Analyzing and Interpreting Literature
Instructor:
Courtney Johnson
Description:
This two day per week class is geared for beginning high school literature students who are learning to read and write on a deeper level about literature. The focus of this class will be on analyzing literature and writing the literary analysis essay, but other types of writing will also be taught. This class is writing-intensive, so not only will we be learning about literature, we will also be building our composition skills: sentence structure, grammar and punctuation, strong paragraphs, pre-writing skills, outlining, MLA formatting, and essay writing. In addition, we will dive into a variety of classic short story selections and learn about literary devices, elements of plot, figurative language, themes, symbols, characterization, and more. “Mentor Sentence” and vocabulary exercises will also be incorporated.
Requirements:
The class will meet twice per week, and homework will be assigned each class period to be turned in the following class. The student is expected to come to class prepared with assignments and reading completed. The amount of time required from week to week will vary based on the ability of the student. However, expect 3-4 hours a week on average outside of class time.
Prerequisites:
Student must be a proficient reader and have a beginning, working knowledge of essay writing.
Grades:
Students will be graded on homework, class discussions, writing assignments, quizzes, and tests. Upon successful completion a student will earn 1 English credit toward graduation.
Level of Parental Involvement
High School:
5 hours independently per day, 1 hour working with a parent per day
Texts:
IEW -Windows to the World (An Introduction to Literary Analysis) by Lesha Myers ISBN 978-0-9801005-1-8
No Fear Shakespeare Hamlet ISBN 978-1586638443
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
MLA Made Easy: Your Concise Guide to the 9th Edition ISBN: 978-1933167602
Other reading material and study guides will be provided or readily found on the internet.
Supplies:
1″ 3 Ring binder
5 Dividers
Notebook paper
Sharpened pencils
Pens
2 Highlighters
2 Red pens
A Google account for writing and turning in papers
Other Requirements:
Helping: Assist your child with budgeting time, staying organized, and meeting deadlines. Communicate any problems to me.
Supplying: Make sure your child has print copies of all books by the beginning of the school year, and has access to a working computer and printer (and plenty of paper/ink).
Staying informed: Know what kind of work your child is producing and turning in.