11th Grade Literature Study & Writing Class- 2nd Semester: 5 Books to Discuss with Writing Assignments

In this semester-long course, 11th grade students will read five books, participate in class discussions, and work on writing assignments, to increase their literature comprehension, to expand their horizons, build their critical thinking skills, and improve their own writing abilities. 

With a focus on one book per month, this five-month course will have discussions about the following works and their major themes:
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (January, Weeks 1-4), Major Themes: The American Dream, Money, Social Class
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer (February, Weeks 5-8), Major Themes: Self-Reliance, Nature, Family
Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen (March, Weeks 9-12), Major Themes: Love, Class, Reputation, Family
The Sun Also Rises by Earnest Hemingway (April, Weeks 13-16), Major Themes: The Lost Generation, Insecurity, Jealousy
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (May, Weeks 17-20), Major Themes: Heroism, Race & Lineage, Character

Writing assignments will include a book report, a research paper, an essay, a creative writing piece, poetry and more! These assignments will be based on the specific book, topic, or theme for the month. 

Students will follow a reading schedule in order to stay on top of their discussion topics each week and the discussion will be aided by in-class activities, games, and slides to increase comprehension and retention. Because of this rigorous schedule, students should be successful readers who are willing to participate in class discussions and activities. Students will also need to purchase each book prior to the month the discussions for that book will begin so they have their own copy to read and to use during the class discussions.

Reading homework will be required prior to and after each class and they will need to work on their writing assignment outside of class. No other resources will be required, aside from the purchase of the books themselves. There will be a short assessment to be taken during class at the end of each book. Students will earn a letter grade for each assessment, adding up to a cumulative letter grade at the end of the semester so that parents have a clear understanding of their student's progress throughout the course and to fulfill any homeschool requirements there may be. 

Students will also be graded on their writing assignments using a three-point scale. Grades will either be Exceptional, Satisfactory, or Needs Improvement, and students will receive individual, private messages with feedback on their writing assignments. 

Students will need to submit their homework assignments and tests as a document (either Word, Google Doc or PDF), so please make sure they have access to one of these programs and are familiar with how to create, save, and upload a document into Outschool.

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies . . . The man who never reads lives only one.” – George R.R. Martin
This class will allow your student to step into the shoes of several different people, from different geographical locations, and different walks of life. Reading offers perspective, travel, and experiences real life may not be able to provide otherwise! What a great opportunity for your student!