English 3

The key question for English 3 is, “What are we pursuing?” Questions that go along with that include, “How can literature help us to make sense of human motivation?” “How can a writer make use of various media in order to pursue human-to-human connections with others?” “What am I pursuing?” 

The vision for this course is to ask these questions through a variety of types of literature. Classics and canonical American texts are used, as well as literature from a variety of different voices, including women, minorities, and the founders of the Constitution. Each of the texts that was chosen wrestles with the realities of human pursuit in some way. The hope is that students will have an opportunity to consider important questions about their own life pursuits through the examination of this literature, with the goal of moving them toward pursuits that will lead to fulfilling and meaningful lives.

An interrelated theme that is explored throughout the course is that of “encounters” or “connections.” The course aims to teach writing techniques that will enable students to create meaningful encounters for their audiences. Students are encouraged to look for meaningful connections with the authors and texts that they explore. One vital human pursuit is encounter or connection, and literature is explored in a way that fosters this meaningful pursuit. 

An Honors version of the course is also available, offering greater volume and rigor than the standard course. Each unit includes at least one Honors extension, which may involve an additional lesson and assignment, or an expanded version of a standard assignment. The Honors course also includes a short independent novel study that is not part of the standard course.