Communication and creativity in writing are emphasized in the entire K-12 environment. Students learn to write and publish books in early elementary. Many go on to enter their work in various language arts competitions throughout their years at Greenwood, winning awards on the local and state level.

The mission of the English program at Greenwood Laboratory School is to provide the students with the necessary English skills (i.e. grammar, punctuation sentence structure, etc.), as well as providing them with the writing skills necessary to voice their ideas in a creative manner.

English 7 is a reading/writing course focused on developing students’ knowledge and skills in the language arts: composition; grammar, usage and mechanics; reading comprehension; literature study based on genre; information literacy; and listening/speaking. This course includes a study of Greek mythology. The course is designed to build on work begun in the elementary grade levels, advancing students’ critical thinking skills through reading and writing tasks of increased complexity and depth

This workshop course continues the development of individual reading and writing skills with an emphasis on research and argumentative writing. Literature is presented by genre with readings from novels, stories, poems, and essays. Students study Shakespeare and Renaissance life through a study of A Midsummer Night's Dream. American literature is analyzed through a detailed reading of Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Vocabulary, spelling and mechanics will be integrated into student reading and writing.

Ninth grade literature includes the study of all genres with an in-depth analysis of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird and William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Students focus on argumentative and research writing in the Freshman Exhibition with a focus on human rights issues. Grammar and mechanics are integrated within the writing units.

English II emphasizes the development of communication skills needed by college-bound students. Students will learn to avoid communication breakdowns, learn language processes, and further develop skills in structuring and organizing a paper, culminating in a research paper. Exercises in oral communication emphasize preparation, structure, and presentation of speeches. At this level, students review mechanics and grammar, and continue the vocabulary program. A survey of types of literature includes drama and the novels, Lord of the Flies and Of Mice and Men.

(Available as Dual Credit) Students in English III study the chronological development of American literature and complete in-depth studies of the works of Mark Twain and Ernest Hemingway. Further work in writing includes paragraph development and compositions related to literature studies. Students present informative speeches, continue their vocabulary studies, and prepare a Junior Exhibition. Grammar and mechanics will also be reviewed as needed.

English IV addresses the development of British and European literature from the Classical period through the 20th century. Students will study a variety of literary genres including poetry, drama, satire, novels and non-fiction. Composition emphasizes argument and analysis, informative/explanatory texts, and research writing, culminating in the written component of the Greenwood Graduation Exhibition

 a writing course that gives students the opportunity to further develop their writing talent in the areas of personal essay, fiction, poetry, and drama / study of film production and film writing from a literary perspective.

Speech students will develop skill, poise, and confidence in oral communication situations. Students learn the process of assembling information, organizing ideas, developing a speech, and presentation in a formal situation. Students will also become acquainted with oral interpretation techniques and apply them to a variety of materials for presentations in class and to selected audiences.

Debate is a competitive course that is beneficial to any student interested in a career in business, law, or politics. It will also benefit any student desiring to improve speaking skills and gain poise and confidence in front of a group. The class will work on developing skills in cross-examination debate, Lincoln-Douglas debate, extemporaneous speaking, original oratory, and interpretation. Participation in tournaments is a requirement of the course. It is research intensive and will involve writing cases and speeches, competing performances and receiving critiques by peers, judges and the instructor. This course may be taken for credit more than once.

Students will research, write, and publish the school news-paper while working on a Journalistic team. Advanced media software will be used.

Yearbook is designed to teach basic computer skills as they relate to word processing and yearbook page layouts. Students must demonstrate organizational skills and be able to work cooperatively in teams. Students will be responsible for learning and applying a variety of page layouts. Additionally, students will be responsible for photography to be used in the yearbook. All students will be expected to learn to use a variety of computer equipment and software in order to successfully assemble the current yearbook.

This course is intended to facilitate the improvement of English skills for international students. This will include reading, writing, and speaking English with greater fluency.

The major emphasis of the course will be to develop a heightened awareness of civic responsibility and to provide an opportunity for our students to actively become engaged in citizenship roles. The student will study the origins of political philosophy that influenced and shaped the creation of the government of the United States. We will explore present day application of the core values of democracy and the problems and promises that result. The students will also participate in active school/community involvement that reflects these values in action.

