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English Department
Philosophy
The English curriculum emphasizes the skills necessary for clear communication. Intentional reading, analytical and creative thinking, and writing for reflection and audience are the fundamentals of all English courses. Through the study of literature, we seek to introduce students to the issues and ideas that have enlivened and enriched our world and help them to synthesize the readings with the exploration and development of their own identity.
The freshman curriculum provides a breadth of readings as the students study the different genres. Sophomore year is thematically developed around the concept of the hero, and the junior curriculum is the study of American literature. The seniors are provided with electives that develop their writing and expand their literary boundaries. Each level has honor sections where placement is determined by the school. Advanced Placement courses are available on the junior and senior level, and college credit is available through Creighton University, UNO, and Nebraska Wesleyan University.
At each level, all English courses utilize the six traits of writing to develop composition skills and assignments. Courses also incorporate multimedia technology, public speaking skills, reading strategies, and vocabulary development.
Course Descriptions
- 316 - English I
316-English I
two semester course
The student will read a variety of literature, including short stories, drama, poetry, and the novel. In writing, the student will study basic grammar coupled with the practice of writing. In addition, the freshman program emphasizes the supplementary skills of spelling and vocabulary. The year also includes a speech skills unit.
Instructors: Mr. Mike Witt, Mrs. Mary Nowaczyk, Mr. Morgan Helton, Mr. Gerry McAndrew
Course Materials:
(Helton)
- JIM THE BOY
- SHORT STORIES: CHARACTERS IN CONFLICT
- Author: HOLT RINEHART Edition: 2
- SEPARATE PEACE
- MERCHANT OF VENICE
(McAndrew)
- SAMURAI SHORTSTOP
- VOCABULARY WORKSHOP (LEVEL E)
- SHORT STORIES: CHARACTERS IN CONFLICT
- Author: HOLT RINEHART Edition: 2nd
- SEPARATE PEACE
- MERCHANT OF VENICE
(Nowaczyk)
- SAMURAI SHORTSTOP
- VOCABULARY WORKSHOP (LEVEL E)
- CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME
- SHORT STORIES: CHARACTERS IN CONFLICT
- MERCHANT OF VENICE
- LORD OF THE FLIES (RACK SIZE)
(Witt)
- SHORT STORIES: CHARACTERS IN CONFLICT
- SEPARATE PEACE
- MERCHANT OF VENICE
- FAHRENHEIT 451
- MISSISSIPPI TRIAL 1955
- 318 - Honors English I
318 - Honors English I
The student will follow the curriculum described above, but material will be accelerated and approached at a higher level. In addition, the students will read extra selected literary works and practice higher order writing and thinking skills. Placement determined by the school.
Instructors: Ms. Nina Stickels
Course Materials:
- LAST DAYS OF SUMMER (10TH ANNIVERSARY ED)
- LORD OF THE FLIES (RACK SIZE)
- SAMURAI SHORTSTOP
- SHORT STORIES: CHARACTERS IN CONFLICT
- Author: HOLT RINEHART Edition: 2nd
- VOCAB FOR ACHIEVEMENT (4TH COURSE)
- MERCHANT OF VENICE
- FAHRENHEIT 451
- 326 - English II
326 - English II
two semester course
This course continues the sequence of skills learned in English I. The literature focuses on the theme of the hero. In writing, students learn to develop their ideas more fully and with greater variety of expression. They also develop their research skills.
