The New School of Northern Virginia offers a wide variety of English courses, covering prose, poetry, and drama from around the world and across the centuries. Our English courses are organized by time periods, themes, or essential questions; they seek to engage students in a discussion of literature’s impact on, or expression of, culture and identity. As students explore the literature for its content, both as it relates to the individual and the society, they also come to a broader understanding of the author’s role in the construction of literature. Additionally, students investigate literature’s effect on the reader. All of our English courses emphasize the written analysis of literature in essay form, the development of coherent responses to literature, and the articulation of ideas through description and explanation.

For additional information on our English program, see the descriptions below.

American Literature

In American Literature, we focus on how the historical and cultural events of the day influence and create the literature. For example, the growth and development of a young United States of America mirrors the early attempts at American literature in the folktales of Washington Irving, the angst of Edgar Allan Poe and the satirical writings of Mark Twain. Similarly, early modern literature reflects the upheaval of world affairs at the turn of the 20th century just as later writings reflect civil rights and suffrage issues during the first half of the 20th century. Finally, the cultural changes brought after World War II through the Vietnam era are equally reflected in the post-war literature. Course assignments focus on the primary skills of reading, research and essay writing and revising. Class discussions are the basis for student sharing and understanding of ideas.

Courses Include:

• Nineteenth Century, Part 1: The Origins of American Literature
• Information about our humanities program (World Studies, Geography, Social Studies, US History, Government)
• Nineteenth Century, Part 2: America speaks out
• Hemingway and the Lost Generation
• The Post-modern American Novel of 1940-1965
• Vietnam Project: Literature w/History course
• Modern American Theater
• American Short Story Studio

Creative Writing

The New School’s creative writing program offers a comprehensive introduction to poetry, drama, and short fiction composition and analysis. Students study the rudiments of creative writing (e.g., showing vs. telling, development of character, etc.) and perform corresponding writing exercises. This “skill development” stage is accompanied by intensive analysis and discussion of various creative works. Of course, students also compose creative works of their own. They share and offer feedback on one another’s work, thus making editing and rewriting integral components of the program. The New School Literary Magazine and Coffee Houses act as forums wherein students may present their creative works.

Courses Include:

• Creative Writing: Short Story
• Creative Writing: Poetry
• Creative Writing: Drama Workshop
• Monologues and Dialogues
• Play Creation (various thematic courses such as Ethics and Family)
• Courage Video

Expository Writing

The New School is also interested in language as a tool for communication. As a result, an important aspect of our English program is informative writing. Students write essays, letters, petitions, speeches, and proposals. They also have the opportunity to present their speeches and petitions publicly. Our courses allow students to work on those skills and forms specifically, usually in isolation from specific content, but also in coordination with issues that students find particularly engaging.

Courses Include:

• Speeches and Essays
• The Language of Change
• Present Yourself
• Structure of Language
• Linguistics

World Literature

The New School’s world literature program seeks to introduce students to literature from around the globe. World literature courses at the New School focus on a specific region (e.g., Arabic Literature) or a particular genre (e.g., Modern Drama). However, courses that cut across time, place, and genre are also offered (e.g., Introduction to World Literature). As with all other English courses at the New School, world literature courses are discussion-driven and analytical in nature. Very often, because the program also seeks to provide students with an understanding of context and its role in shaping literature, world literature courses are cross-listed with history courses.

Courses Include:

• Paris, City of Light
• Murder, Mystery and Suspense
• Literature of the Sea
• Psychology and Literature
• Arabic Literature
• World Literature
• Romanticism
• Modern Drama
• Inquiries into Love, through Literature
• Existentialism, Absurdism, and Surrealism

Multi-Media and Literature

Because The New School’s pedagogy stresses the importance of Howard Gardner’s theories of multiple intelligences, we have a unique opportunity to combine the exploration of language with the exploration of other intelligences. Drama, theater, and video/film are prime areas of exploration. By combining movement, acting, image interpretation, set design, playwriting, and filming with the study of narrative and dramatic texts, students have the opportunity to understand the process of translating the written word into other media. That translation process is an invaluable tool in the enrichment of a student’s ability to express him or herself, not only in language, but also in all areas of life.

Courses Include:

• From Literature to Light
• Play Creation: Ethics and Choice
• Courage Video
• Envisioning Shakespeare
• Protest Literature and Music

Advanced and AP Literature Courses

Although most of The New School’s English courses attract a cross section of students from 9th through 12th grades, the school does offer Advanced English courses for juniors and seniors. Approximately two or three Advanced courses are offered each year, on a rotating basis. Not only is the reading material of these courses more difficult, and the kinds of communication skills expected of the students more advanced, but these courses also tend to be highly multi-disciplinary, requiring students to make connections between and among different types of literature and experience. Students are also required to handle materials and research independently.

Courses Include:

• Psychology and Literature
• AP English, Literature and Composition
• Existentialism, Absurdism, and Surrealism
• Literature Research Studio
• The Post-modern American Novel of 1940-1965