English

Drawing from the major genres of literature--fiction, drama, and poetry--students examine the human search for truth, justice, and duty, while considering how community frames that quest. Students will write extensively in a variety of modes, from personal, reflective journaling to critical analysis. Socratic discussions both large and small, as well as group and individual projects, provide variety to the daily learning process. Along with intensive writing instruction and practice, the course demands that students demonstrate mastery in basic grammar skills, understand and identify major literary concepts, and compose questions that lead to deliberative conversations. Full year course. Grade: 9. Prerequisites: None.

Responding to Literature (Core) is an introduction to the study of literature in the Upper School at McCallie. The course is designed to prepare its students for the routine and rigor of McCallie’s World and American Literature courses through engaging in-class discussions and activities based on out-of-class reading. Students will explore multiple works of literature covering genres such as fiction, memoir, poetry, film, and drama. Students will also work toward confidence and comfort in the writing process and practice crafting essays of various types, personal narratives or journal entries, and oratory defense of written academic work. This course is intended for students who may not have much background in closer reading or analytical writing. Full year course. Grade: 9. Prerequisites: None.

Responding to Literature Honors is a foundation-focused course focused on reading great literature and responding thoughtfully in discussion, essays, and creative writing. Essential questions that we wrestle with throughout the year include What does it mean to be a man? What are the responsibilities of a good man? What are the essential characteristics of a life of Honor, Truth, and Duty? First semester, we focus more on the role of men in society as we read selections like Lord of the Flies, Night, Everything Sad is Untrue, and The Hate U Give. Second semester, we focus on the role of a boy’s circumstances on his development into a healthy man as we read texts like The Odyssey, Catcher in the Rye, Old School, and The Road. Although there are some creative writing assignments along the way, the primary objective of the writing is to teach an evidence-focused essay structure in which students learn to support a thesis by analyzing and explaining passages from the text. Along with the writing focus, there are weekly grammar assignments as well as an ongoing discussion of MLA formatting and conventions to prepare students to excel in their time at McCallie and beyond. Full-year course. Grade: 9. Prerequisites: Strong placement testing. 

With its emphasis on literature from Europe, South Africa and the East, sophomore English explores literature's universal themes of family and mentors, internal and external conflicts, and initiation and self-definition. Major writing units cover a range of rhetorical patterns, such as comparison/contrast, analysis, cause and effect, argumentation and reasoning. Study of grammar and vocabulary, as well as effective elements of oral presentation, builds upon the student's knowledge from freshman year. Full-year course. Grade: 10. Prerequisites: None

"Is anyone in class a Danish prince whose uncle murdered your father and then married your mom?" No? Nobody? Our World Literature course asks our boys to see a world larger than the one they inhabit as sophomores at McCallie. We consider texts from different times, places, cultures, and experiences, as a way to practice empathy. What are those elements of humanity that unite us all? How can we recognize those in others so that we're better equipped to enter a world that is more and more global? What is our place in this world? The course involves extensive reading and writing, both analytical and personal. Full year course. Grade: 10. Prerequisites: Excellence in 9th grade English. See AP/Honors Course Prerequisites

American Literature is a cultural study of America through its literature. Students in this course will encounter many of the ideas that shaped our country’s vision and development: freedom, individuality, nonconformity, the American Dream, etc. The course’s primary focus is to put students in a position to identify, examine, and understand the ideas that shape American culture. Students will access a wide variety of traditional American texts in concordance with contemporary works in order to reinforce genre study. Students should expect to experience the writing process regularly in a way that will advance their stylistic palette and enhance their revision skills. Students will practice alternative forms of communication of understanding; projects and presentations will offer an opportunity to expand their skill set in approaching required texts with research and creativity. Students will use McCallie’s many on-campus resources including but not limited to the Lebovitz Innovation Lab, Caldwell Writing Center, and the C.A.V.E. Full year course. Grade: 11. Prerequisites: None

