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, located in room Z-403, next to the Senior Cafeteria in the Spaulding Arts Humanities Center, is supervised by an English teacher and open all periods.

The English Center’s purpose is for English teachers and student tutors from National Honor Society and English Honor Society to support student writers and researchers on specific writing and research tasks in any course. Tutors also can support readers as they strive to understand assigned texts in any course.

Students may use the space with a tutoring appointment made with THIS FORM. Tutoring is provided by a supervisor or trained peer, 1:1 and in a small group, as needs dictate. 

When an appointment is over, students will be sent back to their study hall with a pass.

The appointment rule exception is during Flex, when any student may sign up for extra help there.

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