English

The English Department guides and encourages students in the study and practice of all aspects of the English language, helping students master skills in order to read critically and appreciatively, to communicate clearly both in writing and speaking, and to use the research tools available, both traditional and technological. Fenwick’s English curriculum has been designed to provide students with greater opportunities for higher academic achievement. The four-year writing program fortifies these efforts by providing a strong foundation in mastering the mechanics of clear writing across disciplines.

We discuss topics such as:

• Why read fiction? What is the relationship between fiction and truth?
• How are the struggles of humankind in early literature relevant to readers today?
• How can language be used to empower the writer?

The English Department requires four credits for graduation, with each year’s course covering prose and poetry, fiction and non-fiction, grammar and mechanics, and analytical, creative, expository, and persuasive writing, among other forms. See our Course Selection Guide for more detail.