English

The English Department at La Salle strives to inspire each student to develop a lifelong love of reading and to become a critical thinker and a skilled communicator. Students engage the full range of literature, from the culture and theater of the ancient Greeks to the philosophy and issues of contemporary times. The men and women in the English Department possess diverse points of view and wide-ranging interests and areas of academic expertise, from classic philosophies to modern crime fiction, from Renaissance classics to twenty-first century issues, but each is dedicated to sharing a passion for reading with a critical eye and writing with precision and authenticity.

Philosophy

Neil Gaiman, English author...

“A book is a dream that you hold in your hand.”

Our students learn close reading skills and develop an aesthetic appreciation of significant literature of various genres. Understanding the structural principles of literature, drama, and poetry is crucial to the development of organizational skills in composition, and the writing of both short informal pieces and longer formal essays further students’ critical analyses of the works. Our students grow into confident writers through a comprehensive editing process and targeted feedback from their teachers.

Class discussion and student presentations advance the understanding of the works, improve students’ communication skills, and enhance their analytical thinking. We help create well-rounded students who are capable of understanding and applying what they learn in class to other disciplines and to the outside world. Our students’ skills build upon one another each year, resulting in well-prepared, confident learners who are ready for the rigor of college courses and who have the skills necessary to excel at the university level – a “dream” come true.

Classes Offered

Grade 9 (core)

Introduction to Literature and Composition Honors (Required)

Introduction to Literature and Composition (Y) (Required)

Introduction to Literature and Composition (Required)

Grade 10 (core)

American Literature and Composition Honors (Required)

American Literature and Composition (Required)

Grade 11 (Core)

Rhetoric and British Literature (Required)

Grade 11

African American Literature

Creative Writing 2

Creative Writing 1

Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition

Advanced Placement English Language and Composition

Grade 12 (core)

World Literature and Expository Writing (Required)

World Literature and Composition (Required)

Grade 12

AP English Literature & Composition

African American Literature

Creative Writing 2

Creative Writing 1

Faculty

English Faculty