AP English Literature and Composition is an introductory college-level literary analysis course. Students cultivate their understanding of literature through reading and analyzing texts as they explore concepts like character, setting, structure, perspective, figurative language, and literary analysis in the context of literary works. The course prepares students to take the AP exam, though intstructoin in reading and writing goes well beyond AP rubrics and outlines. A student should expect challenging texts, deep analysis, and wide-ranging topics of conversation that will require both intellection and personal engagement. Full year course. Grade: 11. Prerequisites: Excellence in World Literature. See AP/Honors Course Prerequisites

This course will explore the work of Shakespeare and other dramatists of the Renaissance period in England. Although William Shakespeare is the dominant figure during this time--and for good reason--authors such as Christopher Marlowe, John Webster, Ben Jonson, Thomas Kyd, Cyril Tourner and others were producing compelling and insightful dramas. These authors and their plays were popular, successful, and offer insight into what Professor E.M.W. Tillyard refers to as “The Elizabethan World Picture”. We may read examples of the major types of drama being written and enacted such as Tragedy, Comedy, and History, or decide to focus on a specific genre within drama. We will also consider the differing themes that are represented in these works. Hopefully we will emerge from this course with a better appreciation and understanding of the art, historical context, and value of these works. We will make substantial use of video and film productions of these plays as they were, after all, intended to be viewed. Semester course. Grade: 12. Prerequisites: None.

Contemporary Literature encourages students to explore what is unique about today’s literature and how those novels, stories, and narrative essays can be relevant to their experience of the world. The course will address such themes as identity, love, friendship, sexuality, and coming of age. Therefore, readers are likely to encounter mature topics and language that reflect today’s straightforward sensibilities. Semester course. Grade: 12. Prerequisites: None.

Poetry is almost always our first exposure to language. Dr. Seuss; the ABCs; We may not know what a tuffet is, but we know Little Miss Muffet sat on one. And then we go to school...and what began as an exercise in playful language and rhythm becomes a crash course in confusion and obscurity. This class will seek to undo that trauma. We will spend our time reading poetry (canonical masters, styles, genres, topics, etc.) and writing poetry (primarily imitation) as a way to revisit our initial love of language. Semester course. Grade: 12. Prerequisites: None.

This course will focus on major Irish works, authors, and themes from the mid-nineteenth century Irish literary renaissance, through the euphemistically titled “Troubles", to the present day. Poetry, plays, short stories, novels, and nonfiction writings from authors such as, but not limited to, William Butler Yeats, Lady Gregory, J.M. Synge, Sean O’Casey, Bernadette Devlin, Bernard Mac Laverty will be used to help us explore the struggle for the construction of an Irish identity that is separate from the British and ultimately leads to the achievement of an independent (although divided) “postcolonial” Ireland. We will pay careful attention to the intersection of literature, culture, politics, history, and war to see how they form an interconnected web that also encompasses issues of race, gender, language and religion. In addition to the readings we will make use of film and music to enhance our understanding of the development of distinctively Irish literature in our time. Semester course. Grade: 12. Prerequisites: None.

The course in fiction writing enables students to write their own original fiction--to experience the exhilaration and frustration, the challenge and satisfaction, the freedom and responsibility of creating stories from the blank page. And then to test them out on their peers. The students experience what professional writers experience, the real world of writing. Students should expect a course with constant, extensive, and engaging writing. Semester course. Grade: 12. Prerequisites: None.

This course will focus on the development of the horror genre in literature. Starting with the very first example of the genre (Walpole’s Castle of Otranto) we will track the elements of and changes to this specific type of fiction from the mid 1700’s into the twenty-first century; paying particular attention to historic periods and how science, society, and culture have impacted, influenced, and made these works possible. Considerable time will also be spent exploring the nature of fear, and why we find books and movies of this type to be pleasurable. Texts may include, but are not limited to Horace Walpole: The Castle of Otranto, Mary Shelley: Frankenstein, Bram Stoker: Dracula H.P. Lovecraft: The Best of H.P. Lovecraft: Bloodcurdling Tales of Horror and the Macabre and Stephen King: The Shining. Semester course. Grade: 12. Prerequisites: None.

