English

Reading great literature is the cornerstone of a Marian education. It is the single-minded goal of the Marian English Department to provide a plethora of opportunities for Marian students to engage actively with classical and contemporary works of literature, including writings from American, British and world authors. Students and teachers develop a common vocabulary for discourse; experience writing and revising; strengthen their language, speech, listening, study and research skills; and engage in the formation of  “a philosophical habit of mind” (John Henry Cardinal Newman). Underlying all English course offerings is the Marian commitment to Christian Catholic social ethics. The department promotes awareness, understanding and appreciation of world cultures and the skills necessary for life-long learning in an increasingly complex and specialized future. Therefore, Marian English courses enhance student understanding of social, cultural and geographical differences and emphasize language as a powerful tool for thinking, learning and communicating.  Marian students are continually preparing to communicate as informed, thinking, ethical individuals.

“The love of learning,
 the sequestered
 nooks, and all the sweet
 serenity of books.” 
–Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

College Preparatory Writing

Marian’s school-wide writing program supports and enhances the English Department’s college preparatory writing curriculum. All students take four years of literature and composition. In addition, they may elect to take a four-year program in competitive speech, a two-year program in journalism or a one-semester program in creative writing. The English Department has been commended five times by the National Council of Teachers of English for excellence in its instructional program. Both the elective speech and journalism programs have won state and national recognition and awards.

Course Offerings

  • Honors Composition & Literature
  • Composition & Literature
  • Honors American Literature & Composition
  • American Literature & Composition
  • Honors/AP English Literature and Composition
  • English Literature and Composition
  • Honors/AP English Language and Composition
  • Honors World Literature and Composition
  • World Literature & Composition
  • Honors Journalism II
  • Journalism I
  • Novice Competitive Speaking
  • Honors Varsity Competitive Speaking
  • Creative Writing

English Department

Summer Reading Program

Click here to see all information on Marian’s Summer Reading Program.

Writing Resources
  • As one of its service projects, the Marcella Chapter of the National English Honor Society hosts a Writing Center designed to help Marian students with essays and papers. The Marcella Writing Center is open on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings in the Student Services Department to answer questions about writing papers. Students who may be struggling with MLA formatting, embedded citations, Works Cited pages, or direct and indirect quotations are encouraged to stop in the writing center. A senior, who is a member of the NEHS, will be available to work with students. The NEHS members will not help write the papers or essays but will answer technical questions and direct students to places where the students could find the answers to their questions.
  • All Marian students submit writing assignments to Turnitin. This website improves student writing by preventing plagiarism and providing rich feedback to students.
  • The Marian High School English Department uses MLA citation for research and writing assignments. Click here to view a Formatting and Style Guide. For additional help with MLA citation, students may use the following citation generators. Be sure to use MLA 8th edition.
    Citation Machine: http://www.citationmachine.net/mla8/cite-a-book
    Easy Bib: http://www.easybib.com/
Writing Center
As one of its service projects, the Marcella Chapter of the National English Honor Society hosts a writing center designed to help Marian students with essays and papers. The Marcella Writing Center is open on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings in the Student Advisory Department to answer questions about writing papers. Students who may be struggling with MLA formatting, embedded citations, Works Cited pages, or direct and indirect quotations are encouraged to stop in the writing center. A senior, who is a member of the NEHS, will be available to work with students. The NEHS members will not help write the papers or essays but will answer technical questions and direct students to places where the students could find the answers to their questions.
National English Honor Society

NEHS18

 

Every spring qualified juniors are inducted into the Marcella Chapter of the National English Honor Society. The Marcella Chapter is named in honor of Marian’s first principal, Sr. Marcella Sitzman, O.S.M.

In keeping with the national motto, “Duty goes with honor,” the Marian chapter has an annual service project: the Marian High School Marcella Writing Center.

To become a member of NEHS, a Marian student must earn an A in 5 semesters of required English courses.