Introduction to the English Language Arts Department

    The English Language Arts department at Oxbow believes its charge to be to fulfill the mission statement of our school: specifically, to help every student who spends time in our classrooms "...gain intellectual, social, and civic skills and apply them in a complex, changing world." We feel lucky to be able to read literature with our students that not only teaches literacy skills but also speaks to the questions of what it means to be an individual in our society, or, indeed, in any society. While we don't teach civics specifically, we encourage our students to become involved in their school and their community, just as we foster them to think critically and independently. Almost without exception, the books that students read ask essential questions that students must ultimately answer for themselves; for example, what does it mean to be a member of a community? What does it mean to struggle for freedom or individuality? What does it means to be an adult who must weigh personal desires with the responsibilities of becoming a positive member of society? In the classroom, students are asked to work together and collectively discuss the important issues of the past, present, and future. They gain social skills by participating in class discussions, working with fellow students, giving presentations, and acting in plays.
    This being said, the ELA department takes very seriously its charge to help students gain intellectual skills. As the Mission Statement makes clear, the world is complex and changing, and with these changes, literacy is becoming more important than ever. Reading and writing skills are the most important academic skills a student can take away from high school, regardless of whether he or she goes on to college or straight to work. With that in mind, we are continually reevaluating our curriculum and during the past few years have been moving away from reading only books from the "literary canon" to reading a wide range of text, as well as giving students a chance to self-select their own reading. Likewise, in eleventh and twelfth grades, students no longer take American and British literature; they select from a variety of choice-based offerings that feature courses as varied as Literature of War and Relationships and Real Life. The goal is to keep students engaged in reading and create life-long readers who in the process acquire the literacy skills necessary for success after high school.      

English Department Courses 2009-2010

• English 9 Honors
• English 9 CP
  
• English 9
  
• English 10 Honors
  
• English 10 CP
  
• English 10
  
• AP Language & Composition (juniors)
  
• AP Literature & Composition (seniors)
  
• Reading & English 12
  
• Outdoor Literature
  
• Creative Composition
  
• Sports Literature
  
• Film Studies
  
• Literature of War Fall
  
• Literature of War Spring
  
• Mystery and Detective Fiction
  
• Young Adult Literature