Instructors: Mrs. Mary Kassmeier, Mrs. Mary Nowaczyk, Mr. Ron Suprenant, Mr. Andrew Wessling, Mr. Mike Witt
Course Materials
(Kassmeier)
- MACBETH
- Author: SHAKESPEARE Edition: 2nd
- ODYSSEY
- VOCABULARY WORKSHOP (LEVEL F)
- ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN (NEW AFTERWORD PHILLIPS)
- MYTHOLOGY
- BEOWULF
(Nowaczyk)
- WEIGHT OF ALL THINGS
- SEASON OF LIFE
- VOCABULARY WORKSHOP (LEVEL F)
- ODYSSEY (ENRICHED CLASSIC)
- BEOWULF
- ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN (NEW AFTERWORD PHILLIPS)
- MACBETH
- Author: SHAKESPEARE Edition: 2nd
(Suprenant)
- BEOWULF
- ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN (NEW AFTERWORD PHILLIPS)
- ODYSSEY (ENRICHED CLASSIC)
- MYTHOLOGY
- MACBETH
- Author: SHAKESPEARE Edition: 2nd
- VOCABULARY WORKSHOP (LEVEL F)
- FAREWELL TO MANZANAR
(Wessling)
- MACBETH
- Author: SHAKESPEARE Edition: 2nd
- ODYSSEY
- VOCABULARY WORKSHOP (LEVEL F)
- ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN (NEW AFTERWORD PHILLIPS)
- MYTHOLOGY
- BEOWULF
(Witt)
- MYTHOLOGY
- ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN (NEW AFTERWORD PHILLIPS)
- ODYSSEY (TRANS FAGLES) (TRADE ED)
- BEOWULF
- MACBETH (W/GOLD & WHITE COVER)(NEW REV)
- 328 - Honors English II
328 - Honors English II
The student will follow the curriculum described above, but the material will be accelerated and approached at a higher level. The students will have added reading requirements and practice higher order writing and thinking skills. PLACEMENT IS DETERMINED BY THE SCHOOL.
Instructors: Mrs. Barb Hake
Course Materials:
- GRENDEL (TRADE ED)
- MYTHOLOGY
- OEDIPUS CYCLE
- WORDLY WISE 3000 (BK 10)(2828-W8)
- Author: HODKINSON Edition: 2nd
- MACBETH
- Author: SHAKESPEARE Edition: 2nd
- KITE RUNNER
- BEOWULF
- ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN (NEW AFTERWORD PHILLIPS)
- IN THE TIME OF THE BUTTERFLIES
- ODYSSEY
- 330 - English III
330 - English III
This survey course covers American Literature and its historical context. The literary eras studied include Early American, Romanticism, Realism and Modernism. Multiculturalism is an important component of this course. The development of composition skills will continue in this course with an emphasis on persuasive writing.
Instructors: Ms. Elaine Ayers, Mr. Jim Krueger, Mr. Gerry McAndrew, Ms. Meghan Townley
Course Materials:
(Ayers)
- ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN
- THINGS THEY CARRIED
- GREAT GATSBY
- LITERATURE ETC: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE
- OF MICE & MEN (RACK SIZE)
(Krueger)
- ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN
- LITERATURE ETC: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE
- OF MICE & MEN (RACK SIZE)
- GREAT GATSBY
(McAndrew)
- ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN
- LITERATURE ETC: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE
- FIVE-FINGER DISCOUNT
- OF MICE & MEN (RACK SIZE)
- GREAT GATSBY
- THINGS THEY CARRIED
(Townley)
- ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN
- CANNERY ROW (TRADE ED)
- OF MICE & MEN (RACK SIZE)
- GREAT GATSBY
- LITERATURE ETC: AMERICAN EXPERIENCE
- 331 - Composition
331 - Composition
one semester course
This course will help students develop their writing, thinking and grammar skills through the study and practice of a variety of expository composition models. An emphasis will be on organization, idea development, sentence fluency, voice, and audience.
Instructors: Mrs. Meghan Townley
Course Materials:
- 332 - Journalism
332 - Journalism
This course develops skills of clear, accurate and objective writing for the school newspaper. Students practice writing a variety of news, feature and sports stories, as well as opinion pieces. They also read several texts about the experiences of journalists. Curiosity about what is going on in your community and an ability to meet deadlines are two of the most important criteria of success in this course. Enrollment is limited to 18 seniors with a minimum 76% average in English.
