Dept. of Humanities
At Al-Ghazaly High School, we take great pride in our robust Humanities Department, (English & History), which play a fundamental role in shaping well-rounded, analytical, and empathetic individuals. Our dedicated faculty is committed to cultivating a deep appreciation for literature, critical thinking, and a nuanced understanding of historical context. In our English program, students engage with diverse literary works that span cultures and time periods, honing their communication skills and fostering a lifelong love for reading. Through thought-provoking discussions and writing assignments, we encourage students to express themselves articulately and to explore the complexities of the human experience through literature. In our History curriculum, we delve into the past to illuminate the present, fostering a deep understanding of historical events and their implications on today's world. Our students learn to analyze primary sources, critically assess different perspectives, and develop a sense of historical empathy that enables them to become informed global citizens.
Complementing our strong Humanities Department, we offer a multitude of extra-curricular activities designed to hone the principles instilled in the classroom. Our Model United Nations (MUN) program provides students with a platform to delve into international diplomacy, enhancing their research, negotiation, and public speaking skills. Through MUN, students simulate real-world scenarios, gaining insights into global issues and learning to collaborate with peers from diverse backgrounds. Similarly, our Mock Trial program empowers students to apply their analytical thinking and persuasive communication skills to legal contexts. Through simulated courtroom proceedings, students explore the complexities of the legal system and develop a deep understanding of due process and argumentation. These extra-curricular activities not only reinforce the principles taught in the Humanities Department but also foster leadership, teamwork, and the ability to think critically under pressure – skills that are invaluable for success in any field and contribute to the holistic development of our students at Al-Ghazaly High School.
Our Humanities Department is led by Sr. Kefah Ayesh…
Al-Ghazaly Curriculum
7th Grade
-
Reading/Literature Units
Self Esteem. Includes: Words by Heart and selection of short stories and poems.
Personal motivation. Includes the Giver, The Pearl and collection of short stories
Social Issues, disabilities. Include The Samurai’s Tale, Crispin, and collection of short stories.
Childhood Remembrance Includes Cheaper by the Dozen and collection of Non Fiction stories.
Grammar: The following topics will be covered: the sentence; complements; agreement; using pronouns correctly; capital letters; writing complete sentences; writing effective sentences. Other topics may be covered as needed.
Listening and Speaking: Students will practice listening and speaking skills.
Vocabulary: Formal vocabulary study will be drawn from the words presented in the literature text and from a list of roots, prefixes and suffixes.
-
This course continues the study of world cultures and geography begun in sixth grade. The students deepen their understanding of world history and trace the development of various cultures into the modern day. The influence of geography on culture and the interaction of cultures are themes that run throughout the year.
By the end of Seventh Grade, students are expected to learn about geography by interpreting maps and other data. They will also learn about various cultures and histories including India, China, Japan, Affrica & Europe.
8th Grade
-
Reading/Literature Units
Hero’s Quest. Includes: The Hobbit and selection of short stories from the Greeks tradition.
Contemporary Hero, Hope and survival. Includes Z for Zachariah and selection of short stories
Challenges: Includes of Mice and Men, Animal Farm, and selection of short stories.
Identity: Includes The Outsider, selected short stories, and non-fiction from the literature anthology.
Grammar: The following topics will be covered: the clause; the kinds of sentence structure; using verbs correctly; using modifiers correctly; usage; punctuation. Other topics may be covered as needed.
Vocabulary: Formal vocabulary study will be drawn from the words presented in the literature text and a study of Latin and Greek roots, prefixes and suffixes as well as formal instruction in the use of a dictionary and an online dictionary.
-
This course takes an in-depth look at our nation’s government, its political system, and the foundations of American democracy. Students study the branches of government, the Constitution, state and local governments, the American political system, the legal system, and the election process. By the end of the year, students have a firm understanding of how the U.S. operates and an awareness of the important role we, as informed citizens, play in protecting the fundamental values and principles of American democracy. Throughout the year, the students work on an Active Citizenship project in which they research Constitutional issues and investigate the various ways in which a citizen can have an influence upon that issue. They also participate in debates, mock trials, and a mock congress.
By the end of Eighth Grade, students are expected to learn about The Roots of American Government, the Constitution, Bill of Rights, Rights of Citizenship, Branches of Government, Laws of our Society, Political Parties. & Campaigns.
9th Grade
-
English 9th introduces students to a variety of modes of expression and genres found in world literature. Major units include: fiction, African American drama, science fiction, and short stories. Students will connect with and respond to texts through transformational thinking. They will learn to use forward thinking to help make better decisions, to generate new ideas for solving problems, and to find wisdom. Students write regularly using a process approach, learning how to vary their writing for different purposes. Vocabulary and grammar are integrated with the literature study and writing.
-
English 9th Honors is designed for freshmen who have demonstrated above grade level skills in prior work and test scores. It includes topics discussed in English 9th and provides a foundation for future Advanced Placement work in English. The course promotes intellectual curiosity and facilitates academic rigor.
