British Literature & Composition Semester 1 (High School Homeschool English)
Valerie Stone, BA
Average rating:4.9Number of reviews:(93)
In this 15-week English class, your learner will develop critical thinking & writing skills while exploring influential and imaginative British writers, from the heroic efforts of Beowulf to the knights of King Arthur.
Class experience
US Grade 10 - 12
British Literature & Composition Level: This is intermediate level English course that covers a variety of British literature. Students in 9th-12th grade have successfully completed this course, as each student's level of proficiency is different. This class will touch upon various pieces of British literature from the Classical Period to the Renaissance. During 2nd semester, this class will continue the Renaissance to the Modern period. During this semester, this course will reinforce...
3 units//15 lessons//15 Weeks
Unit 1The Classical Period / Allegory / Rhetoric / Aristotelian TriadThe Classical Period / Allegory / Rhetoric / Aristotelian Triad4 lessons4 WeeksWeek 1Lesson 1The Classical Period, Socrates, and ethical appeals-Discuss classroom, homework, & writing expectations -Review the historical context of The Classical Period (1200 BC-455 AD) / -Greek Classical Period (800-200 BCE) -Discover prominent features of Classical Greek -Analyze Socrates & the ethical appeals -Read “Button, Button” and complete response writing Homework: Complete a one-page extended response based on a short video and prompt, and complete light research on allegoriesWeek 2Lesson 2Rhetoric, Plato, ethos, and allegories-Introduce rhetoric and connect to Plato -Discuss Ethos and determine elements of Ethos in a speech -Define an allegory; review and find hidden allegory meanings -Read “Allegory of the Cave” and discuss Plato’s 7 symbols. Homework: Create a modern version of the “Allegory of the Cave”Week 3Lesson 3Logos, pathos, Aristotle, rhetoric, and imagery-Introduce Logos and Pathos -Discuss Aristotle and the Aristotelian Triad -Review elements and examples of logos -Review elements and examples of pathos -Determine elements of logos and pathos in JFK’s “Race to Space” speech -Connect “Allegory of the Cave” to the 3 appeals -Define and write 2 types of imagery -Choose an image and use imagery to describe the scene Homework: Read Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, answer 2 questions, and complete the rhetorical appeals chartWeek 4Lesson 4Rhetorical appeals in writing, MLA format, and essay writing-Show how the rhetorical appeals enhance writing with various activities -Using a guided worksheet, connect the Triad to a time when you made an important decision -Brainstorm elements of ethos, logos, and pathos in relation to a given prompt -Review MLA format and elements of a 5 paragraph essay Homework: Using the 3 appeals, write a 5 paragraph essay based on a choice of promptsUnit 2The Medieval Period / Epic Poetry / Hero’s Journey / Arthurian LegendThe Medieval Period / Epic Poetry / Hero’s Journey / Arthurian Legend10 lessons10 WeeksWeek 5Lesson 5Medieval Period, Epic poetry, literary devices, and the history of Beowulf-Refresh & practice writing in the literary present tense -Review the historical context of the Medieval Period/Middle Ages (455-1485) -Define Epic Poetry and Epic Poem characteristics -Discuss the differences between literary and rhetorical devices -Define and find alliteration, caesura, and kennings -Explain the scop and view an example -Introduce the history of Beowulf and preview the characters Homework: Listen to Part 1 of Beowulf and complete the question/answer assignment.Week 6Lesson 6Narrator POV, allusions, vernacular, and the hero's journey-Discuss the narrator's point of view -Review and find allusions in the text -Discuss the vernacular in Beowulf. -Investigate stages 1-6 of The Hero’s Journey -Locate the first 6 stages in Beowulf -Complete response writing regarding how Beowulf represents an Anglo-Saxon hero Homework: Listen to Part 2 of Beowulf and complete the question/answer assignment.Week 7Lesson 7Hero's journey, denotative vs. connotative, and literature comparison-Investigate stages 7-12 of The Hero’s Journey & locate the last 6 stages in Beowulf -Review and find foreshadowing from an excerpt -Discuss denotative and connotative words and how each relates to poetry -Complete positive and negative connotative responses -Compare another piece of literature or movie to the Hero’s Journey Homework: Complete a structured extended response explaining how our view of a hero has and has not changed since Beowulf’s timeWeek 8Lesson 8The Canterbury Tales, historical