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Upper School Curriculum

  • 400 Level
  • English
ENG 400 • English 12: Issues in Modern America
Grades: 12 (Grade 11 with departmental approval)
Spring

There are many important issues facing our world right now, including climate change, global health, economic inequality, and social and racial injustice. In this course, students will study texts that lead them to think critically about these issues and others, and explore how literature can create change. In addition to reading modern novels, students will lead and participate in discussions, conduct research and analyze — in writing and discussion — the ongoing dialogue between society and literature. This will be a discussion-driven course; students should be prepared to pose thoughtful, text-based questions and respond thoughtfully to others’ questions every day. At the end of the semester, each student will choose a novel to read independently; they will write about the text’s themes and how they relate to the ideas we’ve discussed in the class. 

  • Grade 11
  • Grade 12