Through this study of "Old Man and the Sea," the student will:

-Increase their vocabulary;
-Understand and identify elements of a plot; 
-Identify themes; 
-Use of symbolism;
-Understand the development of characters; 
-Using textual evidence to infer meaning;
-How figurative language and other literary devices are used to enhance the reading experience.

Having been an avid reader since grade school, I became impassioned with 20th century American literature while a high school student of Dr. Willis Brenner who taught my English literature classes in my junior and senior year. Dr. Brenner had a contagious enthusiasm for great American literature that I couldn't resist. As a result, I went on to major in English Literature at Michigan State University. I became a certified ELA (English) teacher for secondary school and was quickly found myself disappointed that students were no longer being exposed to works of writers like Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Bradbury, Melville, Steinbeck, or many others. It seems that the works of these American greats ended up on the trash heap of the politician's new vision of what getting a real education means. 

Reading will be necessary (reading intensive class) during the course, worksheets for the weeks reading to serve as additional discussion in class.

No letter grade is given unless requested. If home schoolers have any special needs or requirements, please let me know.

50 minutes per week in class, and an estimated 1 - 2 hours per week outside of class.

A copy of the book is required. The edition we will be working with is: “Old Man and the Sea,” Scribner Edition, on Amazon for $9.89. If you already have a copy of the book your child may use it; it is just easier if we work off one edition, so the page references are the same. I have included the Amazon link for the book below:

https://www.amazon.com/Old-Man-Sea-Ernest-Hemingway/dp/0684801221/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Please purchase the edition of the book suggested. Different editions, including electronic editions, result in delays as we read through key passages in class. With different editions, we spend far too much class time having students trying to find the page or paragraph we will be studying. This is especially important or this book because there are no chapters. Do not allow your student to simply listen to a recording of the book, this simply will not work in a class like this because it severely limits the student's ability to participate in class. Students have the paperback copy of the book.