who need strengthening in grammar, vocabulary and study skills, the class also focuses on in-class reading assignments and writing prompts. Students enrolled in this course do not take a world language in their freshmen year.

American Literature is an exploration of the development of the unique heritage of our American literary voice. This course takes the student on a journey through the literary genres and stylistic movements from the 1600’s to present day that make up the rich and varied American literary canon. Through an examination of major American writers students continue to develop reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, literary interpretation and critical thinking skills. Students are expected to apply this knowledge in analytical, expository, creative and research writing as well as in oral presentations

This course offers an introduction to the major literary movements and writers of Great Britain beginning in the Anglo-Saxon Period followed by Medieval, Renaissance, Elizabethan, Restoration Victorian and Modern 20th Century eras. Through an examination of major British writers students continue to develop reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, literary interpretation and critical thinking skills. Students are expected to apply this knowledge in analytical, expository, creative and research writing as well as in oral presentations.

Broadcast Journalism is a unique course offering at SJ that is open to all grades. Students learn all aspects of broadcasting through hands-on operation of a real television studio. Subject areas include research, writing, producing, recording, and airing news, features, public service, and entertainment. Students become proficient in performance and the operation of all studio equipment in the planning, production, and delivery of a daily program for the entire SJ community. This course meets before school at 7:00 a.m.

This course teaches students the elements of creative writing including short story, poetry, expository essay and character study through weekly writing assignments, peer editing and story conferencing.

This literature-based course introduces students to the rich complexity of World Literature and varied literary genres such as poetry, novels, drama, the epic and the short story, focusing on the basics in reading, oral, and written communication. Students study grammar and vocabulary and apply this knowledge in expository, creative, and research writing as well as oral presentations.

The first half of this course investigates the issue of literature censorship in schools from multiple perspectives and requires historical, social, and psychological understanding on the part of the student so that they can better understand the psyche of literary censorship. The second half of this course examines the intricate and powerful effect war has on citizens. Students analyze both fiction and nonfiction prose and poetry that provide insight to the psyche and emotions of war-torn people. The course explores psychological, emotional, and historical effects of tragedy and subjects such as beauty amid violence, loss, fear and horror, patriotism, dehumanization, and identity through a compilation of short stories, poems, and novels.

The first half of this course studies the development of the short story, including history, plot, character, setting, point-of-view, narration, tone, style and theme. The class includes literary analysis as well as writing an original short story and oral presentations. The second half of this course examines the intricate and powerful effect war has on citizens. Students analyze both fiction and nonfiction prose and poetry that provides insight into the psyche and emotions of war-torn people. The course explores psychological, emotional, and historical effects of tragedy and explores subjects such as beauty amid violence, loss, fear and horror, patriotism, dehumanization, and identity through a compilation of short stories, poems, and novels.

The first half of this course investigates the issue of literature censorship in schools from multiple perspectives and requires historical, social, and psychological understanding on the part of the student so that they can better understand the psyche of literary censorship. The second half of this course students read and analyze the sonnets, histories, comedies and tragedies written by William Shakespeare in an interactive classroom environment. Students learn to read text accurately and imaginatively, and learn to appreciate Shakespeare’s dramatic dimensions.

The first half of the courses examines the unique relationship between sports and society through literature by contemporary authors, columnists and other media. The course affords students the opportunity to examine the historical influence sports has on society and the impact it plays on developing character through universal themes of struggle, conflict, victory and defeat. The second half of this course includes a selection of genres within Science Fiction literature including apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic, dying earth, military, time travel, space colonization and social science fiction. Students explore differences between science fiction and other fantastical works, identify and analyze techniques used to convey imaginary places, beings and ideas, and discuss/compare the evolution of science fiction from its original models to more modern works.

Historically, women have been marginalized in terms of human and political rights. This course begins with a consideration of the historical events for this marginalization and the literature and art of women in response to it. This course introduces students to female authors of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and critical theory from around the world. The second half of this course provides an introduction to the academic study of the multicultural genre through poetry, fiction, non-fiction, plays and music to gain an understanding of the historical and social development of writers of different ethnic, cultural, and racial backgrounds.

AP English Language and Composition mirrors a college-level rhetoric and writing curriculum. The focus is on evidence-based analytic and argumentative essays. Students will be required to evaluate, synthesize, and cite research to support their arguments. Students also read and analyze rhetorical elements in non-fiction texts from a cross section of time periods. This course has an additional focus on British Literature and incorporates literary analysis. Students will have the option to take the AP exam which will be administered in May. Pre-course summer assignments are required.

AP English Literature and Composition mirrors an introductory college-level literary analysis course. College Board has redesigned the course to focus on close reading and critical analysis of works of literary merit from the 17th century to modern day, including units on Short Fiction, Poetry, and Long Fiction and Drama. Students learn to dissect a work’s structure, style, and themes, as well as its use of figurative language, imagery, symbolism, and tone. Students will have the option to take the AP exam which will be administered in May. Pre-course summer assignments are required.