Course Offerings: 2006-2007

American Literature Survey

Levels: High school. (Grades 9-12)
Prerequisites: None. Students should possess independent study skills and have had some experience in essay-writing.
Dates and Times: Wednesdays and Fridays, 9:00-10:30 a.m.
Duration: 68 sessions (30 fall / 38 spring), beginning September 6 and ending May 18 (with breaks for holidays).
Location: Mrs. Hogye's house.
Required Texts: Class novels, as noted in the syllabus.

Overview: The American Literature Survey class is a fast-paced, college-prep course that examines American literature in a systematic manner. The literature portion of the class is a chronological study of American writing from the Puritans to the modern day. Students will study approximately one novel, play, or poetry collection every two weeks, beginning with selections such as The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible; moving through American history with Uncle Tom's Cabin, The Great Gatsby, the poetry of Whitman, Dickinson, Frost, T.S. Eliot, and others; to the contemporary works of writers such as John Howard Griffin (Black Like Me), Martin Luther King, Jr., Flannery O'Connor, and Tim O'Brien. The writing portion of the class will be tied closely to the literature, with an emphasis on developing strong analytical writing skills. Throughout the course, students will also gain experience with narrative, persuasive, and creative writing, plus poetry, drama, and oral communication skills, though the main emphasis will be on crafting strong analytical essays. There is no single textbook for the class: students should purchase the major novels, and their reading will be supplemented with shorter works as the class progresses.

Syllabus: Click for the class syllabus. It is a PDF document and requires Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing. If a viewer does not open automatically when you click on the link, right-click on the link and choose "Save Link As ..." and save the file to your computer. Then open it with Adobe Acrobat or other PDF viewer. Please contact the site administrator (e-mail below) if you have any difficulty downloading or viewing the document.

TO REGISTER FOR CLASSES:

Choose classes that are right for you by reading their individual descriptions. Contact Mrs. Hogye at kellan@languageandlit.com to register.