Explore our Curriculum

English (MS)

The motto of the Episcopal School of Acadiana is “Excellence from Within.”  We believe that excellence has two components: intellectual and ethical.  Intellectual excellence is impossible without the ability to formulate ideas in a clear and logical manner.  Students gain this ability through extensive reading and writing. We try to foster ethical excellence by exposing our students to the thoughts and judgments of both characters and authors.  Reading, writing and various discussions challenge students to formulate judgments based on strong, consistent ethical values.  We believe that through reading thoughtfully chosen works and discussing and writing about these works, our students will become better people, growing in their appreciation of individuality, community, and intellectual freedom.

Note: Because ESA English teachers select their own readings within the defined scope of the course description, books read in English classes can vary slightly from teacher to teacher and from year to year.  

Middle School required courses: Reading & Writing Workshop, English 7, and English 8

  • Reading & Writing Workshop

    Reading & Writing Workshop is designed to build students’ fluency in both reading and writing, to acquaint them with a wide range of appropriate literature and accomplished authors, and to help them become independent in their use of the writing process from developing topics through publishing polished final drafts in a variety of genre. The curriculum is largely student-centered. Novels read in class are a blend of student-chosen and teacher-chosen selections. Likewise, writing topics are a mixture of those selected by the teacher and those selected and developed by the individual student. The course lays the foundation for students’ success in their future English classes at ESA, and it is designed to foster positive attitudes toward reading and writing as lifelong activities.

  • English 7

    English 7 focuses on literature and composition with emphasis on literary analysis, reading comprehension, and writing fluency. Students learn to identify literary devices and elements while studying a variety of both classic and contemporary fiction and nonfiction works. Daily writing promotes fluency and fosters quick thinking; more formal writing tasks introduce the basic skills necessary for quality expository writing.

  • English 8

    Writing is a process, not a single event. This is the central theme of English 8. Nowhere is this idea more evident than in the individual novels created by each student. Every year, students deconstruct the elements of a novel, participate in National Novel Writing Month, and revise  and edit their efforts. Other emphases throughout the year include reading, grammar, vocabulary, speech, and other forms of writing, with writing assignments for personal narratives, stories, poems, and impromptu pieces. Readings include The Outsiders, Of Mice and Men, Animal Farm,  and a variety of poems, short stories, and creative nonfiction.

Our Faculty

  • Photo of Melissa Gates
    Melissa Gates
    English Department Chair and English Teacher
    (337) 365-1416 x333
    Vanderbilt University - Doctorate of Education
    Louisiana - Teacher Certification
    University of Louisiana - Lafayette - M.Ed.
    Northwestern State University - B.A.
    Year Appointed: 2013
  • Photo of Cecilia Dupré
    Cecilia Dupré
    Faculty: English Teacher
    University of Louisiana at Lafayette - BA
    Year Appointed: 2024

Episcopal School of Acadiana

Episcopal School of Acadiana is a private coeducational day school for students in grades PK3 through 12. Our mission is to instill in every student the habits of scholarship and honor.

Episcopal School of Acadiana (Lafayette Campus)

PK3 through 5th grade
721 E. Kaliste Saloom Rd. Lafayette LA, USA 70508
Phone: 337-993-2263

Episcopal School of Acadiana (Cade Campus)

6th through 12th grades
1557 Smede Rd. at Hwy. 92 Broussard, LA, USA 70518
Phone: 337-365-1416
ESA does not discriminate on the basis of physical disability, race, religion, gender, or national or ethnic origin.
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