Academics
Curriculum
English
Department: English
Milken's English Program employs the power of language to sharpen sensibilities and create a capacity for civil and informed discourse. By expanding their vocabularies, evaluating texts, and writing essays, students embark on journeys of discovery toward insight and empathy. The program nurtures an analytical and emotional intelligence that supports learners in communicating effectively and understanding divergent points of view.
For the curious and creative, there are endless opportunities. Budding journalists communicate with the Milken and greater Jewish community through the publication of The Roar, Milken’s Upper School online newspaper. Creative writers and screenwriters are regularly published in the school literary magazine and in a variety of outside publications such as Fresh Ink for Teens and the selected works of the Scholastic Writing Award. Our nonfiction writers have published in The Jewish Journal, frequently won the Norman Alexander Award for Excellence in Jewish Student Writing, and have performed their personal essays at storytelling events similar to The Moth.
Milken’s English Program thrives by helping students put words to thoughts so they can communicate effectively and more confidently navigate the world around them.
For the curious and creative, there are endless opportunities. Budding journalists communicate with the Milken and greater Jewish community through the publication of The Roar, Milken’s Upper School online newspaper. Creative writers and screenwriters are regularly published in the school literary magazine and in a variety of outside publications such as Fresh Ink for Teens and the selected works of the Scholastic Writing Award. Our nonfiction writers have published in The Jewish Journal, frequently won the Norman Alexander Award for Excellence in Jewish Student Writing, and have performed their personal essays at storytelling events similar to The Moth.
Milken’s English Program thrives by helping students put words to thoughts so they can communicate effectively and more confidently navigate the world around them.
Course Listings
List of 9 items.
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English 6: Worldbuilding in Literature
In English 6, students will read and analyze various literary texts informed by and connected to their social studies content of ancient civilizations. They will examine how authors build a world in their works through study of setting, character, and descriptive imagery. Through annotation practice, students will become skilled at noticing details in the text and analyzing authors’ choices to include them. In addition to writing for various purposes and audiences, such as narrative, persuasive, and poetic pieces, students will make the leap from expository to analytical writing through skills of evidence selection and thesisdriven compositions. -
English 7: Dynamics of Power
In English 7, students will examine the dynamics of power in relationships, be they interpersonal, governmental, or societal. They will read and analyze various literary texts connected to their social studies content of comparative political systems. Students will continue to annotate for key details and evidence of meaning, analyze literary characters and universal themes. In addition, they will also become skilled in using academic conventions in their literary analysis as they write in various genres. -
English 8: American Identities
English 8 provides students the opportunity to explore the various ways Americans express their identities, past and present. Through reading diverse American authors who span a variety of time periods and experiences, students will craft their own understanding of their Americanness as it intersects with other facets of their identities. Students will continue to develop their close reading and annotation skills as they read for literary devices, symbolism, and theme. They will continue to develop their academic writing skills as they move to thesis-driven essays and more complex analysis of literary texts. The course culminates in a poetry showcase where students write and perform their own poetic compositions. -
English 9: Study of Genre
English 9 focuses on analytical reading, writing, and familiarizing students with a variety of rhetorical modes and literary genres. Students explore themes within each literary work and genre. Significant time is devoted to practicing and honing the essay-writing process. -
English 10: Hero in Western Literature
English 10 traces the development of the hero in Western Literature from classical texts to the early 20th century. There is a strong focus on gender issues and how texts become a lens through which we question ourselves. Particular attention is paid to the development of increasingly sophisticated writing skills. Research approaches and techniques, including internet resources, are explored. -
English 11: American Lit
English 11 provides a lens for questioning what it means to be an American. Central to the course are the concepts of freedom, democracy, equality, race, gender, class, and religion--in addition to the question deciding who is able to claim, or is denied these freedoms. Another idea that the course centers on is the power of the spoken and written word: the seminal texts explored do more than mirror the issues facing the nation, they help construct the idea of America. -
English 11: AP English Language and Composition
Students study essays, memoirs, letters, speeches, short stories, poems, novels, plays, and visual media such as films, photographs, advertisements, comic strips, and music videos. Students write for a variety of audiences in a variety of modes, including speeches, personal narratives, expository essays, analytical essays, research-based position essays, and screenplays. Students develop a personal style and ability to analyze and articulate how the resources of language operate in any given text. -
English 12: AP Literature
Students hone their understanding of complex, canonical literature through analysis of sophisticated literary devices and application of college-level critical theory. Students gain a heightened awareness of the highly symbolic nature of literature as a means of understanding truths about themselves, their community, and human existence. Students foster a capacity for listening and challenging, trusting and contending. Co-requisite: H Adv Jewish Thought. -
English 12: Marginalized Voices
Students explore race, class, and gender as culturally and self-imposed markers of American identity. Students discuss each of these roles separately, moving toward discussions of the ways these identities intersect, and compete with each other.
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English Department Faculty
List of 12 members.
Storytellers Signature Program
Storytellers utilizes writing as a form of art and self-expression. Refining ideas, studying successful works, and forming a nurturing community are cornerstones of the program. Students experiment with a variety of writing forms, from feature-length screenplays to short stories and poems. By participating in writing workshops and storytelling events, students learn how to provide thoughtful and caring critiques. Through elective writing courses, students develop their own creative process as they navigate different genres within the creative writing space.
List of 6 items.