This course will attempt to define the concept of “Tragedy” as we trace its conception, development, and continuing popularity, beginning with the Greeks (works may include Aristotle’s Poetics, The Oresteia of Aeschylus, or The Three Theban Plays of Sophocles), through the Romans (Seneca: Medea, Thyestes, and Oedipus, as well as others are all possible texts), and Elizabethan and Jacobean England (texts may include The White Devil, The Spanish Tragedy, Othello, and The Duchess of Malfi). If time permits we may entertain modern examples of this genre. We will examine the various types of tragedy, how they build upon each other and change over time to accommodate popular taste and evolving conceptions of what tragedy is. We will also make use of films and filmed performances in our exploration and discussion of these texts and themes. Semester course. Grade: 12. Prerequisites: None.

At its core existentialism is a search for meaning in our existence in a world fraught with inherent difficulties—a world that can be described as increasingly “absurd”. Interestingly, this subject is not as clearly defined as might be supposed, and is not as pessimistic as some may think. Through an examination and close reading of key texts we will gain an understanding of how we may make “sense” of ourselves and the world around us, including the concept of personal responsibility for not only who we are, but how we impact others and the world around us. Texts may include: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, “The Metamorphosis”, Notes from Underground, The Third Policeman, Catch 22, and Time’s Arrow. Semester course. Grade: 12. Prerequisites: None.

This course examines, discusses and questions the function and role that gender plays in American culture while specifically examining our own experiences as men within America. The course studies combines contemporary issues, history and philosophy while also defining and learning from American feminism. We'll read at least one novel, multiple essays and short texts while writing at least three major papers and multiple small reflections. The course prioritizes honest and challenging discussion and includes outside guest speakers. Semester course. Grade: 12. Prerequisites: None.

This course examines and studies the voices of Black Americans in the struggle against racism and white supremacy. By reading selected novels and essays from the Black American canon, students encounter historic and modern voices speaking in love, anger, grief, community and a prophetic call for justice. We’ll read at least one novel, one nonfiction memoir, multiple essays and short texts while writing major papers and reflective narratives.The course prioritizes honest and challenging discussion and includes outside guest speakers. Semester course. Grade: 12. Prerequisites: None.

What does it mean to be an American? This course will seek to explore that idea by considering the voices of those who, according to Jhumpa Lahiri, "struggle and come to terms with what it means to live [in America], to be brought up [in America], to belong and not belong [in America.]" We'll consider the impacts of having unusual names, of shifting understanding of freedom, of living within a society but not as a formal citizen. We will read both fiction and nonfiction as we try to seek out those voices that have always been here but haven't always been heard. Semester course. Grade: 12. Prerequisites: None.

This course examines, discusses, questions and confronts the role of race and racism in American culture, history and our own communities and lives. Mixing together history, philosophy, science and even religion, this course attempts to create a place where students can safely, honestly and courageously approach the experience of being Black, brown and white in America today. We’ll get comfortable talking about race, a topic most view as uncomfortable. We’ll read one main text, many smaller essays while also writing major reflective papers about our own experiences. This course highly prioritizes honest and challenging discussion and includes outside guest speakers. Semester course. Grade: 12. Prerequisites: None.

This course examines, discusses, questions and confronts the spiritual journey and our own interior landscape and experience. What does it mean to live a spiritual life? How do our hearts and minds react to the world around us? This course values open and honest discussion while also devotes two days a week to the practice of mindfulness skills and meditation. It is open to believers, atheists and agnostics. We’ll read one main text, many smaller essays while also writing reflective papers and shorter responses. Semester course. Grade: 12. Prerequisites: None.

You don't have to be an athlete to enjoy a good book about sports: baseball, football, track, wrestling, swimming. Sports can turn an ordinary person into a hero or a villain. It can provide a battlefield as full of danger and awe as Iwo Jima. Not just the athletes--but their families, their friends, their partners--anyone can be drawn into the drama of the world of sports. These novels, stories, and essays are not just about winning and losing. They're about how the experience of sport changes people and stays with them for the rest of their lives. Students will also learn to write about sports from an engaging, illumative approach, not just as a game highlight reel. Semester course. Grade: 12. Prerequisites: None.

