ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
Eight semesters are required in English.

Freshman English
There is a heavy emphasis on grammar and writing in this course, though reading, speaking, and listening are also addressed. This emphasis is important for all students because we need a working knowledge of the English language for service in the kingdom. Topics covered include: Usage (Tense & Voice of Verbs, Case of Pronouns, Subject & Verb Agreement), Grammar (Parts of Speech, Phrases, Clauses), Mechanics (Capitalization & Punctuation), Composition (Process, Use of Words, Kinds of Writing), Vocabulary & Spelling, Study & Research Skills (Taking Notes, Using the Library), Speaking & Listening Skills (Informal & Formal Speaking, Following Directions, Parliamentary Procedure.) We also study four major literary genres: novel, short story, poem, and play.

Composition
The basics learned in Freshman English are further developed and explored through composition. Students follow examples of good writing and engage in process writing to develop skills in narrative, descriptive, persuasive, and expository writing. Proper sentence and paragraph structure is stressed.

American Literature
American authors, their writings, and the historical context from colonial days to the present are covered. Authors and their writings are used to introduce various genres of literature, literary terms, and literary devices. This course helps the student read with comprehension, appreciate the beauty of the written word, increase his vocabulary, memorize various authors and some of their writings, understand how various authors reflected the times in which they lived, and use literature as a springboard for his own creative writing in response to literature in papers and oral presentations.

British Literature
The history of our own literary language is explored through a survey of English Literature from the Old English period to the present day. The contributions of the Anglo-Saxon poets, as well as Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton, Wordsworth, Dickens, Eliot, and Auden receive special emphasis as their writings exemplify various periods of Western social and political history. Students learn to write various types of personal responses to the different genres, as well as more formal literary analyses.

Business Writing
Students who expect to use writing skills in a business setting should enroll in this class. The effective writing of various kinds of business letters, as well as special forms of business writing, such as memos, e-mail messages, instructions, brochures, proposals, and résumés is taught.

College Writing
Seniors who plan to attend a four-year college are encouraged to enroll in this class. Grammar and writing skills are heavily emphasized. Vocabulary development is stressed. Research writing, speeches, and essay writing are used to prepare the student for college.

Journalism
Journalism is a semester credit course that spans both semesters of the school year, as students are given study hall time each week. The purpose of this course is to teach students journalistic skills while producing the school yearbook, The Sword & Shield, and the school's biweekly annoucements newspaper, The Headliner. Students who take journalism learn business, communication, computer, writing, designing, and decision-making skills as they raise funds, take photographs, write copy, and draw layouts. Young writers gain valuable experience, and learn to use their God-given talents not for self-promotion, but for the promotion and joy of others.