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, skills necessary for critical and creative thinkers, problem solvers, and effective communicators in the rapidly changing world of the twenty-first century. 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 to understand the structure of their language. Lessons emphasize the importance of organization, development, and mechanical accuracy in the writing process. Students learn beginning research skills and how to integrate their research into writing.

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 texts. They learn to appreciate literary works by studying the relationship between literature and culture, both nationally and globally. Courses emphasize understanding of how individual and societal identities evolve, and students are taught  to critique value systems.

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