Curriculum Detail

English

  • HONORS ENGLISH 1

    The focus of English 1 is on the key language arts skills of reading and writing
    while integrating grammar and vocabulary study into the curriculum. The
    grammar study includes the conventions of Standard English, usage, and
    punctuation using Elements of Language Sixth Course book. Students reinforce
    their grammar study with their writing to develop the standards covered in the
    classroom. The vocabulary study is a multi-faceted approach as used in
    Paternoster’s Three Dimensions of Vocabulary Growth.
     
    Students learn composition skills with an emphasis upon the writing process.
    Both formal and informal writing tasks are integrated into the curriculum.
    Students read one novel selected from a class reading list, and they read selections
    from the anthology Elements of Literature. Additionally, all students will read
    books selected by instructors including A Separate Peace, Rebecca, The Odyssey
    (graphic novel), and at least one selected Shakespearean play for study. Students’
    introduction to Shakespeare will also include viewing Romeo and Juliet as well as
    studying all or sections of the text.

  • CP AMERICAN LITERATURE

    This course is a study of American Literature and a study of speech. The students cover major authors from an anthology focusing on the American literary experience. In addition to the works in the textbook, students will read three to four works chosen from: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Crucible, The Great Gatsby, or The House on Mango Street. Students will learn basic speech skills by preparing and delivering four to six speeches. Composition is also a major component of the program, continuing the writing growth begun in English 1. Students’ work on speeches and papers will include research skills and proper documentation of outside sources. Students will work on speech scripts, expository and persuasive reading response writing, as well as literature based papers. In conjunction with the writing, students receive continued grammar instruction and review usage skills to improve their writing styles. As with English 1, students continue their study of vocabulary skills with the Sadlier-Oxford workbook.

  • HONORS AMERICAN LITERATURE

    This course is a study of American Literature and a study of speech. The students cover major authors from an anthology focusing on the American literary experience. In addition to the works in the textbook, students will read four to five works chosen from: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Scarlet Letter, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Crucible, The Winter of Our Discontent, The Great Gatsby, Their Eyes are Watching God, or The House on Mango Street. Students will learn basic speech skills by preparing and delivering four to six speeches.
     
    Composition is also a major component of the program, continuing the writing growth begun in English 1 and Honors English 1. Students’ work on speeches and papers will include research skills and proper documentation of outside sources. Students will work on speech scripts, expository and persuasive papers, as well as literature based papers. In conjunction with the writing, students review grammar and usage skills to improve their writing styles. Students continue their study of vocabulary skills with the Sadlier-Oxford workbook.

  • CP BRITISH LITERATURE

    This is a survey course of major authors, trends, and genres of British Literature
    integrated with a study of English history. Special emphasis is given to analytical
    writing and the writing process. Students’ papers will incorporate research skills
    and proper documentation of credible, academic sources which will include both
    electronic and printed material. Grammar and usage skills will be reviewed as
    needed and incorporated into the writing process; vocabulary skills will be
    stressed through use of the Sadlier-Oxford workbook. Students will focus on an
    in-depth analysis of at least five to six major works including: Beowulf, The
    Canterbury Tales, Macbeth, Brave New World, Lord of the Flies and Frankenstein.

  • HONORS BRITISH LITERATURE

    Honors British Literature is an accelerated survey course of major authors, trends, and genres of British Literature integrated with a study of English history. Special emphasis is given to sophisticated analytical writing and deeper understanding of the writing process. Students’ papers will build on previously acquired research skills and proper documentation of credible, academic sources which will build upon English 2 curriculum. Vocabulary skills will be independently stressed. Students will focus on an in-depth analysis of a minimum of six major works including: Beowulf, The Canterbury Tales, Macbeth, Brave New World, and Frankenstein.

  • AP ENGLISH: LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION

    The primary aim of this course is to give students the opportunity to understand
    how language creates meaning. Through the study of rhetoric in effective writing,
    evident in the works of professional writers, students will then apply these skills
    to their own writing. AP English: Language and Composition, for juniors, is
    structured as a survey of British Literature and related nonfiction writing, which
    also satisfies the Benet British Literature requirement. The literary and nonfiction
    selections, the rhetorical and literary elements stressed within those selections,
    and the assignments and assessments of the course prepare students well for the
    AP English: Language and Composition exam, for their college careers, and for
    lifelong learning. In addition to the focus on literary and compositional elements,
    instruction in grammar and vocabulary will support students’ rhetorical
    understanding of language.

  • CP HUMANITIES

    This semester course discusses major overarching themes in the humanities - art, music and literature - while giving an overview of the visual art in the Western world. Students will write two or three research papers, linking themes from different facets of the humanities, as well as reflective papers upon interacting with various aspects of culture both inside and outside of Benet. Daily homework and reading are a strong part of the curriculum as is in-class group discussion. Emphasis will be placed not only on aesthetic awareness and development within the student but how the humanities work together across time periods. Students are required to visit an art museum and interact with the
    humanities during the course of the semester.

