English II Honors is an accelerated course in which self-motivated students are challenged to read, discuss, and come to an in-depth understanding of numerous full length literary works and a number of additional essays, stories and poems from the American literary canon. As a survey of American Literature, the course proposes to link the themes and characters of our national literature to the historical periods from which they evolve and are influenced. Students will be held to high standards of analytic thought and writing. In the fall semester, students will compose three five-paragraph essays. In the spring semester, students will compose a five-paragraph essay and a 10-12 page research paper. A seminar format is employed. This course is for students with a great interest in reading and in the exploration of literature.