English

Success in the modern world depends more than ever on communication skills. The St. John’s Prep English Department helps students acquire the skills necessary for successful communication: reading, thinking, analyzing, and writing. Through literature, writing assignments, and class discussions, we introduce students to the important issues and ideas that will help them to explore their own identity and the nature of the world around them.  

Students entering the High School advance their communication skills through reading, thinking, analyzing, and writing. Each year  features a signature focus. Ninth grade English begins with an overview of the study skills necessary for success at St. John’s Prep. Through exercises which involve reading and composition assignments, students learn note-taking, outlining, and organizational skills. The literary focus of the ninth grade exposes students to the study of the four major genres: novels, short stories, poetry, and drama. Tenth grade English is divided into a study of archetypes in literature and the study of tragedy. Eleventh grade English presents a comprehensive study of American literature, and twelfth grade centers on a wide-ranging study of British literature.

The difficulty of course readings and writing assignments varies by level. For example, an Honors class may read five books per quarter, while an Accelerated class may read three, and a CP class two. Similarly, while all students will write often each quarter, the degree of difficulty in the assignments reflects the level of the class.