  • CP THEMES IN WORLD LITERATURE

    Themes in World Literature is a one semester course that traces major themes as
    developed by a variety of authors from around the globe. The students read a series of plays, short stories, poems, and novels. Although the reading lists will be determined by the teachers of the course, students can expect to read major works like Sold, Americanized, A Thousand Splendid Suns, A Long Way Gone, and The Alchemist. In addition, the anthology used for the course introduces students to the short stories of such renowned authors as Kafka, Sartre, Camus, Ionesco, Flaubert, Neruda, Li Po and Tolstoy. In addition to readings, students will be taught how to write responsive and analytical papers on the literature they read. This course is a good alternate semester course for those taking Advanced Composition, Cinema and Composition, or Humanities.

  • AP ENGLISH: LITERATURE & COMPOSITION

    This course is a rigorous study of literature and writing which prepares students to take the AP English: Literature and Composition and the AP English: Language tests. Perrine's Sound and Sense poetry anthology is used, and instructors exercise individual discretion in selecting novels and short stories appropriate for the preparation for the exam. Additionally, students will consult scholarly literary criticisms and practice rhetorical analysis of both fiction and non-fiction works as part of their study. Selections will be taken from all genres: novel, essay, short story, drama, and poetry with particular emphasis on critical analysis of the literature. Formal research-based papers, in-class timed writings, and informal responses form the writing assessments.

  • COLLEGIATE HUMANITIES

    Collegiate Humanities is an intensive study of the visual arts, covering Prehistory
    through contemporary art while linking global traditions and cultures. The course covers a wide range of college-level research methods, involves presenting, Socratic seminars and class discussions and encourages curiosity about the larger world. Students will be asked to think culturally, politically, and philosophically about the foundations of civilizations across the globe and how art gives a unique window into understanding the world around us. Students should be independently motivated and committed to research, reading, and developing unique ideas from the texts they read. The College Board's 250 works are the cornerstones of the course, but additional artworks are included. Students who enjoy history, research and nonfiction, and visual literacy should apply for the course. This class can prepare students to take the AP Art History test which
    challenges students to think broadly and work to synthesize instead of memorizing facts about a community.

  • COLLEGIATE CREATIVE WRITING

    This fiction-intensive writing course develops the skills of students in writing many genres: creative nonfiction, short story, film, graphic novels, and poetry.  Students should expect to read and discuss models in each of the genres as well as use them as fodder to write their own work.  Class activities are divided between reading and analyzing models, mastering the techniques of each genre, and sharing their writing with their peers and with the teacher. Students are required to submit a portfolio at the end of each semester that synthesizes their work, reflects their strengths and challenges, and demonstrates dedication to the various topics covered. This course, like other AP and Collegiate courses in the English department, will include summer reading, fast pacing, and a commitment to growth and development intellectually.  This is a course designed for students who are willing to read or write every night and who want to pursue creative thinking at the highest level.  

  • HONORS CINEMA AND COMPOSITION

    In this course students study the film as an art form with concentration on theme, style, content, structure, and technique of major films in various genres and by various directors. In addition, students are taught to analyze in written form both the technical structure and the thematic structure of film.  Cinema requires daily reading of a college-level textbook. In addition to extensive reading, students will write a great deal as most assessments are writing-focused. Students must have strong study skills and work well independently, although plenty of instruction and modeling will be used to guide them in their preparation for assignments and tests. Students do not need to be knowledgeable about the art of cinema; however, they must be motivated to learn and ready to share their insights during routine class discussions. 

  • HONORS COLLEGE COMPOSITION

    This course consists of a semester devoted totally to the process of composition from the prewriting stage to the finished product. In this fast paced, writing intensive course, students produce a minimum of seven to ten research-based essays of the types most often written in college composition courses: argumentative, compare and contrast, cause and effect, exemplification, process, and narrative. Students will also read numerous articles and essays to expose them to contemporary issues and learn from varied writing styles. Students will regularly share their product with their teacher and peers to facilitate the revision process. Emphasis is placed on the individual student’s responsibility for generating interesting and unique topics, clear thesis statements, and the thorough evidence and commentary that characterizes effective expository essays. College preparatory research skills, appropriate documentation and plagiarism awareness are emphasized throughout the course.

  • HONORS COLLEGE LITERATURE

    This reading-intensive course aims to help students develop an awareness of, and an interest in, the linguistic nuances present in fiction and non-fiction. Through the acquisition of analytical reading skills and concepts, students develop close-reading practices necessary for college classes, while fostering life-long reading interest.  Like a college literature class, students are expected to self-pace their reading. To meet deadlines, they will need to read every day in class and outside of class, moving beyond plot and characters by applying their awareness of literary and rhetorical elements and how they make meaning. They will be assessed on a minimum of eight books, independently selecting these works from the class reading list. Students will also share reactions to, and analysis of, four teacher selected works read in common. Students will do daily writing logs in response to their reading as well as writing two formal literary analysis essays in response to their reading.

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