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12th Grade English and Literature Semester 1
Erica Sirratt
Average rating:4.8Number of reviews:(252)
In this 15-week class, high school students will read "The Odyssey" and "Oedipus Rex". We will discuss the reading and complete various activities, including literary analyses. Students will also complete an argumentative essay.
Class experience
US Grade 12
Classics are meant to be explored, not just read. In this class, we're going to explore two famous pieces of work. To fully understand a piece of writing, we have to understand the time period it was written and the author of the story. We're going to be reading "The Odyssey," by Homer and "Oedipus Rex," by Sophocles. Before we start reading each story, we will spend class discussing the time period it was written and learn about the author. Each class will contain detailed, guided...
5 units//15 lessons//15 Weeks
Unit 1The OdysseyThe Odyssey4 lessons4 WeeksWeek 1Lesson 1The Trojan WarIntroduce the class Get ready to read The Odyssey - - What is an epic? - Who was Homer? - Set the scene: Discuss the end of the Trojan War - Introduce books 1-8 - Greek mythology and its relation to the epic Enrichment: Vocabulary Activity (Google Forms) HOMEWORK: Read books 1-8 of "The Odyssey."Week 2Lesson 2Greek SocietyDiscuss the reading - - Summarize the books - Discuss key characters Read non-fiction text - “Greek Society” and answer questions Books 9-12 - Introduce books 9-12 - Introduce important characters Class activity - - Work on character map of Odysseus Enrichment: Research one of the Greek gods from the poem (Google Form) HOMEWORK: Read books 9-12Week 3Lesson 3Key CharactersDiscuss the reading - - Summarize the books - Discuss key characters Read non-fiction text - “How Resilience Works” and answer questions Books 13-24 - Introduce books 13-24 - Introduce important characters Enrichment: Read a non-fiction text and answer questions (PDF and Google Form) HOMEWORK: Read books 13-24 and watch the summary videos.Week 4Lesson 4ThemeDiscuss the reading - - Summarize the books - Discuss key characters - Discuss the epic as a whole Theme - - What is theme? - What are the different themes of the epic? Class activity - - Find evidence in the reading that points to different themes. Enrichment: Character quote activity (Google Form) HOMEWORK: Each student will pick one theme and search through the epic to find evidence that points to that theme.Unit 2Literary AnalysisLiterary Analysis3 lessons3 WeeksWeek 5Lesson 5ResearchDiscuss the reading Theme - - Discuss evidence Literary analysis - What is a literary analysis? - Look at an example of literary analysis Enrichment: Find evidence of themes HOMEWORK: Choose a topic and begin researching for your literary analysisWeek 6Lesson 6OutlineHow to format an outline Introductions Thesis statements HOMEWORK: Write the rough draft of your literary analysis on The Odyssey.Week 7Lesson 7EditingSentence structure- - Independent and Dependent Clauses - Appositives Class activity - - Practice editing an essay in class Students will then work on editing their own literary analysis. HOMEWORK: Submit the final draft of the literary analysis on The Odyssey.Unit 3Oedipus RexOedipus Rex2 lessons2 WeeksWeek 8Lesson 8SophoclesGet ready to read Oedipus Rex - - Introduce the Greek Theater - Who was Sophocles? - Discuss the backstory Start reading Oedipus Rex in class (time permitting) Enrichment: Research Sophocles and answer questions (Google Form) HOMEWORK: Read lines 1-700 of Oedipus RexWeek 9Lesson 9Greek TragedyDiscuss the reading - - Summarize the books - Discuss key characters Read non-fiction text - “On Tragedy” and answer questions Enrichment: Paragraph editing (Google Form) HOMEWORK: Read the rest of Oedipus RexUnit 4Literary AnalysisLiterary Analysis2 lessons2 WeeksWeek 10Lesson 10TopicDiscuss the reading - - Summarize the books - Discuss key characters - Examine themes in the play Literary Analysis - - Discuss character analysis - Read a literary analysis about a character Class activity- - Think of possible topics for a literary analysis of Oedipus Enrichment: Vocabulary activity (Google Form) HOMEWORK: Choose a topic for your literary analysisWeek 11Lesson 11Dig DeeperDiscuss issues with the previous literary analysis How to dig deeper into the story Workshop - Work on essay in class HOMEWORK: Write the rough draft of the literary analysis on Oedipus Rex.Unit 5Argumentative EssayArgumentative Essay4 lessons4 WeeksWeek 12Lesson 12Rhetorical TriangleIntroduce the argumentative essay What is the rhetorical triangle? Types of evidence How to find scholarly sources Brainstorm topic ideas HOMEWORK: Choose a topic for the argumentative essay and start researchWeek 13Lesson 13Types of Argumentative EssaysTypes of arguments - Modern, Classical Western, Toulmin, Rogerian Important parts of the argument Ways to organize/outline the essay HOMEWORK: Create the outlineWeek 14Lesson 14Thesis StatementsHow to write thesis statements Practice writing thesis statements What to include in the background of your essay How to create the works cited page HOMEWORK: Write the rough draft of the argumentative essayWeek 15Lesson 15Revise and EditDiscuss issues with the argumentative essays Practice editing and revising an argumentative essay in class (example, not a student essay)
I have a bachelor's degree in writing and journalism. I worked as a journalist for over five years and won several awards during my career. A large portion of my college years was spent studying creative and essay writing. I have self-published a few fiction books and I am currently working on another. Before changing my degree to writing, my study focus was on education. This change has given me knowledge of teaching and writing. I have been teaching ELA since 2014, and I have been teaching on Outschool since 2020.
Homework Offered
There will be required homework each week. There will also be added enrichment assignments that students may complete to deepen their understanding of learned concepts.1 - 2 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
Grades Offered
Students will receive an itemized grade sheet that contains a breakdown of each assignment. Unless otherwise requested, students will receive this grade at the end of the semester.
Students will a copy of "The Odyssey," and "Oedipus Rex." There are free versions online that I will post in the classroom, but they may be more difficult to read.
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
The classics in the class contain violence, some minor sexual references (including an incestual relationship), and darker themes. The stories may not be appropriate for students under the recommended age for the class.
Average rating:4.8Number of reviews:(252)
I have a lot of passions in life, but two of my biggest passions are reading and writing. One of my main goals is to create a love of literature. If a student can read well, the possibilities of what they can learn are endless. I believe that...
Group Class
$15
weekly or $225 for 15 classes1x per week, 15 weeks
50 min
Completed by 22 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 16-18
2-8 learners per class
