English | Academics | Upper School | Worcester Academy

English

Approach

The English Department is dedicated to cultivating students into proficient and thoughtful communicators, readers, writers, and critical thinkers. Our curriculum emphasizes Socratic seminars and Harkness-style discussions, allowing students to refine their articulation, clarity, and originality. 

By exploring a wide range of texts, students not only develop a lifelong passion for reading but also enhance their empathy and understanding.

Writing instruction spans multiple genres and purposes, focusing on creativity and accurate documentation. Students engage in all stages of the writing process, from brainstorming and drafting to editing and publishing.

Additionally, our approach to critical thinking involves deep literary analysis and the evaluation of source credibility, preparing students for thoughtful and informed discourse.

Application: Exploring The Relationship Between Humans And The Wilderness

English students examined the relationship between humans and the wilderness through selected fiction and nature writing from authors such as Jack London, William Faulkner, Leslie Marmon Silko, Edward Abbey, and Gretel Ehrlich.

To enrich their reading and writing experience, the class ventured into the wild regions of central Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire, discussing the philosophies of phenomenology, deep ecology, and contemporary environmental issues along the way.