context, satire, and topic sentences-Introduce Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales -Review background and historical context -Discuss and locate elements of satire -Define and discuss the style of The Canterbury Tales: rhyming couplets in iambic pentameter -Read lines 1-41 and 767-856, and complete discussion questions -Discuss improvements to topic and clincher sentences Homework: Read 2 characters from the prologue. Complete characterization inferences and a paragraph for each.Week 9Lesson 9Characterization, satire, irony, tone, and text analysis-Students present their character and insights -Discuss elements of satire, irony, tone, and mood. Highlight using passages from The Canterbury Tales -Introduce “The Pardoner’s Tale Prologue,” and discuss the role of the pardoner -Create a modern version of a story within The Canterbury Tales Homework: Finish reading “The Pardoner’s Tale” and complete active reading responsesWeek 10Lesson 10Legend of King Arthur, Arthurian legends, and early to modern legend comparison-Discuss the legend of King Arthur and determine fact vs. fiction (jigsaw learning) -Determine the overall characteristics of King Arthur legends. -Compare and contrast with early history. -Compare and contrast Arthurian legends with early history -Compare the legends to modern-day stories and themes Homework: Complete the Arthurian Legend chart and write an Arthurian Legend (1 page)Week 11Lesson 11Symbolism, alliterative poetry, Bob and Wheel, & Sir Gawain and the Green Knight-Students discuss their Arthurian Legends -Discuss symbolism in medieval literature, alliterative poetry, and “The Bob and Wheel” -Find alliteration in an excerpt -Introduce characters and context behind Sir Gawain and the Green Knight -Review active reading and annotations Homework: Read part 1 of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight & complete the active reading questionsWeek 12Lesson 12Textual evidence, text discussion, symmetry, and universal truths-Answer a question usual textual evidence -Discuss Sir Gawain and the Green Knight -Review themes, symbolism, symmetry, and other literary devices within the poem -Discuss characterization elements, such as appearance, behavior, and actions -Find a theme topic and turn it into a universal truth Homework: Read part 2 of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight & complete the active reading questionsWeek 13Lesson 13Color and animal symbols in Medieval tales-Read part 3 of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight -Review color references from the text and determine the symbolism -Review the poem and determine why the “green knight” is green -Discuss animal symbols and other symbols in medieval tales Homework: Read part 4 of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight & complete the active reading questionsWeek 14Lesson 14Symbol progression, response writing, supernatural vs. natural, and rhetoric-Review part 4 of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight -Investigate how a symbol in the text changes as the story progresses -Discuss the 3 tests and 3 judgments -Complete response writing regarding Sir Gawain’s identity -Discover how the supernatural and natural overlap in the text -Analyze and expand a theme topics -Using rhetoric, analyze elements of persuasion from the text Homework: Complete the extended response quiz by answering question 1, as well as two of the choice questionsUnit 3The Renaissance Period / Rebirth of Old Civilizations / Humanism / TragediesThe Renaissance Period / Rebirth of Old Civilizations / Humanism / Tragedies1 lesson1 WeekWeek 15Lesson 15Renaissance, Machiavelli, and text analysis-Review the historical context of The Renaissance Period (1485-1660) -Complete light research on an influential person from the period -Introduce Machiavelli and The Prince -Read an excerpt from The Prince and compare to a modern excerpt of writing -Answer discussion questions regarding the two texts. Record final ideas on the worksheet, and turn in the worksheet for review Homework: Answer questions regarding The Prince & write an extended response to a question regarding Machiavelli’s text
During this semester, this course will reinforce critical analysis of text, synthesize ideas, understand and utilize rhetorical appeals, reinforce literary devices, determine how time periods influence writers, complete active reading, use creative thinking and writing, develop supportive arguments, write structured extended responses (1 page minimum), write one 5 paragraph essay with two full proofs, and reinforce conventions of grammar and language usage.
𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 I am a home educator with over 16 years of teaching experience with ages preschool to 12th grade. I have a proven track record of success in teaching writing to students of all ages and abilities, and I am passionate about helping learners develop their writing skills because I was a learner who found it difficult to understand the writing process. Specifically, I have taught multiple years of Middle School and High School English, including composition, literature, and grammar. Currently, I teach an intermediate and an advanced high school level composition/literature course at our area homeschool cooperative. I believe that even the most reluctant writers can be unlocked with the right guidance and prompting. I have a college junior on the autism spectrum, a college sophomore with ADHD, and a gifted 10th grader. Teaching to varying learners has given me the unique insight of how to teach children, at various levels, to express themselves. 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 -Successfully developed and implemented my own writing curriculum for middle and high school students -Instructed students regarding a variety of literary genres, including novels, short stories, poetry, and drama -Helped students develop critical thinking and writing skills through close reading, analysis, and discussion -Worked with students on a 1:1 basis, as well as in a classroom setting, to help them overcome specific writing challenges, such as grammar errors, punctuation issues, and difficulty organzing their thoughts -Provided feedback on student work and offered guidance on how to improve writing & critical thinking skills -Mentored other home educators implement strategies to help struggling writers, as well as provided them with resources and support
Homework Offered
Weekly reading and response writing is required. Homework types include (but are not limited to) structured paragraph, structured extended response, active reading response, creative writing, annotations, question/answer worksheet, storyboard, character analysis worksheet, and five-paragraph essay.2 - 4 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
Each learner will receive letter grades for assignments. All students who thoughtfully respond according to the requirements should be able to obtain a high grade, as I give students the opportunity to correct homework or essays to achieve a higher score. However, I do have higher expectations in regards to grading in this section. Note: I prefer to challenge beyond each student's level; therefore, one student's "A" may not look the same as the next. The overall goal is for the student to show overall improvement as the year progresses.Grades Offered
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight ~ ISBN 978-0345277602 Beowulf (AUDIO) Translated and Read by Seamus Heaney ~ ISBN 978-1665190183 (See below for free option) *Please note when purchasing on Amazon...When you click on various formats of the book, the ISBN number can change and you may get a slightly different copy than I have. Public Domain Literature Allegory of the Cave The Canterbury Tales The Prince Other Resources Used (Online) Socrates ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKhfFBbVtFg Beowulf Part 1 ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaB0trCztM0 Beowulf Part 2 ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zsxxg5P-DnY Provided Resources “Button, Button” by Richard Matheson “Race to Space” speech by John F. Kennedy “The Allegory of the Cave” by Plato “I Have a Dream” speech by Martin Luther King, Jr. "Hadiza’s Journey" 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘺 𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘴 by Geoffrey Chaucer “The Sword in the Stone” excerpt by Core Knowledge and Alice M. Hadfield “Sunrise” by Unknown 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 excerpt by Niccolò Machiavelli
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Please review the reading list to ensure suitability for your learner. Of note, there is violence, murder, and suicide in Macbeth. All ages and abilities are welcome in this course. However, please be advised that some learners will need parental support.
Average rating:4.9Number of reviews:(93)
About Me My husband and I live near Cincinnati, Ohio with our three children: a college junior son, a college sophomore son, and a ninth-grade daughter. I have been homeschooling our children for 16 years. We enjoy spending time together as a...
Group Class
$250
for 15 classes1x per week, 15 weeks
50 min
Completed by 26 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
4-12 learners per class
