Inside the EWS Curriculum

Select a Department

English

  • English I: Literary Foundations

    Grade Level: 9th
    Length of Course: 2 semesters
    Prerequisite: Completion of 8th Grade English
    Course Description:
    In this course, students immerse themselves in extensive reading and writing, fostering their literacy skills. The curriculum exposes them to a diverse range of topics and complex texts, encouraging analytical thinking and civil discourse. Through active participation, including seminar-style discussions throughout the year, students analyze complex ideas, contribute their unique knowledge, and value diverse perspectives. Students focus on elements of the writing process and work to build proficiency with analytical papers focused on thematic interpretations of text and obeying standard MLA academic conventions.

  • English I Honors: Literary Foundations

    Grade Level: 9th
    Length of Course: 2 semesters
    Prerequisite: Completion of 8th Grade English
    Course Description:
    In this course, students immerse themselves in extensive reading and writing, fostering their literacy skills. The curriculum exposes them to a diverse range of topics and complex texts, encouraging analytical thinking and civil discourse. Through active participation, including seminar-style discussions throughout the year, students analyze complex ideas, contribute their unique knowledge, and value diverse perspectives. Students focus on elements of the writing process and work to build proficiency with analytical papers focused on thematic interpretations of text and obeying standard MLA academic conventions. This course challenges students to complete style analysis essays in addition to the analytical responses emphasized in the on-level course. Students are expected to take notes and forge textual connections independently. The acquisition of expanded vocabulary and varied, complex sentence structures facilitate a more technically advanced writing style. Course reading is completed outside of class, and students assume leadership roles in seminar-style discussions.

  • English II: Foundational Composition

    Grade Level: 10th
    Length of Course: 2 semesters
    Prerequisite: Completion of English I
    Course Description:
    This course emphasizes the writing process as students refine the skills introduced in English I to develop comprehensive argumentative and analytical essays through the study of both Western and non-Western literature and other non-fiction texts. Through class discussion and scaffolded writing assignments, students explore broader real-world issues in relationship to the content covered in the readings, making connections among the text, themselves, and their world. In addition to analyzing literature through discussion and analytical essays, students will be introduced to academic research in writing to better discern how to use and assess the quality of various resources to support an argument.

  • English II Honors: Foundational Composition

    Grade Level: 10th
    Length of Course: 2 semesters
    Prerequisite: Completion of English I
    Course Description:
    This course emphasizes the writing process as students refine the skills introduced in English I to develop comprehensive argumentative and analytical essays through the study of both Western and non-Western literature and other non-fiction texts. Through class discussion and scaffolded writing assignments, students explore broader real-world issues in relationship to the content covered in the readings, making connections among the text, themselves, and their world. In addition to analyzing literature through discussion and analytical essays, students will be introduced to academic research in writing to better discern how to use and assess the quality of various resources to support an argument. This course challenges students to engage with reading in a more sophisticated and extensive way. Writing assignments are more frequent and lengthier than those assigned in English II. The instructor will introduce required elements of organization and composition and then expect autonomous practice of these skills.

  • English III: American Literature

    Grade Level: 11th
    Length of Course: 2 semesters
    Prerequisite: Completion of English II
    Course Description:
    This survey course in American literature parallels themes and events covered in U.S. History, exposing students to a diversity of voices and writing styles representative of the American canon. Students develop strategies to identify and analyze particular stylistic and rhetorical devices, with the goal of mastering close reading techniques to produce lucid, thoroughly evidenced analysis of literary material. Writing assignments often begin with pre-writing exercises and in-class brainstorming activities and include clear guidelines for length, focus, and formatting. Students read course texts independently and participate in the leading of group discussions on readings.

  • English III Advanced: American Literature

    Grade Level: 11th Length of Course: 2 semesters
    Prerequisite: Completion of English II
    Course Description:
    This survey course in American literature parallels themes and events covered in U.S. History, exposing students to a diversity of voices and writing styles representative of the American canon. Students develop strategies to identify and analyze particular stylistic and rhetorical devices, with the goal of mastering close reading techniques to produce lucid, thoroughly evidenced analysis of literary material. Writing assignments often begin with pre-writing exercises and in-class brainstorming activities and include clear guidelines for length, focus, and formatting. Students read course texts independently and participate in the leading of group discussions on readings. This course also asks students to engage in synthesis-based writing exercises using multiple sources. In addition, students complete more in-class writing assignments covering major texts with minimal teacher scaffolding and regularly incorporate an array of rhetorical and stylistic devices into their writing. At the completion of this course, students may opt to take the AP English Literature and Composition exam.

