Meets the requirement for one High School English credit.

This 30-week course for grades 9-12 introduces students to the fundamentals of literary analysis and persuasive essay writing. Drawing from The Lost Tools of Writing by the Circe Institute, the class emphasizes the classical canons of rhetoric. Students will learn how to generate ideas, organize their thoughts, and articulate their arguments effectively. They will become familiar with the standard form of a five-paragraph essay and explore the use of literary devices to enhance their writing. Additionally, the course introduces the basics of literary criticism through the study and analysis of significant works of literature. Discussions on virtue and literary themes will encourage an appreciation for well-crafted prose.

Students will write a five-paragraph essay every three to four weeks, alternating with weeks focused on analysis and outlining. Each essay assignment will be based on a newly assigned novel. Class sessions will center on discussing the novels, brainstorming ideas, and practicing essay-writing techniques. If time allows, we will devote a week to studying a short story or poem. These shorter assignments will be completed primarily during class, offering a concentrated experience where students can observe and practice the entire writing process in a compressed time frame.

Novels will be chosen from the list below based on student interest and proficiency. We will NOT read all of the novels listed.

• The Giver

• Anne of Green Gables

• Frankenstein

• The Great Gatsby

• The Hobbit

• The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

• To Kill a Mockingbird

• A Christmas Carol

• Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

• The Princess and the Goblin

• The Lottery

• The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

• Fahrenheit 451

• Pride and Prejudice

• The Hound of the Baskerville

Required materials:

• The Lost Tools of Writing Level One Student Book, available here.

• Access to the novels. Most are available at your local library. Several are available as free ebooks on Apple Books or Kindle.

• Students must have access to a computer, a printer, and the internet.

Homework: An assignment is due each week. These assignments generally rotate every three weeks between essay plans, outlines, and the essays themselves. We will read a new novel every three to four weeks.

Tuesday

Time: 12:55-2:25
Grades: 9-12
Cost: $400
Supply Fee: $50
Tutor: Auburn Giberson