English

The Victory Christian Academy Department of English challenges students to drink deeply from the wells of Biblical, classical, and contemporary literature. In addition, the curriculum and classes will equip students to think, read, and write critically using a variety of teaching methods that are aligned with Common Core Learning Standards. Furthermore, the English Department stresses the importance of college preparatory and career-ready writing skills that will prepare students for the ever-evolving 21^st-century global community.

Literaure and Composition

In this Common Core-aligned course, the seventh grade English curriculum uses a genre approach to literature with an emphasis on writing literary essays. Expect regular homework assignments in both written and online form. Critical thinking, reading, and writing are important skills that Middle School students must master as they prepare for State tests. All class work including exemplars is aligned with the most updated Common Core State Standards (CCSS).

Requirements: quarterly assessments, mid-term exam, and NYS ELA Examination

Literature and Rhetoric 

In this Common Core-aligned course, the eighth grade English curriculum continues the learning goals of English 7, stressing critical thinking, reading, and writing are important skills that will not only prepare them for NYS examinations but also prepare them for high school-level English courses. All class work including exemplars is aligned with current Common Core State Standards (CCSS).

Requirements: quarterly assessments, mid-term exam, final exam and NYS ELA Examination

Literary Classics (9)

In this Common Core-aligned course, required of all freshmen, provides an introduction to high school literature, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and composition. Students will study canonical pieces of literature foundation to any further study of literature. Some of the authors students will study include Sophocles, Homer, Shakespeare, and Euripides. This course will also emphasize the fundamentals of poetry and the short story. Students can expect intensive reading and writing exercises that stress Common Core standards for ELA. Students will also benefit from the use of the Socratic Seminar to enliven and enrich their understanding of the course content. This course may also be taken as an Honors course.

Requirements: Midterm, Final Examination

 English 10—World Literature

This Common-Core aligned course presents a more in-depth study of world literature, grammar, vocabulary, and composition. This course will also emphasize the fundamentals of poetry and the short story. Students can expect intensive reading and writing exercises that stress Common Core standards for ELA. This course may also be taken as an Honors course. Students will also benefit from the use of the Socratic Seminar to enliven and enrich their understanding of the course content. This course may also be taken as an Honors course.

Requirements: Midterm, Research Paper, Final Examination

English 11—American Literature 

In this Common-Core aligned Regents course, students explore American literature, grammar, vocabulary, and extensive composition. Authors who are the focus of this course’s study include Hawthorne, Melville, Douglass, Dickinson, Whitman, Faulkner, Fitzgerald, and Baldwin. Students can expect intensive reading and writing exercises that stress Common Core standards for ELA. Students will also benefit from the use of the Socratic Seminar to enliven and enrich their understanding of the course content. This course may also be taken as an Honors course. 

Requirements: Midterm, Regent Examination

 Creative Writing--Fiction

This course focuses on the various genres of creative writing, particularly fiction. Students will learn not only the basics of fiction writing but also how to write their own creative pieces. This elective course will expose students to the stages of the writing process.

English 12—British Literature Survey

This Common-Core aligned course is a survey of British literature from Old English literary pieces to contemporary works. The literature studied will follow the development of British history. Major, authors/poets of study include Chaucer, Marlowe, Shakespeare, Pope, Milton, Emily Bronte, Hardy, Golding, and C.S. Lewis. Students can expect intensive reading and writing exercises that stress Common Core standards for ELA. All Senior English students must submit a Senior Thesis paper. This course may also be taken as an Honors course.

Requirements: Midterm, Thesis Paper, Final Examination