English Department vision statement:
English courses challenge students to think and read critically and communicate effectively. English teachers foster a love of learning, passion for literature, and pride in self-expression.
St. Mary's young women develop skills in critical thinking, reading, writing, and speaking and become life-long enthusiasts for the written word. St. Mary's exposes the students to classic and contemporary literature so they can refine their analytical skills, understand social and historical influences, and contemplate the connections to today's society.
St. Mary's Academy Summer Reading Program 2007
English 9
Grade: 9 Prerequisite: None Credit: Requirement/1.0 Length: 1 Year
English 9 concentrates on skill building in composition, literature analysis, vocabulary development, and study skills. All four literary genres (novel, play, poetry, and short story) are introduced and examined, with special emphasis on mythology, poetry, and the short story. In writing students will concentrate on ideas and content, organization, voice, sentence structure, word choice, and writing conventions (grammar, usage, punctuation, and spelling). All modes of writing will be introduced. The first semester of this course is integrated with Religion 9 and either Visual Arts or Integrated Computer Applications. Performance in English 9 will determine honors placement at the tenth grade level.
Teacher's Website - Cronan
Teacher's Website - Egland
English 10 Grade: 10 Prerequisite: English 9 Credit: Requirement/1.0 Length: 1 Year
English 10 furthers the student's knowledge of literature in all four genres with special emphasis on the novel and the play. Writing instruction helps develop the student's skills in ideas and content, organization, voice, sentence structure, word choice, and writing conventions. Students continue to build their vocabulary with emphasis on Greek and Latin word roots. Although all modes of writing will be practiced, students will concentrate on the essay form.
Teacher's Website - Ward
Honors English 10 Grade: 10 Prerequisite: Department Consent Credit: Selective/1.0 Length: 1 Year
Honors English 10 will cover the same material as English 10 with additional literary selections and compositions. Standards in reading, writing, and critical thinking are more advanced.
Teacher's Website - Salvi
English 11 Grade: 11 Prerequisite: English 10 Credit: Requirement/1.0 Length: 1 Year
English 11 concentrates on a survey of American literature from the 1500's to the present. Not only will this survey include the works of major American authors, but it will also emphasize historical and philosophical movements that gave rise to American literature. Writing instruction continues to concentrate on ideas and content, organization, voice, word choice, sentence structure, and writing convention with special emphasis on literary criticism and research. The course includes a literary research paper using in-text documentation.
Teacher's Website - Tormala
Honors English 11 Grade: 11 Prerequisite: Department Consent Credit: Selective/1.0 Length: 1 Year
Honors English 11 will cover the same American literary periods as English 11 with additional reading selections, compositions, and a long research paper. Expectations and standards in reading, writing, and critical thinking are more advanced.
Teacher's Website - Foran
English 12 Grade: 12 Prerequisite: English 11 Credit: Requirement/1.0 Length: 1 Year
English 12 concentrates on world literature from the early Anglo-Saxon to the modern age with an emphasis on British literature. Each unit includes a brief study of the historical backgrounds, cultural influences, and philosophical movements from which the literature came. Students articulate orally and in writing analysis of theme, symbols, diction, syntax, and style. Although students will be using all five modes of writing, the class emphasizes the analytical essay, which includes a longer research paper with in-text documentation.
AP English Grade: 12 Prerequisite: Department Consent Credit: Selective/1.0 Length: 1 Year
Advanced Placement English, like English 12, concentrates on world literature from the early Anglo-Saxon to the modern age with a special emphasis on British literature. Each unit includes a brief study of the historical backgrounds, cultural influences, and philosophical movements from which the literature came. Students will articulate orally and in writing analysis of theme, symbols, diction, syntax, and style. Writing instruction emphasizes the analytical essay, which includes a research paper with in-text documentation. In May the students will be eligible to participate in the national Advanced Placement Exam with the potential for earning college credit.
Speech Grade: 9,10,11,12 Prerequisite: None Credit: Requirement/0.5 Length: 1 Semester
Speech emphasizes the preparation, presentation, organization, and critiquing of oral communication while covering the communication process, nonverbal messages, and listening skills. Informative, impromptu, persuasive, and oral interpretation presentations will be given individually while debate will be done in teams.
Contemporary Fiction Grade: 11,12 Prerequisite: None Credit: Elective/0.5 Length: 1 Semester
Contemporary Fiction focuses on the study of six modern novels - three selected by the teacher, and three selected by the class - under the teacher's direction. The course centers on student discussion, and each student is responsible for the research, presentation, and planning of activities for at least one novel. Students develop analytical, research, and seminar-style discussion skills. In addition, students foster an appreciation of contemporary literature and develop leadership abilities through the planning of class discussions. The course includes the theories of literary criticism and both oral and written response to literature.
Creative Writing Grade: 10,11,12 Prerequisite: English 9 Credit: Elective/0.5 Length: 1 Semester
Creative Writing concentrates on the craft of writing in the following genres: poetry, short story, memoir, novel, and creative non-fiction. Each student sharpens current writing skills while developing her own style and voice. Analyzing published writers' works and participating in self-evaluation and peer response groups will be integral parts of the process.
Journalism Grade: 10,11,12 Prerequisite: Instructor Consent Credit: Selective/1.0 Length: 1 Year
Students are involved in all phases of newspaper production including design, copy writing, production, and editing. The course will cover advertising, layout, research, writing, interviewing, art, and photography. Emphasis will be placed on the use of computers in creating a newspaper. Students will produce a minimum of five newspapers during the school year.
Yearbook Grade: 10,11,12 Prerequisite: Instructor Consent Credit: Selective/1.0 Length: 1 Year
Students are involved in all phases of yearbook production including graphic design, copy writing, photography, layout design, theme development, and business procedures. This class provides an excellent opportunity to build teamwork and cooperative skills, as well as desktop, computer, art, and writing skills. No experience is necessary, but strong writing and technological skills, as well as a flair for creativity are encouraged. Teacher consent will be determined through the application process. Top editorial positions will be decided by experience and leadership ability.
Publish a PDA (Personal Display of Affection) for your favorite SMA Student in the Yearbook this year! Get your form in by November 1, 2007.
English Honors Criteria Criteria for Honors English 10
Qualifying for the SMA English Honors Program For the transfer student or a student currently in our regular college-prep English class interested in moving to the honors program, the student must:
In order to stay in the Honors and AP English program, students must maintain a B- or better.
English Department
(Teacher's Website - English 11) (Teacher's Website - Creative Writing) (Teacher's Website - Contemporary Fiction)
Francesca Englert Cronan (Teacher's Website - English 9
Molly Egland (Teacher's Website - English 9) (Teacher's Website - English 11)
Shannon More
Michael Reinbold (Teacher's Website - Latin 1)
Alyssa Tormala (Teacher's Website - English 11)
Corbett Ward (Teacher's Website - Eng. 10)
Faculty and staff may be contacted by phone at (503) 228-8306 or by e-mail: webmaster@stmaryspdx.org. Address subject line to the specific teacher.
