College-Bound Reader: John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men
Of Mice and Men often makes the lists of novels students will be expected to have read as university students. Discover the inspiring depth & richness of text in this memorable course analyzing John Steinbeck's essential work. #academic
Kendra Fletcher
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(521)
Star Educator
What's included
3 live meetings
2 hrs 30 mins in-class hoursHomework
2-4 hours per week. Learners will be expected to read the week's chapters, do the correlating projects, and most of all, jump into the discussions we have each week. I give a lot of space for learning disabilities and non-neurotypical learners (I have a few in my own home!), so if you're hesitant about the class format, please reach out to me.Assessment
All essays are read and returned to learners with notes, helpful suggestions, and plenty of encouragement.Class Experience
US Grade 8 - 11
Are you a college-bound middle or high school student looking to read the best of literature that universities will have expected you to read before arriving on campus? If you're someone who loves to read, you probably can't wait to get started. But what if you are a reluctant reader who knows you'll have to read this stuff and try to at least make a stab at understanding it? Either way, we're going to bring this short but essential novel to life and enjoy the ride! John Steinbeck wrote compelling mid-century literature from his Pacific Coast home in California. He lived and worked alongside migrant farmworkers up and down California's farming and coastal regions, and he drew many of his novels' themes from the human struggle he witnessed and experienced. The Nobel Prize in Literature (1962) was awarded to John Steinbeck "for his realistic and imaginative writings, combining as they do sympathetic humour and keen social perception." 𝑶𝒇 𝑴𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑴𝒆𝒏 is not overwhelming in its scope but it has deep themes that are relevant to our lives and culture today. How do we treat the marginalized in our society? How do we provide equal opportunities to all? How does capitalism and The American Dream help or hold us back? Socratic discussion, engaging conversations, and hands-on projects that incorporate art, poetry, and a few other surprises will round out our three weeks as we discover Steinbeck's 𝑶𝒇 𝑴𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑴𝒆𝒏. Our course will look like this: Week One: Background Lecture and pre-reading discussion Week Two: Read and discuss chapters 1-3 Week Three: Read and discuss chapters 4-6 Each College-Bound Reader course is designed to prepare you for college and university-level literature analysis. Please keep reading below if you have any concerns regarding the book's content. -To round out a high school semester, add either: Essentials for Reluctant Writers Semester I (academic essay writing) 𝘰𝘳 Essentials for Reluctant Writers Semester II (creative writing) 𝘢𝘯𝘥 High School English: Read Literature Like a Professor (literary analysis) Expand your literary horizons further with my other College-Bound Reader courses, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘓𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 and 𝘞𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘏𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴. Experience a treasure trove of literary brilliance with my When Women Write courses, highlighting extraordinary female authors. Immerse yourself in a world of captivating storytelling and powerful narratives. The curated selection includes: 𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘌𝘺𝘳𝘦, 𝘍𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘪𝘯, 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯, 𝘈 𝘛𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘭𝘺𝘯, 𝘛𝘰 𝘒𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢 𝘔𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘥, 𝘚𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 & 𝘚𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘌𝘮𝘮𝘢, 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘫𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘦, 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘪𝘭𝘦, 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘞𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘯𝘦, and 𝘔𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴. See you in class!
Learning Goals
Students will become familiar with John Steinbeck's 𝑶𝒇 𝑴𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑴𝒆𝒏, learn to identify its theme and motifs and be able to draw educated conclusions from our rhetorical discussions.
CCSS
RL.8.1
Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
CCSS
RL.8.10
By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, at the high end of grades 6–8 text complexity band independently and proficiently.
CCSS
RL.9-10.1
Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
CCSS
RL.9-10.10
By the end of grade 9, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, in the grades 9-10 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.By the end of grade 10, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, at the high end of the grades 9-10 text complexity band independently and proficiently.
CCSS
RL.11-12.1
Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including determining where the text leaves matters uncertain.
CCSS
RL.11-12.10
By the end of grade 11, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, in the grades 11-CCR text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.By the end of grade 12, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, at the high end of the grades 11-CCR text complexity band independently and proficiently.
CCSS
W.8.4
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
CCSS
W.8.5
With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed.
CCSS
W.8.9
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
CCSS
W.8.10
Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.
CCSS
W.9-10.4
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
CCSS
W.9-10.5
Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience.
CCSS
W.9-10.9
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
CCSS
W.9-10.10
Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.
CCSS
W.11-12.4
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
CCSS
W.11-12.5
Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience.
CCSS
W.11-12.9
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
CCSS
W.11-12.10
Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.
Syllabus
3 Lessons
over 3 WeeksLesson 1:
Introductory Lecture and Discussion
During the first live meeting, I will be introducing you to the author and the novel, focusing on cultural, historical, and social issues covered in the story. You don't need to have any of 𝘖𝘧 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘦𝘯 read yet, but feel free to start it if you like. 50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Discussing Chapters 1-3
During the live meeting, we will discuss Chapters 1-3 by Socratic method. We will also discuss the week’s project and assignments. 50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Discussing Chapters 4-6
During the live meeting, we will discuss Chapters 4-6 and projects from the previous week. We will wrap up our study of 𝘖𝘧 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘦𝘯. 50 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Common Sense Media's page will give you an accurate view of some strong language and references to racism/sexism in 𝑶𝒇 𝑴𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑴𝒆𝒏. Please read their page thoroughly if you have any concerns about your student reading this novel.
Supply List
You will need an unabridged copy of John Steinbeck's novel, 𝑶𝒇 𝑴𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑴𝒆𝒏.
Language of Instruction
English
Joined April, 2019
5.0
521reviews
Star Educator
Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from University of the Pacific
I am the parent of a child who suffered brain damage from a virus caught as an infant. For me, a story that highlights the vulnerability of the intellectually disabled in our societies is always worth reading because it causes the reader to think about what and who we value and why. If you are concerned about such a heavy topic, please see Common Sense Media's page about the novel as you decide to have your student read 𝑶𝒇 𝑴𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑴𝒆𝒏. Reviews
Live Group Course
$69
for 3 classes1x per week, 3 weeks
50 min
Completed by 31 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
1-4 learners per class
