English

Competencies for High School Entrance

Each of the Sacramento Catholic High Schools has a different structure to its English program, yet all schools look for students with well-developed reading, writing and analytical skills, and exposure to a variety of types of literature. They also want students who have developed a genuine love of reading and writing.

• Basic knowledge of grammar and English language usage, including the eight parts of speech, components of a sentence, subject-verb agreement, and punctuation
• Familiarity with literary terms such as plot, theme, and narrator
• Understanding of the language of composition, including the terms abstract thinking, analysis, interpretation, discussion, and comparative relationships
• Familiarity with the elements of well-constructed essays such as the introduction and conclusion, paragraphs, the thesis statement, and topic sentences

• Effective skills in taking notes on information provided in class
• The habits of active reading, including highlighting, underlining and note-taking
• The ability to manage time so that assignments such as novels and papers are completed on time

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