The thematic focus of 9th grade English is Bildungsroman, or novels that deal specifically with the beauty and hardship of “coming-of-age.” Through exploring texts centered on this theme, students will develop a foundation in the study and practice of English composition. This foundation encompasses a wide range of skills, from the most granular elements of sentence construction, to the clear, concise articulation of ideas in a sustained argument, to the practice of literary analysis through close interpretation of the form and stylistic elements of a text as they support or relate to its content and deeper narrative significance. Inherent to good writing practice is the revision process: in addition to instructor feedback, students will routinely have the opportunity to give and receive peer feedback, reflect on the feedback they’ve received, and integrate that feedback into subsequent drafts as they strive for greater clarity, organization, and authenticity of voice in their written expression.