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English

Jess M

 

read and think critically

The English department believes that the ability to think, read, and write through both critical and creative lenses is vital for success. The progression of our curriculum is designed to introduce and develop these skills in a manner that aligns with the intellectual and emotional growth of boys during their teenage years. Our goal is that students, upon graduating from Salisbury, possess the tools needed to succeed in the next chapter of their education as well as in the world beyond the classroom. 

All courses include continual practice in writing, with emphasis on the expository essay as well as opportunities for creative and personal writing. Vocabulary development is stressed throughout the program.

Advanced Placement English Language and Composition is available to qualifying Fifth Form students, while exceptional Sixth Form students may apply for Advanced Placement Literature and Composition. The English Department also offers honors sections at each form level, which motivated and capable students may apply to take.

English Offerings at Salisbury:

 

The academic life at Salisbury is motivating. The teachers, coaches, and mentors at Salisbury are exceptional. They bring passion and expertise into their intimate classroom settings. Collaboration, innovation, problem solving, creativity, and civic responsibility are just some of the principles that guide Salisbury School’s educational model. Most importantly, these men and women partner with you each day and always with the highest expectations. 
Dean of Academic Life Sarah Mulrooney

A Glimpse At Just Two Of Our English Offerings:

The Poetry of Hip-Hop 

 This course is an exploration into the development of hip-hop as a genre of music and poetry. In the first half of the trimester, students will learn the roots of hip-hop including: slave spirituals, jazz, and gospel. In learning about the evolution of the genre, students will gain a better understanding of the tropes that are visible in hip-hop dating back to its inception in 1976. In the second half of the trimester, students will gain a better understanding of the formal composition of effective hip-hop. Through the study of virtuosic writers, understanding will culminate in eventual composition and performance of a verse on a topic of their choosing. Through careful study and exploration of text, students will develop and employ conventional tools of poetry and analysis. 

BROTHERS IN ARMS

This course will explore the theme of brotherhood, one of the core values of Salisbury School. What does it mean to be a brother? What are the characteristics of a fraternal relationship? Are there differences between the relationship of familial brothers (by blood) and metaphorical brothers (by close bond or association)? Students will be responsible on a daily basis for generating discussion topics and analysis of literature that features brothers who have to navigate a shifting and sometimes complex dynamic. They will write frequently and be responsible for a research paper of literary criticism.

Major course works/authors: Assorted poetry, Band of BrothersGoing After CacciatoFor Whom the Bell Tolls, and As I Lay Dying.