High School English Language Arts: An Introduction

Students in grades 9 – 12 at the Collegiate Charter School of Lowell take English Language Arts courses which are designed to develop their reading, writing, and discussion skills, which also prepare them for college and beyond. Using the MyPerspectives textbooks from the SAVVAS organization, students read short stories, poems, and nonfiction texts to explore literature and discover deeper meaning. In addition, students study grammar, writing structure, and syntax. As a supplement to the MyPerspectives texts, students in grades 9 – 12 read longer-form novels and plays to expand their understanding of the literary canon. Some examples of these texts are: Night by Elie Wiesel, Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Passing by Nella Larson, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, and A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry.