English
“The love of learning,
the sequestered
nooks, and all the sweet
serenity of books.”
--Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Reading great literature is the cornerstone of a Marian education. It is the single-minded goal of the Marian English Department to provide a plethora of opportunities for Marian students to engage actively with classical and contemporary works of literature, including writings from American, British and world authors.
"The best book is a collaboration between author and reader."--Barbara Tuchman
Students and teachers develop a common vocabulary for discourse; experience writing and revising in our computer laboratories; strengthen their language, speech, listening, study and research skills; and engage in the formation of "a philosophical habit of mind" (John Henry Cardinal Newman).
"The book to read is not the one which thinks for you but the one which makes you think."--James McCash
Underlying all English course offerings is the Marian commitment to Christian Catholic social ethics. The department promotes awareness, understanding and appreciation of world cultures and the skills necessary for life-long learning in an increasingly complex and specialized future. Therefore, Marian English courses enhance student understanding of social, cultural and geographical differences and emphasize language as a powerful tool for thinking, learning and communicating. Marian students are continually preparing to communicate as informed, thinking, ethical individuals.
"Language exerts hidden power, like the moon on the tides."--Rita Mae Brown
College Preparatory Writing
Marian’s school-wide writing program supports and enhances the English Department's college preparatory writing curriculum. All students take four years of literature and composition. In addition, they may elect to take a four-year program in competitive speech or a two-year program in journalism. The English Department has been commended five times by the National Council of Teachers of English for excellence in its instructional program. Both the elective speech and journalism programs have won state and national recognition and awards. The English teachers teach in their areas of expertise and have more than 132 years of combined teaching experience. 86% have earned Master's degrees.
Course Offerings
Honors Composition & Literature
Composition & Literature
Honors American Literature & Composition
American Literature & Composition
Honors/AP English Literature and Composition
English Literature and Composition
Honors/AP English Language and Composition
World Literature & Composition
Honors Journalism II
Journalism I
Novice Competitive Speaking
Honors Varsity Competitive Speaking
National English Honor Society
On February 24, Marian’s National English Honor Society inducted 27 juniors in the Marcella Chapter, the first and only in the state of Nebraska. This chapter was established in the spring of 2009. It is named in honor of Sr. Marcella Sitzmann, a Servant of Mary, English teacher and the first principal of Marian High School. The NEHS national motto, “Gelast sceal mid are,” is Old English, and means “duty goes with honor.” This represents the calling to which Marian’s Marcella Chapter responds: the responsibility of sharing the best of language and literature with others. As a result, the Chapter adopts a school with which it can share its love for literature and English. To become a member of NEHS, a Marian student must hold a 4.0 GPA in five semesters of required English courses.
Rachel Bormann
Mikayla Brohman
Hannah Grace
Emily Pieper
Christina Rommelfanger
Faith Wilwerding
Writing Center
As one of its service projects, the Marcella Chapter of the National English Honor Society is launching a new writing center designed to help Marian students with essays and papers. The Marcella Writing Center will be open from 7:20 to 7:40 every morning except Wednesday in the Student Advisory Department to answer questions about writing papers. The opening day for the writing center is Thursday, September 8th. Please encourage your students who may be struggling with MLA formatting, embedded citations, Works Cited pages, or direct and indirect quotations to stop in the writing center. A senior, who is a member of the NEHS, will be available to work with students. The NEHS members will not help write the papers or essays but will answer technical questions and direct students to places where the students could find the answers to their questions.
Seniors staffing the writing center:
Cassandra Adams, Georgia Andresen, Rachael Bormann, Mikayla Brohman, Kat Dudley, Alyssa Garrett, Trinity Gleason, Hannah Grace, Taylor Haag, Megan Huelskamp, Sara Kelly, Alec Morand, Addie Mueller, Emily Pieper, Rosalie Plofchan, Christina Rommelfanger, Amanda Sharp, Sarah Steffes, Cassandra Thompson, Hannah Toohey, Bridget Tuttle, Faith Wilwerding and Carolyn Zuegner.
Writing Resources
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All Marian students submit writing assignments to Turnitin. This website improves student writing by preventing plagiarism and providing rich feedback to students.
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The Marian High School English Department uses MLA citation for research and writing assignments. Click here to view a Formatting and Style Guide.
