In this Zoom-friendly, A-G-aligned class, students will build on what was learned in Level 1 of this course (or their current abilities if they’ve already taken writing courses that have covered concepts like the five-paragraph essay and literary analysis) and expand their ability to write papers and analyze literature. The books covered in this course change from one year to the next and students are given specific feedback to expand their writing abilities so that this course can be repeated to build skills and prepare for English 101.
Learning to analyze and discuss literature is an important skill for high school students, whether they are fans of reading or reluctant readers. This class is designed to help students deepen their abilities in this area, and have a good time doing it! It is for students who want to connect with what they read, further develop their writing skills, and learn more about literature at the same time.
This course introduces students to great works of literature, allows them to deepen their understanding of the work and themselves through discussions, projects, and essay planning, and helps them to prepare for college-level writing and essays. In this class, students work on writing the essays, moving through pre-writing, drafting, and editing, and practicing this process through quick writes, editing one another’s work, and writing MLA-formatted papers that incorporate quotes from the books and information from outside sources. They will also learn to be more effective writers by continuing to expand on the traditional five-paragraph essay structure and become more comfortable with the basics and finer aspects of MLA format. Vocabulary and grammar are also covered in this course. The literature focus allows students to engage in discussions, activities, worksheets, and some games that deepen their ability to understand and engage with great literature, analyze literary elements, relate the literature to their own lives, use them in their own writing, and more easily connect with the world as readers. Creative writing activities are incorporated to help students expand their ability to use higher-level vocabulary words and write quickly in a classroom setting, which will be necessary for other higher-level courses and exams that involve essay questions. This course fulfills high school A-G requirements with some homework.
In this yearlong class, students will study high school English literature and poetry in an engaging and personal way. We will read, analyze, and discuss books that have been widely read and considered important from approved book lists for high schoolers covering World literature, American literature, and British literature as well as an engaging selection of short stories, poetry, essays, and even a couple of biographies or historical graphic novel. The list is still under construction and our final choices depend on student interest and what people have already read, as well as at least one play, several short stories, multiple poems, and more.
Students will write their own poetry, write essays about the works we study, engage in several creative writing exercises, and complete tests and study guides designed to deepen understanding of the material. In-class discussions will engage students’ interest and help them relate the ideas within the reading to their own lives and perspectives. Grammar, punctuation, and spelling will be regularly reinforced, and detailed feedback will be given to help students expand their abilities from whatever their current level. We will also study relevant vocabulary words through games and in-class activities, and complete some related projects. This class follows standards for A-G-approved coursework and common core standards so that students from charter schools may receive credit for high school literature if both semesters are taken and all assignments are completed.
This course utilizes Google Classroom, so students will turn in assignments online and receive feedback for essays in a format that is charter school-friendly. Because of the online format of the class, we will use Zoom for lectures and discussions, and will also have time each week in class for writing practice and student-led discussions.
Because this class requires reading and includes writing projects, roughly 1-2 hours of homework per week are required.
About the teacher: Dr. Lizzie Scott is a published author, fan of reading, trained counselor, and teacher who loves to make learning fun whenever possible. Therefore, this class will meet high school literature and composition standards, will focus on proper writing conventions and personal reflection, and will also employ fun, connection-building activities whenever possible.
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