ENGLISH

English 9 prepares freshmen for all of Lynnhaven’s English opportunities. Starting with close reading, annotation, and recognizing literary techniques, students begin to understand the writer’s craft and apply those professional writing skills independently. Using a workshop approach, students engage in daily notebook writing practice focused on learning the drafting and editing process, resulting in polished pieces such as critical reviews, letters to the editor, memoirs, and writing for an online audience. Workshops enable students to learn how to give and receive constructive criticism on their peers’ writing as well as their own. 

English 10 aims to enhance students' skills in critically reading literature, writing both analytically and creatively, and incorporating research into their analyses. Students select works by American authors and respond in various ways to poems, short stories, dramas, essays, and novels. Through close reading, students learn to critically examine different selections from the American literary canon. 

English 11 will refine students’ skills in critical reading, analytical writing, and oral communication. By emphasizing literary analysis, students will practice close reading strategies, develop oral communication skills through formal presentations and informal literary discussions, adopt a systematic approach to conduct meaningful research, and write with clarity and precision to support original claims. 

English 12 focuses on critical reading and developing an appreciation for the author’s purpose, craft, and meaning. Students learn to articulate their interpretations both verbally and in writing. The class serves as a capstone to a Lynnhaven career, drawing upon the reading and writing skills students have acquired over the past few years. Students will enhance these skills while working independently on a senior project, collaborating on group projects, and crafting a final presentation to deliver in front of an audience.