Animated by our mission to foster the emerging poet, philosopher, and saint in each of our students, the Marin Catholic English Department examines, through the study of excellent literature, the transcendental realities of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty. Guided by our departmental root beliefs and dispositional standards, we help students to grow their skills in the key areas of reading, writing, and learning in community. Over the course of their four years of study, students will be exposed to great literary works that challenge, transform, and delight. Marin Catholic students will come to understand that our shared human experience is best revealed through story.

Our English 9 curriculum is designed to orient first-year students to how and why we study literature and writing at Marin Catholic and to successfully launch students into a four-year experience of literary exploration and growth. Freshman English is centered around three basic skills: Reading, the close examination of a text to enhance comprehension, critical analysis, and appreciation; Writing, the sharing of reactions, understandings, reflections, informal compositions and oral presentations; and Learning in Community, active engagement and cooperative learning in the classroom. The essential question of the course, How ought I relate to others?,  is inspired by the parable of “The Good Samaritan” from the Gospel of Luke. As we practice active reading and analysis of novels, short stories, essays, and poetry, so too will we reflect on the day-to-day, as well as the lifelong importance of caring for our neighbors.