Writing Contests
*National Ag Day Essay Contest
The Agriculture Council of America (ACA) calls on ninth- to 12th-grade students to submit an original, 450-word essay or a two-minute video essay about the importance of agriculture. This year's theme is "American Agriculture: Feeding the Future, Filling the Gaps" and the deadline is Feb. 1, 2012. The ACA asks teachers and parents to encourage student participation. The theme "American Agriculture: Feeding the Future, Filling the Gaps" presents an opportunity for students to address how the agriculture industry continues to feed a growing population. Entrants may choose to either write an essay and/or create a video focusing on how today's growers are overcoming challenges to provide a safe, stable food supply and sustain the significant role agriculture plays in everyday life.
*The Iowa Young Writers' Studio is an intensive, residential program designed to give you a chance to live the writer's life. It offers classes in fiction, poetry, and creative writing during two 2-week sessions in June and July 2012. The Studio is currently seeking applications from students who have completed at least their sophomore year by June 2012 and are in good academic standing. For more information, go to www.uiowa.edu/youngwriters. Applications are due by February 11, 2012.
*Spirit Catholic Radio is sponsoring a "How Cool is Your School" contest. Email your description of why you think Marian is "cool" to kvss@kvss.com. Five students will win daily prizes, and one person will win the grand prize. Deadline is February 2, 2012.
*The Nebraska State Bar Foundation announces its 13th Annual Law Day Essay Contest. The theme for Law Day 2012 is "Democracy and the Duty to Vote." Students in grades 9-12 are invited to write an original essay of 300-500 words. The essay should be typed with single spacing and should answer the question, "In this 2012 presidential election year and in all other elections, what do you think should be done to increase the number of registered voters and voter turnout?" Go to http://www.nebarfnd.org/law-day-essay-contest for more information. Deadline is March 26, 2012.
*The 2012 Sejong Writing Competition, in collaboration with the Korea Institute at Harvard University, is accepting essays and poetry from students in grades 9-12. Competition rules can be found at www.sejongculturalsociety.org. Submission deadline is March 31, 2012.
*Are you interested in submitting your work to a writing contest, but you're not sure where to go? Check out
http://www.pw.org/grants.
The Writing Contests, Grants & Awards database includes details about the creative writing contests—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, and more—that have been published in
Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year.
Deadlines for submission vary.
*Juniors and seniors are invited to enter the 16th annual Signet Classics Student Scholarship Essay Contest by writing an essay on Jane Austen's novel, Emma. Full details and complete Official Rules can be found at http://us.penguingroup.com/scessay. Entries must be postmarked no later than April 13, 2012.
Congratulations to the following student poets who recently received notification that their work has been selected for inclusion in the Summer Edition of Creative Communication: A Celebration of Today's Writers, a national collection of student creative work: senior Jonnisha McCleod and sophomores Sarah Brown, Emma Finken and Alexa Horn. Jonnisha's poem was entitled "What is Love?,” Sarah's poem was entitled "Thief", Emma's poem was "Oh, Please, Just Get Me Out of Here!" and Alexa's poem was "Inside His Backpack.”
Marian is the 2011 A2 State Journalism Champion. This is the fourth state title in six years. The CHAMPIONSHIP team truly consists of all members of the Yearbook and Newspaper staff!
The Marian English Department is pleased to announce that official state banners for the NSAA sanctioned activities of Speech and Journalism have been installed and unveiled in the cafeteria above the display cases. The programs have enjoyed great success over Marian's history and the points from their District and State competitions always contribute to the school's overall Championship status.
Speech Banner
District Championships in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2011, District Runner-Up in: 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991 and 2008 and State Runner -Up in 2007.
Journalism Banner
State Championships in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011, and State Runner-Up in 2003, 2005 and 2009.
*Congratulations to all past students who had a role in securing those championship honors. Also, thanks to a generous anonymous donor who made these banners happen to celebrate the accomplishments of the speech and journalism students over the years.
Alumni Community Service Award
Congratulations to English teacher and Journalism advisor Marsha Kalkowski who was recognized with the Alumni Community Service Award at the University of Nebraska -- Omaha's School of Communication 55th Annual Awards Banquet on April 29th. Marsha was recognized for the many ways she goes above and beyond her job to assist Marian students and the community.