The Riverside Military Academy English Department emphasizes character development through the study of great literature and the improvement of written communication. As with the entire RMA program, we seek to prepare cadets to be successful in college, with the development of a strong vocabulary, solid study skills, and clear expression, as well as an understanding of research papers written in MLA style. Earlier grades continue a focus on grammar as well as reading and writing; later grades apply the grammar skills to writing clear and varied sentences, paragraphs, and papers.
Our faculty selects literature that grapples with questions every young man faces: what does it mean to become a man? How do I live a meaningful life? How can I grow as a leader? How do I treat my fellow man? Content comes from all historical eras, from Gilgamesh to Shakespeare to modern texts. Cadets must argue persuasively and articulate their ethics as they wrestle with the texts.
Gainesville is blessed with a strong theater program through the University of North Georgia and Brenau University, and with Atlanta only an hour away, our cadets frequently experience theatrical supplements to their study. In recent years cadets have attended performances of The Great Gatsby, The Grapes of Wrath, As You Like It, Macbeth, and Antigone, among others.