The English Department strives to teach our students to become astute readers and effective writers. In each class, English teachers work to create an environment where students can learn to think independently, collaborate with others, and express themselves with clarity and substance. Middle and Upper School classes read classic and contemporary texts in a variety of genres, including fiction, drama, poetry, and nonfiction. The literature we teach provides students a foundation in literary analysis and also challenges them to examine complex ethical dilemmas. In terms of writing, our classes teach fundamental skills of grammar, vocabulary, and composition appropriate to each grade level. In addition to teaching students to write literary analysis and argument, we also assign creative projects that prompt students to discover their unique vision and voice. In the 10th grade, students participate in the Writing Semester, a writing-centered course designed to help students develop and refine their skills in creative writing and essay composition. In the junior year, students create the Junior Writing Portfolio, which reflects their best writing in high school, and submit it for review to a panel of assessors. The department also offers elective courses to juniors and seniors including AP English Language and Composition, AP Literature and Composition, a creative writing seminar, and courses that focus on influential literary movements and genres. Department faculty also collaborate with students to edit and publish student writing. Publications include the literary magazines Faces and Lit Mag, and The Hamden Hall Review, a collection of exemplary essays and nonfiction writing from the junior class.