Students will be able to identify and discuss setting, symbolism, characterization, motif, tone, mood, irony, and imagery used by the author for each novel.
Students will be able to write a well developed literary analysis essay with cited sources.
Students will be able to connect a nonfiction article or news story to the novel which pertains to present day social issues.

I have a Bachelor's Degree in Literature and a Master's Degree in Students with Disabilities. As a certified high school English teacher, I have been teaching these texts in the classroom for over ten years and I am experienced in leading lectures that deal with sensitive race relation topics. I teach in the city of Buffalo, New York and have experience discussing sensitive issues of race, immigration, and conflicts of developing nations with diverse groups of learners that include students who share the refugee experiences of the characters. I have also worked as a co teacher in various grade level Social Studies classrooms so I am experienced in how these texts should tie in with high school Social Studies standards. 

Homework Offered
Students will be given a study guide with comprehension and discussion questions for each week's assigned reading. Students will be encouraged to write their answers and post to the classpage or email directly to the teacher for grading. Students will be assigned about 45-60 minutes of reading a week and encouraged to annotate the text. Depending on the student's involvement in the course, the writing assignments could take an additional hour. 
2 - 4 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
The teacher will informally assess students' knowledge of material assigned by asking questions from the comprehensive study guide. The teacher will provide central idea and summary paragraph assignments that students will be encouraged to complete in order to better assess common core reading and writing standards. 
Grades Offered