Instructors: Ms. Nina Stickels
Course Materials:
- DISPATCHES FROM THE EDGE
- SEASON OF BLOOD
- 333 - Creative Writing
333-Creative Writing
one semester course
During the semester students will employ various forms of creative genres and writing techniques in preparation for completing and submitting finished works of creative non-fiction, poetry, and fiction. The focus of the class will be in understanding and utilizing the totality of the writing process with a particular emphasis on revision strategies discovered through personal evaluation, peer and instructor response, and whole-class workshop.
Enrollment is limited to juniors and seniors.
Instructors: Mr. Morgan Helton
- 339 - AP Language & Composition
339 - AP Language & Composition
The juniors will follow the curriculum of English III but the material will be accelerated and approached at a higher level. Students analyze a variety of writings with a focus on language and rhetorical devices. Students model these techniques in their own writings. An important component is the preparation for the AP Language and Composition Test.
Prerequisites: Students must have an 88% average in English and a teacher recommendation. ***May not be dropped after 1st 2 weeks***
Instructors: Mrs. Barb Hake, Mrs. Mary Kassmeier
Course Materials:
- RESERVATION BLUES
- DEATH OF A SALESMAN (TRADE ED)
- OF MICE & MEN (RACK SIZE)
- GREAT GATSBY
- THINGS THEY CARRIED
- SHORT PROSE READER
- Author: MULLER Edition: 13th
- SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE (RACK SIZE)
- CRACKING THE AP ENGLISH LANG & COMPOSITION EXAM (2012 ED)
- Author: HARTZELL Edition: 2nd
- BLUEST EYE
- 342 - British Literature
342-British Literature
This course provides the student with an overview of major British writers and a sense of the historical development of English language and literature. The course also includes practice in composition and creative writing skills.
Instructors: Mrs. Mary Kassmeier
Course Materials:
- Directions for materials needed will be given by instructor when classes begin.
- 344 - Comparative Literature
344-Comparative Literature
one semester course
This course surveys the literature of authors from the Americas (exclusive of the United States), Australia, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Emphasis lies on the careful reading of literary selections, especially of contemporary writers, as well as on the continuing practice of writing skills.
Instructors: Mr. Jim Krueger, Mr. Gerry McAndrew
Course Materials
(Krueger)
- MODERN WORLD LITERATURE
- BLEEDING OF THE STONE
- JOURNEY OF IBN FATTOUMA
(McAndrew)
- Modern World Literature
- PERSEPOLIS: STORY OF A CHILDHOOD
- HAROUN & SEA OF STORIES
- 380 - College Composition
380-College Composition
The assignments for this course will focus on specific types of non-fiction essay writing essential for college-bound students. Students will study models and compose multiple drafts of descriptive, narrative, argumentative, persuasive, comparison/contrast, cause and effect, process analysis and literary analysis essays. Prerequisites: Cumulative B average in English.
***For a fee, students may also opt to take this course for college credit through The Nebraska Wesleyan Honors Academy.
Instructors: Mr. Ron Suprenant
Course Materials:
- MLA HANDBOOK (W/BINDIN ACCESSCODE)
- OUR TOWN (PERENNIAL CLASSICS)
- 389 - AP Literature & Composition
389 - AP Literature & Composition
This year-long, college-level course presents a chronological approach to literary texts and concepts. It is designed to develop the student’s skills in analytical thinking and academic writing. In addition, the students will engage the artistic contributions of a multiplicity of cultures. Prerequisites: Students must have a B average and teacher recommendation. This course may not be dropped after the first week of school. ***For a fee, students may receive credit from Creighton University or the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The Advanced Placement test for credit or college placement is also offered.
Instructors: Mrs. Elaine Ayers, Ms. Meghan Townley
Course Materials:
- BEDFORD ANTHOLOGY OF WORLD LIT (SET:BKS 1/2/3)
- STRANGER (TRADE ED)
- FARMING OF BONES
- BEDFORD ANTHOLOGY OF WORLD LIT (SET:BKS 4/5/6)
- HAMLET (RACK SIZE)
- LITERATURE FROM THE AXIS OF EVIL
- PERSEPOLIS: STORY OF A CHILDHOOD
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