The English curriculum at Williams seeks to develop students' critical reading, writing, and speaking skills, and to foster an appreciation of literature. Students learn to read actively by underlining and taking notes on the works, responding in reading journals, and referring to the text to support their opinions in discussion. Practice is given in finding main ideas, locating supporting details, drawing inferences, distinguishing fact from opinion, and building vocabulary. The writing program utilizes computers to emphasize the importance of drafting, revising, and proofreading.

Grade 7
This course emphasizes the development of writing and critical reading skills. Students use computers to draft and polish their papers for both creative and analytical assignments. Instruction includes lessons on spelling, punctuation, grammar, and vocabulary, as well as content revision. Students read novels, short stories, poetry, and one play. The literature often involves themes of diversity and coming of age; frequently units coordinate with history lessons.

Grade 8
Students build on the reading and writing skills developed in seventh grade. They continue to draft their papers on the computer and learn how to edit and revise effectively. They become more proficient at writing analytical essays that trace character development or explore symbolism, and yet they have ample opportunity to write stories and poems. Students examine a variety of literary genres and study Shakespeare for the first time.

English I (Grade 9)
Freshmen begin a more formal study of literary genres and techniques. They read both classic and modern works, including The Odyssey, Oedipus the King, Twelfth Night, and To Kill a Mockingbird, and examine the elements of classical tragedy and neoclassical comedy. Students write essays frequently and spend an entire quarter learning how to produce a research paper.

English II (Grade 10)
Sophomores study representative works of British literature and examine how each relates to the time period in which it was written. Among the texts are Canterbury Tales, Macbeth, Jane Eyre, and 1984. Major topics include order and disorder in society, irony and satire, imperialism, and the power of language. In addition to frequent papers, students write an essay that incorporates elements of literary criticism.

English III (Grade 11)
The first quarter of this course offers students a workshop approach to improving their writing. Students take their papers through many drafts, from freewriting to polishing, and focus on clarity of expression as well as audience and purpose. Assignments emphasize narrative, persuasive, and analytical writing. The remaining three quarters are devoted to the study of American literature. Students read such works as The Scarlet Letter, Death of a Salesman, and Song of Solomon. Frequent writing assignments coordinate with the literature.

English IV (Grade 12)
The first quarter of this course is devoted to the study of Hamlet and supplementary texts. Students then choose electives to run through second, third, and fourth quarters. As always, students develop and polish their writing skills through a variety of analytical and creative assignments. Although no section is specifically designated an AP section, English IV prepares all students to take the AP exam if they so desire.

ENGLISH ELECTIVES

Heroes and Villains (Grade 12)
Do you have to risk your life to save another in order to be considered a hero? Does the reader have to identify with the hero rather than the villain? How does our culture influence our notions of heroism and villainy? Are women heroes or heroines? (And what's the difference?) These are some of the issues students will examine as they read both classic and contemporary works. Possible texts include Heart of Darkness, The Handmaid's Tale, Othello, All the Pretty Horses, The Holder of the World, The Master and Margarita, Billy Budd, Crime and Punishment, and Beloved.

Other Gods and Other Monsters (Grade 12)
Beginning with the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, this course will focus on challenges to identity. The meeting of differing cultures, through immigration, colonization or creation provoke questions about values and fulfillment, especially in terms of conflicting ideals. The works read will be taken from a range of times and traditions: Shakespeare to Caryl Phillips to Walcott and Suzan-Lori Parks.

Writing as Readers (Grade 12)
Through examining the intricacies of the reading process, students will practice the art of writing in a number of different genres, including short fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Frequently utilizing the workshop setting, we will analyze and critique the work of published authors as well as the work of students in the class. Through a variety of writing assignments, students will develop their understanding of and control over figurative language. We will read Saul Bellow, John Updike, Elie Wiesel, Billy Collins, Wislawa Szymborska, Jhumpa Lahiri, Anna Quindlen, J.D. Salinger, and others. Enrollment in this course requires a signature from the teacher and department head.

Contemporary American Theater (Grade 12)
The playwrights of the last thirty years will serve as the focus of this course. The work of such playwrights as Mamet, Shepard, Wilson, Durang, Lori-Parks and others will be explored. American Theater Magazine will serve as a resource. A willingness to act and stage short scenes will be a requirement of the course. Writing exercises will include analysis and imitation of various styles.

Journalism (Grade 10, 11, 12)
This yearlong course will consider all facets of newspaper production, from the writing of news, sports, and editorials to the fundamentals of digital photography and publication design. Students will work in conjunction with the newspaper club to produce the Blueprint. Besides developing their own journalistic skills, they will learn to be critical consumers of media and will explore the world of journalism through a number of nonfiction texts. Journalism is a 1/2-credit course open to tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade students by approval of the Department Head.

Advanced Journalism (Grades 11 and 12)
This year-long, 1/2-credit course is designed for experienced journalists. It incorporates and adds to the syllabus of the Journalism course. Advanced Journalism students will be the editors of the Blueprint. Editorial responsibilities will include establishing a beat system within the school, mentoring Journalism students, editing and laying out all issues of the newspaper, finding and providing news leads to journalism students, increasing public relations exposure, and working with our printer and our publications budget. Journalism is a prerequisite for Advanced Journalism and is open to eleventh and twelfth grade students by approval of the instructor or Department Head.

Tom Kelly
Chair

Kimberly Belair

Lewis Gleich

Kerry Orshal

Karen Ulrich

Edward Wheeler

Richard White