Although the adjective short is a relative term, the short story holds a distinct place in the canon of literature. We'll take a brief glance at the origin of the genre (Chaucer) and then explore the evolution of this satisfying type of story up to the modern day. We'll cross cultural boundaries, reading several stories in translation, and we will explore some authors' work more closely. Students will become an expert on one author and help lead peers in a study of his/her works. Authors considered might include Chekhov, Saki, O'Connor, Berry, Lahiri, Egan, and Hughes. Semester course. Grade: 12. Prerequisites: None.

Ron Rash wrote that "landscape is destiny," and even a cursory glance at the Southern writers today makes his statement difficult to refute. This course will expose students to some of the literary giants who turned the telescope on the South as well as the varied writers who continue to explore this paradoxical, compelling place we call home. From Faulkner to Patchett and lots of folks in between, we'll read poetry, essays, short stories and novels. Semester course. Grade: 12. Prerequisites: None.

This class surveys an assortment of Christian literary works by authors such as John Bunyan, Hannah Hunard, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R.Tolkien, Flannery O’Connor, and Walker Percy. The survey begins by reading and discussing Pilgrim’s Progress and Hinds Feet on High Places, followed by a selection from other authors. Beginning with Christ’s use of parables, the course will examine and analyze how and why particular persons chose to express aspects of the faith through different genres, e.g. allegory, myth, apocalyptic, or the modern novel. Students are challenged to read, wrestle with, and write about great works of literature, with a focus on how Biblical messages, art, technique, and history are infused into literature inspired by the Christian faith. Semester course. Grade: 12. Prerequisites: None.

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”  Although Henry David Thoreau penned these lines almost 170 years ago,  Americans continue to long for an authentic wilderness experience. What does it mean to "live deliberately" and how can the wilderness teach us to live our best lives?  From Walden to the works of Wallace Stegner, Annie Dillard, Aldo Leopold, and Bill Bryson, wilderness writers explore our timeless search for meaning in an increasingly complex world of spiritual, technological, political, and social upheavals. Semester course. Grade: 12. Prerequisites: None.

The literature of Britain from 1066 to the present day has formed a central pillar in the study of the Western World. This survey course will capture highlights of epics such as Beowulf and Grendel, the core canon like the The Canterbury Tales and Shakespearean sonnets, poetry from the Romantics like Wordsworth and Keats, a novel with the more social justice commentary like A Modest Proposal or Frankenstein, and examples from the Victorian period. Mid semester, students will write a research paper on a chosen British author. Semester course. Grade: 12. Prerequisites: None.

We cannot ignore war and its impact on the development of human society if we hope to understand our world and how we reached this point in history. This course includes fiction, drama, poetry and film that brings the experience of war to life on the page and on the screen. Class discussions and creative writing invite students to explore the issues of war, the men and women involved in war, the families left behind, the innocent victims of war, and war itself. Semester course. Grade: 12. Prerequisites: None.

Since 2010, Brandon Stanton has run a blog and social media entity called Humans of New York. He approaches people he sees in the streets of New York City and asks them to tell their stories.  Much has been made about the lack of empathy on social media, but Humans of New York shows how it can be used to foster our understanding of each other. For this elective, McCallie students will hone their skills in observation, conversation, writing, and documentation by running and building a blog and social media site called Humans of McCallie. This will be a writing and photography heavy course with some reading assignments as well. If you want to learn more about the power of stories to foster understanding and bring a community together, this is the course for you. Semester course. Grade: 12. Prerequisites: None.

Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” - Matthew 25: 37-40, NRSV

This course will bring the ancient and contemporary together as we use this well-known verse from the Gospel of Matthew as a lens to study 21st century books about people who have both faced these struggles and demonstrated righteousness. We will also consider what that language “the least of these” might mean, especially when it comes to attitudes of servanthood. The book list will be a mixture of nonfiction and fiction, but the focus will overwhelmingly be on people who saw the marginalized citizens of our modern world and chose to live out the mission described in this beloved and oft-cited Biblical text. As a class, we will read books about everything from criminal justice to hunger to disability rights. To end the semester, students will complete their own service project and write their own story about their experience. Semester course. Grade: 12. Prerequisites: None.