Drop-In High School English: Reading and Writing Fiction

What is a short story? How is it different than a novel? Why should we read them and how should we write them? This course will answer these questions and more as we delve into literary masterpieces from classics like Ernest Hemingway’s White Elephants to highlights of the contemporary canon (think: Jhumpa Lahiri’s Interpreter of Maladies). 

Each week we will analyze an excerpt from short story and cover an element of writing craft (setting, interior space, imagery etc).  This course teaches literary analysis skills equivalent to High School English and/or AP English. I will be using readings, lectures, group discussion, breakout groups, screen share, and slides to present course materials. Students are welcome to join each week for part 1 or part 2 for a given story or topic. No prior knowledge required, just an openness to experiment!


Week 1: Image // Girl, Jamaica Kincaid
Week 2: Image//Girl Jamaica Kincaid part II. 
Week 3: Voice // The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, Sherman Alexie
Week 4:  Voice // The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, Sherman Alexie part II. 
Week 5: Character // The Story about a Bus Driver Who Wanted to be God, Etgar Keret
Week 6: Character // The Story about a Bus Driver Who Wanted to be God, Etgar Keret part II. 
Week 7: Setting // The Werewolf, Angela Carter
Week 8: Setting // The Werewolf, Angela Carter part II. 
Week 9: Plot // Mrs. Sen’s by Jhumpra Lahiri
Week 10: Plot // Mrs. Sen’s by Jhumpra Lahiri part II. 
Week 11: Scene // Battle Royal, Ralph Ellison
Week 12: Scene // Scene // Battle Royal, Ralph Ellison part II. 
Week 13: Interior/Exterior Space // Drown, Junot Diaz
Week 14: Interior/Exterior Space // Drown, Junot Diaz part II.
Week 15: Flash Fiction/ (Multiple Stories), Lydia Davis
Week 16: Flash Fiction/ (Multiple Stories), Lydia Davis part II. 
Week 17: Dialogue // White Elephants, Ernest Hemingway
Week 18: Dialogue // White Elephants, Ernest Hemingway part II.
Week 19: Humor // The Swan as a Metaphor for Love, Amelia Gray
Week 20: Humor // The Swan as a Metaphor for Love, Amelia Gray part II. 
Week 21: Revision Techniques// This week we will look at examples of first drafts and revisions by famous authors. 
Week 22: Revision Techniques // Writing Exercises