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Creative Nonfiction
An elective course, which blends journalism and creative writing and focuses on the nonfiction personal narrative. This genre would be suitable for memoirists and writers of long-form articles. Creative Nonfiction fulfills the CSU/UC arts requirement and is categorized as an Interdisciplinary art. In order to apply this course toward the CSU/UC and Milken arts requirements, students must take two semesters of coursework in the Interdisciplinary Arts category. In order to apply this course toward Milken’s Arts graduation requirement, students must take two semesters of coursework in the Interdisciplinary Arts category. -
Creative Writing (Middle School)
The Creative Writing elective is designed for students who enjoy writing as a form of art and personal expression. Students will learn how to refine their ideas into works of fiction and poetry. Students will experiment with a variety of writing approaches as they study the work of published authors, engage in writing workshops, and complete literary element developmental lessons. -
Creative Writing, levels I-IV
This Creative Writing elective is designed for students who enjoy writing as a form of art and personal expression. Students will learn how to refine their ideas into works of fiction an poetry. Students will experiment with a variety of writing approaches as they study the work of published authors, engage in writing workshops, and complete literary element developmental lessons. Creative Writing fulfills the CSU/UC arts requirement and is categorized as an Interdisciplinary art. In order to apply this course toward the CSU/UC and Milken arts requirements, students must take two semesters of coursework in the Interdisciplinary Arts category. Students who take Creative Writing multiple times will have the opportunity to develop their writing craft at increasingly sophisticated levels. -
Film Studies
An elective course that puts a critical lens on the medium of film, from mise en scene, to cinematography, to directorial intent. This course would reinforce our ELA standards of critical literacy and provide an engaging and relevant way for students to analyze film as art, craft, and culture. This course fulfills the CSU/UC and Milken arts requirement and is categorized as an Interdisciplinary art. In order
to apply this course toward Milken’s Arts graduation requirement, students must take two semesters of coursework in the Interdisciplinary Arts category. -
Filmmaking (Middle School)
Filmmaking introduces students to the world of the cinema, including the impact of Jews on the art form and the depiction of Jews, Judaism, and Jewish themes in film. Students gain skills in screenwriting, outlining a story, pitching a story, staging, shooting, lighting, sound, and editing, while working on screenplays, storyboards, and short film projects. Training includes studies in film theory, genre, and camera operation. Students will take part in creating their own 5-15 minute short film by the end of the course in a collaborative, creative environment. -
Journalism, levels I-IV (Yearlong)
Students hone their ability to write clearly, prioritize and synthesize information, perform under deadline pressure, and compose articles in a variety of journalistic writing styles. The course focuses on reporting, research, interviewing, grammar, concise writing, web publishing, photography and video production. Students are expected to write both informally (in response to readings), and formally to produce a variety of reporting (features, interviews, columns, etc.) that is suitable for publication in the Milken Roar. This course fulfills the CSU/UC and Milken arts requirement and is categorized as an Interdisciplinary art.
List of 6 items.
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Magazine Publication, levels I-IV
Students solicit and evaluate work for publication, and gain practical
experience using InDesign software for editing, layout, and production. Students publicize and promote the finished product. The format of this elective takes many forms: small and large group activities, collaborative learning, dedicated writing time, and workshops. Magazine Publication fulfills the CSU/UC arts requirement and is categorized as an Interdisciplinary art. In order to apply this course toward the CSU/UC and Milken arts requirements, students must take two semesters of coursework in the Interdisciplinary Arts category. Students who take Magazine Publication multiple times will have the opportunity to develop their artistic skill at increasingly sophisticated levels, and may have the opportunity to take on publication leadership roles. Prerequisite: Creative Writing, Fine Arts, or Design Arts. -
Screenwriting (Middle School)
This introductory elective introduces students to story structure, character development, and writing for the screen. -
Screenwriting I
Students learn the fundamentals of screenwriting, focusing on idea generation, scene writing, story structure, plotting, formatting, and specialized writing skills (character, dialogue, etc.). Using mentor texts, creative exercises, and writing workshops, students will build specific techniques and focus on creating key scenes, sequences, or shorter pieces. -
Screenwriting II
Students will utilize the foundational skills built in Screenwriting I, continuing to shape and develop their ideas into script pages. Students will develop their creative work (feature screenplay, television pilot, or short film, etc.) in drafting exercises and writing workshops, ultimately establishing outlines, narrative arcs, and first acts. Prerequisite: Screenwriting I. -
Screenwriting III
Students will continue to further their skill sets established in previous Screenwriting courses, shaping and developing their first acts and outlines into full screenplays, pilots, or short films. Through development activities, students will continue to refine their writing process through mentor texts, genre studies, writing workshops, and revision. Prerequisite: Screenwriting II. -
Screenwriting IV
Students will continue to build upon their established writing process in order to shape their full screenplays, focusing on revision and editing skills with an emphasis on further developing their work. Through genre studies, writing workshops, revision exercises, and development activities, students will build a meaningful portfolio in order to showcase their creative work for wider audiences and the industry at-large. Prerequisite: Screenwriting III.
At Milken Community School, we think education is more than what you know. Our School, founded on Jewish values, is about who our children can become and how they can help others become who they might be. Because the world our children will create tomorrow is born in the School we build today, our mission is to educate our children so they can surpass us.
Non-discrimination Policy: Milken Community School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, financial aid, athletic, and other school-administered programs.
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