  • English IV: World Literature and Rhetoric

    Grade Level: 12th
    Length of Course: 2 semesters
    Prerequisite: Completion of English III
    Course Description:
    World Literature and Rhetoric is a senior level course in which students study classical and world literature with an emphasis on critical reading and writing skills. Through class discussions and a variety of writing assignments, students develop rhetorical skills important for success in college English courses. Students approach their study of literature from a variety of critical, theoretical perspectives and continue to refine their research practices. Each section of the course may study text through different lenses based on faculty expertise and student interest.

  • English IV Advanced: World Literature and Rhetoric

    Grade Level: 12th
    Length of Course: 2 semesters
    Prerequisite: Completion of English III
    Course Description:
    World Literature and Rhetoric Advanced is a senior level course in which students study classical and world literature with an emphasis on critical reading and writing skills. Through class discussions and a variety of writing assignments, students develop rhetorical skills important for success in college English courses. Students approach their study of literature from a variety of critical, theoretical perspectives and continue to refine their research practices. Each section of the course may study text through different lenses based on faculty expertise and student interest. This course is designed to mimic the structure, expectations, and grading of a freshman-level college English course.

  • Journalism

    Grade Level: 10th - 12th  
    Length of Course: 1 semester
    Prerequisite: None
    Course Description:
    In this course, students have the opportunity to learn about specific areas of journalism, including ethics, bias, libel, slander, AP style writing, conducting an interview, and using the Inverted Pyramid model. Students will analyze and demonstrate journalistic integrity, practice writing with brevity and clarity, and work collaboratively, ultimately producing their own collection of research- based interview articles. Students will be required to read relevant specialty newspapers, magazines and academic journals appropriate to the topic, as well as watch varying types of broadcast journalism; they will report and write articles on the selected topic online and print formats.

  • Yearbook

    Grade Level: 10th - 12th
    Length of Course: 2 semesters
    Prerequisite: Instructor approval based on application process.  Students who have previously taken Yearbook at EWS do not have to complete an application.
    Course Description:

    Yearbook is a project-based course centered on the full production of the school yearbook, which is published and delivered in the spring. Students operate as  professional editorial staff, taking responsibility for every aspect of yearbook creation from planning and reporting to design and publication.

     
    Link: Yearbook Application (students who have taken the yearbook course at EWS in previous years do not have to complete the application)

  • Advanced Yearbook Production

    Grade Level: 11th - 12th  
    Length of Course: 1 semester
    Prerequisite: Completion of Yearbook and Teacher Approval 
    Course Description:

    Advanced Yearbook Production is a leadership-focused course for experienced yearbook students who serve as the editorial and management team responsible for the successful completion of the school yearbook. Students in this course function as student leaders, guiding the vision, organization, and execution of the publication while mentoring staff members and upholding professional standards.

    Emphasis is placed on advanced design and layout, editorial planning, photography direction, and content developing using industry standard digital tools, Student leaders oversee section planning, story development, and visual consistency, and are responsible for setting deadlines, assigning roles, and managing workflow. They apply ethical journalism practices, ensure accuracy and quality control, and make editorial decisions that represent the school community with integrity.

    Students develop real-world leadership and business skills by managing production schedules, resolving conflicts, communication expectations, and collaborating as a cohesive editorial board. Evaluation is based on leadership effectiveness completion and quality of assigned responsibilities, adherence to deadlines, professionalism, and active participation.


    This course is designed for students who are ready to take ownership of a complex, long-term publication and develop advanced skills in leadership, collaboration, communication and media production.

  • Journalism Advanced

    Grade Level: 10th - 12th  
    Length of Course: 2 semesters
    Prerequisite: Completion of Journalism and Teacher approval
    Course Description:
    Journalism Advanced is a rigorous practice- centered course designed for students who are ready to move beyond foundational reporting and writing skills to engage in professional-level journalism. Students refine their ability to research, report, write, edit and publish compelling stories across multiple platforms while adhering to the highest standards of journalistic ethics and accuracy. Students analyze current journalism from local, national and global outlets and apply advanced techniques, such as data-informed reporting, multimedia storytelling and in-depth interviewing The course culminates in a portfolio of polished journalistic pieces and, when applicable, leadership roles in a school publication or independent reporting project.

Experience The Difference

The Emery/Weiner School
9825 Stella Link Road, Houston, TX 77025
Phone: (832) 204-5900    Fax: (832) 204-5910
The Emery/Weiner School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation or identity, or religion in all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The Emery/Weiner School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation or identity, or religion in the administration of educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.