Discover the power of language.
The purpose of the English curriculum at Lincoln Academy is to develop every student’s ability to think, read, write, speak, and listen to the best of his or her ability.
Welcome to the Lincoln Academy English Department. Students in our courses gain the knowledge and skills necessary for successful engagement in college and the workplace beyond Lincoln Academy. We encourage each student to discover the power of language to shape ideas, to convey thoughts, to express personal insight, to persuade, to solve problems, and to make decisions. The English department treats each student individually while also encouraging effective communication in group settings.
Communication
A core value at LA, communication is a foundational skill nurtured throughout the school, especially in the English Department.
Critical Thinking
Courses in English language and literature teach students to think critically and communicate effectively.
Core Courses, Electives, Honors, and Advanced Placement Options
The English Department serves all students at Lincoln Academy in meeting the required four years of English in order to graduate. Within each of these years, the department has core English courses that are heterogeneously grouped and focused on preparing students to meet the needs and challenges of post graduation, whether it be work or college. Having four years of English before graduation is a National requirement. There is a regular course at each level of schooling that serves to provide a solid foundation of all the aspects of English.
There are also pre-accelerated English courses freshman and sophomore years (Honors I and Honors II) that prepare students for Advanced Placement English courses junior and senior years. There is an application process for both Honors and AP courses, and candidates who are accepted are expected to complete summer reading assignments.
Department Contacts
Sample English Course Offerings
In addition to the core English classes, which students are required to take all four years of high school, here are some examples of English elective offerings.
TRIMESTER
Creative Writing I – Poetry
In this class students read, recognize, understand, and create poetry. After familiarizing themselves with a variety of celebrated texts, students use these as models for writing poetry with similar form and content. Students study the vocabulary of poetry and poetic elements, and use free verse, ballads, haiku, picture poems, sonnets, and others as models for creative inspiration. They practice identifying rhyme, rhythm, and other poetic elements, and practice incorporating those methods in their own poetry.
Students establish a process of writing by maintaining works in progress as inspired by classroom exercises, prompts, games, activities, visualizations, dream journals, paintings, and film. Students frequently share both working drafts and finished pieces in class. At the end of the course, students compile and share a portfolio of their work.
Creative Writing II – Short Story
This course focuses on the writing of short stories. Using classic and contemporary short stories from many genres students examine how various types of stories are constructed. Students write several short stories and one long short story. Two pieces will be developed and polished for their archival portfolio.
Creative Writing III – Screenwriting
Using classic and acclaimed films and screenplays, students will learn formatting techniques and film analysis, then begin the process of exploring stories and characters for their screenplays. These become subjects for exercises and scene studies and are workshopped and critiqued by the class. Students will outline a project, write a pilot (or 1st Act), and shoot a brief segment of their work to practice developing the visual language required for this medium.
Young Adult Contemporary Literature
This course is an introduction to contemporary Young Adult Literature. It is a reading intensive course, but students will have the opportunity to self-select their books from a wide array of current YA titles from multiple genres (fantasy, sci fi, realistic fiction, historical fiction, poetic narrative, etc.) and diverse authors representing a range of identities, genders, ethnicities and social classes. Students will evaluate, discuss and write about texts using contemporary technologies and/or digital media to compose interactive discourse. This course will include a general overview of the history of YA literature, YA book awards and banned books.
English Department News
Classroom View: Jane Austin Tea Party
English teacher Bridget Wright reading Pride and Prejudice to her senior English class in the spring of 2023. By Bridget Wright My seniors spent the dregs of winter and the early days of spring reading Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. While many find the [...]
LA’s Achorn Prize Speaking Competition Sparks New Interest in Oratory
The finalists for this year’s Lincoln Academy Achorn Prize Speaking Competition were, from left: AJ Shepherd, Niko Rice, Amelia Rice, Aowyn Burbank, Maddy Kallin, and Connor Parson. Lincoln Academy’s annual Achorn Prize Speaking contest took place on Friday, April 28 during Lincoln Academy’s weekly community [...]
LA Sophomore Named “Young Writer to Watch” by Maine Magazine
LA sophomore Maeve Tholen has been named one of “Four Young Writers to Watch” by Maine Magazine in their March issue. Lincoln Academy sophomore Maeve Tholen has been named one of “Four Young Writers to Watch'' by Maine Magazine. Tholen, who is featured in the [...]