Owa Brandstein	obrandst@beaconschool.org
Jenny Chrest	jchrest@beaconschool.org
Jo Ann Cimato	jcimato@beaconschool.org
Sarah Fink	sfink@beaconschool.org
Jon Goldman	jgoldman@beaconschool.org
Daniel Guralnick	dguralni@beaconschool.org
Sean Leon	sleon@beaconschool.org
Brian Letiecq	bletiecq@beaconschool.org
Abby Lublin	alublin@beaconschool.org
Kate Reed	kreed@beaconschool.org
Barbara Solowey	bsolowey@beaconschool.org

The Beacon English Department explores literature through analysis and creative writing. Our purpose is to help our students realize that literature reflects certain universal truths that allow us to see others and ourselves as part of a larger whole. While literature can be understood as a product of the time in which it was written, it is a timeless reflection of life that facilitates discovery and fosters empathy. Because of this, we believe that literature is democratic and humanizing.

Students are required to pass eight semesters of English. In each academic year students will be asked to present one project to demonstrate a particular form of composition emphasized during that year. In addition each year at the PBA presentation thestudent will present a creative project that explores literature through the creative process. This can include creative writing and/or non-written projects (such as video, visual art, dance etc.). Whenever possible, a teacher other than the classroom teacher will assess or help assess the portfolio piece.

Creative writing will be emphasized each of the four years.

PERFORMANCE BASED ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS AND SAMPLE PROJECTS:

Freshman year: Short essay, assessed in June.
An essay of five paragraphs based on the reading of literature and using textual support.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Mandated by New York State: The English Language Arts Regents Exam (January or June eleventh or twelfth grade years.)

SKILL AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS

Skill Areas: Your PBAs will demonstrate the three major skill areas of reading, writing and presentation (speaking and listening). Over four years, your projects and presentations will evidence your mastery of the three specific skills in any of the following ways:

1. Reading:
Comprehend and appreciate a variety of literary genres - for example mythology, the novel, drama, short story, poetry
Comprehend and appreciate characterization, plot, setting
Recognize and appreciate poetic devices
Connect these readings to other discipline areas as well as to contemporary issues
Use knowledge of libraries and computers to gather research information

2. Writing:
Write both a third person and first person narrative
Write a five paragraph essay - expository, persuasive, descriptive, etc.
Develop a research paper
- clearly state a thesis
- present research evidence to support that thesis
- create a conclusion which connects your evidence to your thesis
- integrate quotes from interviews and text into your paper
- use parenthetical citation
- present a bibliography
Create an original dramatic scene for presentation

3. Presentation:
Articulate in oral presentation what you have learned in your presented projects
Listen and respond appropriately to questions posed to you

Knowledge Areas:
Each PBA piece will reflect the content of the curriculum in
your studies for that particular year. Your portfolio will build on knowledge drawn from two or more of the following areas:

English Course Selection

Click on the course name for a course description.