Literature & Critical Studies Department

Here you can learn more about the English Language Arts (ELA) courses you can take at BASE, the curriculum for those courses and about the educators that teach those courses. The Literature & Critical Studies department helps our students become effective communicators through reading, writing, listening, speaking, and viewing.

2025-2026 Teachers: Bryant Estrella, David Santiago Bravo, Hansel Mojica, Jaylene Ynfante, Juanerie Mejia, Lou Reid, Maria Fernandez, Nikita Patel, Scott Massey, Zayn Abaakil & Zeli Miceli,

Courses

9th Grade ELA

9th grade English Language Arts (ELA) courses build on students' previous knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, and writing mechanics. The curriculum includes a variety of texts, from classic works to contemporary writing, and focuses on the four aspects of language use: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Students learn to analyze ideas, develop arguments, and build skills in writing, collaboration, and communication.

10th Grade ELA

ELA curriculum includes modules on craft, structure, and development of characters and ideas, as well as writing modules for argument, informative, and narrative writing. Students may also explore the tension between being an individual and being part of a community through texts from the 20th and 21st centuries.

11th Grade ELA

ELA curriculum helps students develop skills in analyzing complex texts and media, and in writing, collaboration, and communication. Students study works by acclaimed authors and historical figures, including classics, seminal pieces, and contemporary literature. They also learn to interpret words and phrases, analyze text structure, and assess how point of view and purpose shape content and style.

12th Grade ELA

12th grade ELA combine literature and composition to help students develop their language arts skills. Students typically write multi-paragraph essays, but may also write research papers. They extensively prepare students for the college application process as well.

Additional Electives

Reading for Justice

This course is for students interested in empowerment, conviction and the passion centered around reading, writing, and voice in to build a better world and are willing to work hard at it. It's an opportunity for authentic education and experiential learning beyond the high school walls.

Creative Writing

This course will hone the writing skills and styles of BASE students while exploring contemporary and non-contemporary creative works as readers and writers.Its goal is for students to play and to experiment with language and storytelling across multiple genres such as short fiction, poetry, drama, screenplays, and graphic novels.

AP Language

AP Lang is a course designed to support the learner's ability to dissect the world around them (text, advertisement, media, etc.); to really get at not only what people are trying to tell them, but also how they are telling it to them in an attempt to persuade them.

AP Literature

The AP English Literature and Composition course focuses on reading, analyzing, and writing about imaginative literature (fiction, poetry, drama) from various periods.

Upcoming Events & Celebrations

Coming Soon!

Department Showcase

Image of Anthology book written by students in ELA