-
The World History course provides a survey of the world’s past and framework for students to discover the events and ideas that have shaped the modern global community. Incorporating geographical skills as an integral part of understanding history, the course emphasizes era from 1450 A.D to the present and it devotes particular attention to key political, economic, and cultural traditions and ideas, including the interactions between different civilizations.
-
The Honors World History provides a survey of the world’s past similar to the course description World History . Students will also develop analytical and writing skills necessary for continued success in the social students. This honor-level course is more challenging than the general-level course, providing more in-depth exploration of material.
-
This course will focus on enhancing students’ abilities to make formal presentations to small and large groups. Students will utilize presentation software to design multimedia slide shows and other computer applications to create supporting materials. Communication skills will be developed in order to help with software delivery. An emphasis will be placed multimedia forms in journalism, page layout, blog, and the documentary.
10th Grade
-
English 10th develops skills in interpretation, composition, oral presentation and discussion, vocabulary, and critical thinking. Readings include works by a wide variety of authors including Arthur Miller, Hawthorne, Harriet Jacobs, Fredrick Douglass, Mark Twain, in addition to short stories by various authors. A process approach to writing incorporates the use of student and teacher responses, revision, and an MLA style research paper.
-
This course builds upon skills and vocabulary learned in English 9th Honors and is designed for sophomores who have demonstrated above grade level skills in English 9th. The course emphasizes classic American literature, vocabulary, writing, grammar, and speaking skills.
-
This required course traces the history of the United States from the arrival of the first Americans through the end of the 19th Century. It introduces the themes of balance between unity and diversity, the shaping of democracy, the search for opportunity, and the influence of geographical factors. It also examines European, Native American, and African interaction in Colonial America, the Revolution, the New Nation, the Constitution, and the War of 1812, the development of democracy, the West, slavery, the Civil War, Reconstruction, and Industrialization.
-
The Honors United States History course surveys the American experience from the pre-colonial times to the modern day. Using the ideals upon which this nation was founded, students will gain a greater appreciation of the political realities that often conflict with those ideals. Students will analyze the American experience from a variety of perspectives, arrive at conclusions based on informed judgments, and support those conclusions with evidence. This course provides the framework for reasoned consideration of the larger historical themes while, at the same time, develops the critical reading and analysis skills necessary for college.
-
This course addresses the interests of those students who want to learn how to manage their own finances. Among the topics covered will be saving and investing, spending within a budget, money and banking, and credit issues. The course will include a basic understanding of business and economics.
11th Grade
-
Students will read, discuss, analyze, and write about a range of literature. Readings include works by variety of authors including Gardner, Shelly, Dickens, Shakespeare, in addition to short stories by various authors. A process approach to writing incorporates the use of student and teacher responses, revision, and an MLA style research paper.
-
Students in this course are expected to handle increasingly sophisticated materials and develop skills in the analysis and evaluation of literature. Readings include works by variety of authors including Gardner, Shelly, Dickens, Shakespeare, in addition to short stories by various authors. . A process approach to writing incorporates the use of student and teacher responses, revision, and an MLA style research paper
-
This required course continues coverage of the themes of U.S. History into the 21st Century, including units on U. S. Imperialism, the First World War, the 1920’s, the Great Depression, the New Deal, World War II, the Cold War, Vietnam, the Civil Rights Movement, and American political and social events up to the present time.
-
The Advanced Placement course in United States History is designed to provide students with the analytical skills and content knowledge necessary for success on the AP examination in US History. This course makes demands on the students equivalent to that of a full-year introductory college-level course. Students learn to assess historical materials – their relevance to a given interpretive problem, their reliability, and their importance - and to weigh the evidence and interpretations presented in historical scholarship.
Al-Ghazaly High school expects that all students enrolled in AP course will take the AP exam.
12th Grade
-
The course prepares students for college level courses through close reading, discussion, and writing related to works of literature such as Invisible Man, Catcher in the Rye, …. Opportunity for creative and personal writing, including the college application essay, is also provided.
-
Students in this course are expected to handle increasingly sophisticated materials, study the literature in depth, and write analytical and expository essays. Close analysis of poetry is a major part of this course.
Al-Ghazaly High School expects that all students enrolled in an AP course will take the AP exam.
-
Students in this course will learn to write and analyze the traditional core forms of journalism: news stories, feature stories, sports stories, the opinion column, and editorial. Students will practice journalism skills such as copyediting, interviewing, and meeting deadlines.
-
This course will focus on the principles of both microeconomics and macroeconomics. Students will learn about the nature and functions of product markets and factor markets and about the roles of government in promoting efficiency and equity in the economy.
Students will also explore national income, price determination, economic performance measures, the financial sector, stabilization policies, economic growth and international economics.
-
The course is designed to enable students to study constitutional underpinnings, civil liberties and civil rights, political culture and socialization, citizen participation and influence, political institutions and policy making that are the foundation of modern U.S. government and politics. Students will interpret classic and contemporary political writings and apply pertinent Supreme Court rulings to enduring social and political issues in this country.