English

Understand yourself and the world around you.

English is much more than a required reading list. Every day, people use language to inform and persuade.

Through the study of writing and literature, you will grow in your knowledge of your own and other cultures, become a critical thinker, and learn how to respond to big ideas. You will practice reading, writing, and speaking with both purpose and clarity. At Ramona, we believe mastering the English language leads to a deep understanding of both yourself and your role in the world around you. We don't just assign writing, we teach it.

"We rely on the development of core skills - writing and critical reasoning - as tools to make sense of literature, culture, and ourselves. We want our graduates to embrace the world around them and engage in it with thoughtfulness, nuance, and empathy."
Matthew Carrillo-Vincent, English Department Chairperson

Honors Humanities Symposium

Students in the 9th grade may be invited to supplement their learning in the "Honors Humanities Symposium."

In Ancient Greek, a “symposium” was a gathering where intellectuals could get together, share food and drink, and debate or conference over an engaging topic. The English Department hosts a year-long project designed to push our strongest, most engaged students toward exploration of and appreciation for the arts.

Each quarter, freshmen in the symposium will partner with our English teachers who will hold events, discussions, and gatherings as an opportunity for community building, intellectual growth, and investment in the arts. Students may attend events like watching a play at one of LA’s premier theaters, hearing a speaker at a local university, visiting art museums like The Broad, viewing a documentary on campus, etc. These will be complemented with supplemental opportunities for enrichment, including creative writing, music recording, essay competitions, etc.