American History I begins a two-year study of United States history. The course includes the chronological study of United States history from the colonial period through the Civil War. For each period, major political, economic and social issues are studied through a thematic approach with emphasis on critical thinking.

American History II continues the two-year study of the United States history. American History II is a survey of United States history since Reconstruction. Students will be given the opportunity to become involved in rigorous learning activities requiring critical thinking, library research, writing, making inferences, generalizing, and drawing conclusions. Major social, political, economic, and military events and themes of United States history since Reconstruction will be explored. Students will be expected to read extensively and undertake research projects. The course continues the chronological study of United States History from the Civil War through the post-Cold War era. For each period, major political, economic and social issues are addressed.

The World Civilizations course is a survey of major world civilizations from the selected river valley societies to current times. While this course includes western civilizations as the background to modern American history and culture, the course more so addresses non-western cultures and the role they play in modern world history.  For each historical period, major political, economic, and social issues are explored.  In addition, the influence of geography and technology are studied.

This course is a study of the structure and functions of American government institutions at the federal, state and local levels. Individual liberties and the responsibilities of citizens in a democratic society are emphasized. A major course component is the completion of a portfolio that documents citizen participation activities.

This one-semester, required course will provide seniors with the opportunity to complete community-based research and service. Students will explore the skills of a civically engaged person, conduct research and write a formal research paper, complete a 25-hour service-learning project in the local community related to their research, and interpret the results of their research and service-learning experiences as part of the Graduation Exhibition. This class includes the service-learning component which is part of the Public Affairs Diploma. Required for seniors.

This variable content course will focus on providing the student with opportunities to enhance their understanding of the GLS Public Affairs Mission. Volunteer service and service-learning activities (student proposed and instructor proposed), with a focus on the three major themes of the Public Affairs mission, will be emphasized. These three themes are:

1. Ethical Leadership
   Students will articulate their value systems, act ethically within the context of a democratic society, and demonstrate engaged and principled leadership.

2. Cultural Competence
   Students will recognize and respect multiple perspectives and cultures.

3. Community Engagement
   Students will recognize the importance of contributing their knowledge and experiences to their own community and the broader society.

Literally means the “love of wisdom.” It is a field of inquiry that gets at the heart of the most fundamental questions about existence: Is the world real or is it “all in your head”? Do we really have free will or is everything determined in advance? What is the right thing to do?; explores the primary branches of Western philosophy: argumentation and logic, epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, and philosophical reasoning. Students will explore concepts and arguments pertaining to what constitutes knowledge, moral behavior, good and evil, truth, and our responsibilities as citizens in a changing world. Students will consider the positions of contemporary and historical thinkers and reflect upon philosophical issues through discussion and debate. Students will have opportunities to speak and write analytically as well as evaluate arguments and think critically.

Being a culturally competent citizen requires a degree of awareness of different religious traditions. This course is an introduction to selected religious traditions and cultures through exploring the history of different religions, reading of classic texts and examination of ways of being religious in a variety of traditions. Religions studied may include Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism and Shamanistic/Indigenous traditions.

This course will examine, analyze, and evaluate the history of the Holocaust and other, selected, genocides before and since. The course will include historical, multicultural, social, technological, and political strands as it addresses the causes, means, and consequences of the Holocaust and other genocides.  

(Online)This is a survey course designed to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings. Students will be exposed to psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields within psychology and learn about the ethics and methods psychologists use in the science and practice. This is an online course.

(Online) This survey course is designed to provide students with a basic understanding of how societies are formed and how they function. Sociology is a study of people in group relationships and integrates all the disciplines of social movement. This course addresses values, norms, culture, socialization, social stratification and social institutions. It may also include consideration of social problems such as crime, poverty, prejudice and discrimination, collective behavior and social movements. This is a online course.

(Online) This course is a study of people, places and environment from a physical and cultural perspective. Through a variety of classroom activities, students will gain an appreciation and understanding of the interdependent world in which they live. Students will analyze and evaluate the connection between their local and global communities. The course will emphasize the practical and responsible application of geography to life situations. This is an online course.