Academics

English

The English Department at Pinkerton Academy strongly believes that a four-year language arts curriculum is essential for all students to prepare them for successful post-secondary pursuits. Effective communication skills optimize students’ potential for living and working productively in a global community. In addition, the study of literature and nonfiction enhances students’ understanding of themselves and helps them realize and appreciate the diversities, commonalities, and complexities of human existence. To this end, the curriculum focuses on a series of competency skills: Argumentative Writing, Informational Writing, Narrative Writing, Reading Literary, Reading Informational, Research, and Speaking/Listening.

Students are given every opportunity to acquire the many skills necessary to become effective writers, readers, researchers, speakers, listeners, and thinkers through a sequential program. All students choose from required courses that are leveled AP, Honors, A, B, C, Explorations, or Foundations. This selection is based on achievement, post-secondary goals, motivation, scholastic responsibility, teacher recommendation, and parental approval. Leveling is intended to challenge students’ abilities and to allow them to reach higher levels of success. In addition, students have opportunities to explore other interests through a variety of electives that supplement the required courses.

2018-2019 MLA Citation Guide

PA Guide to Preparing Research Paper

Freshman Academy English

The Pinkerton Academy English program begins with a full year of coursework starting in the 9th grade. As students transition to the more rigorous expectations of high school, Freshman Academy courses emphasize both academic accountability and perseverance. Students are expected to demonstrate effective management of deadlines throughout the writing process and to participate in regular practice for reading, grammar, and vocabulary. Freshman coursework also introduces students to independent research on both assigned and independent topics, familiarizing 9th graders with technologies that they will utilize throughout their high school careers.

Curriculum

In general, 9th grade English curriculum is comprised of units that offer students opportunities to master essential skills in a variety of academic categories:

Frost English Center

The Frost English Center is located next to the Senior Cafeteria in the Spaulding Arts and Humanities Center and is open before school and during all periods of the school day, except Lunch 4. 

No teacher pass is required to use the facility during study halls or lunch periods. If the facility is full (24 students), students will be sent back to their assigned rooms.

The English Center is staffed by an English teacher. Students must check-in with this supervisor in order to scan their IDs in and be assigned a workspace. 

The English Center’s purpose is to allow students to compose, revise, and edit drafts with teacher support, to complete other English work, read silently, and conduct research independently; the English Center supervisors are always available for assistance.

Students are to use their computers for school academic use only. The school’s Internet Acceptable Use Policy is strictly enforced. The English Center is not available for socializing or student group work.

Seniors who come into the English Center from cafeteria lunch will not be allowed to return to the cafeteria. They should eat lunch first and then enter the English Center, remaining for the rest of the period.

Required Summer Reading

Rising freshmen and sophomores have required reading for the summer. These books center around a theme that will be explored in their English classes. See the attached pdfs for the reading for each level.

Email Mrs. Jyoti Demian, English Department Head, with any questions.

HSR 2021 Flyer - Freshmen Pinkerton Reads

HSR 2021 Flyer - Sophomore Pinkerton Reads

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