English

Marian Sugano, Department Chair
email | 425-868-6191, ext. 683
download: english department highlights

The English Department's goal is to help students develop their abilities to read, write, speak and listen well, necessary skills for critical and creative thinkers, problem solvers and effective communicators in a rapidly changing world. The curriculum is coordinated with other departments in order to emphasize the importance of reading, writing, speaking and listening in all that they do.

Literature students will discuss, interpret, examine, analyze and evaluate fundamental works of the human experience. The Middle School curriculum focuses on clear, effective communication. Students learn grammar, and to understand the structure of their language. Lessons emphasize the importance of organization, development and mechanical accuracy in the writing process, and students learn beginning research skills.

In the Upper School, students are taught to produce coherent, articulate writing with mechanical correctness. They learn the writing process—brainstorming, thesis identification, outlining, drafting, editing, revising and publishing—and have ample opportunities for both free and creative writing. The Upper School English curriculum connects literature to other disciplines through themes, and students read a wide variety of world literature, from ancient to modern writing. They learn to appreciate literary works that show the relationship between literature and culture, both nationally and globally; to understand how individual and societal identities evolve; and are able to critique value systems.

The English department is always seeking to improve, and has added a course on Southern Literature for the 2009-2010 school year.

Learn more about Overlake's English program in the department highlights and the curriculum map.