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The Road by Cormac McCarthy - A Post-Apocalyptic and Current Events Novel Study

In this six-week course, students will participate in Socratic Seminars while reading The Road by Cormac McCarthy; we will focus on symbolism, theme, character development, and more while studying other literature, art, and modern events.
Kaitlyn Fischer: Close-Reading Specialist
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What's included

6 live meetings
4 in-class hours
Homework
1-2 hours per week. Students will be asked to complete reading outside of class time
Assessment
Students will be given (the option if it is a novel study or non-semester class) several formal writing assignments throughout the semester. While these are not tests, per se, they can be used as assessment pieces for homeschooling evidence, which many states and countries require. All formal writing in my class will be completed with multiple rounds of written and verbal feedback. Students will have the opportunity to work through their writing skills as a group and 1-1 with me in class!
Grading
Grading - Students will have the opportunity to receive a grade in the form of their choosing.I am happy to provide a grade in the form of a percentage, letter, or both. I can also offer a formal letter for submission to state programs. I ask students throughout the semester about their needs for grading and am happy to work with parents to create a plan that meets their needs! Please note that Grading is NOT required.

Class Experience

In this course, students will read The Road by Cormac McCarthy. Through our reading, we will participate in a discussion focused on analyzing the novel and its relationship to current events happening in our world today.

"A father and his son walk alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don't know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food—and each other.

The Road is the profoundly moving story of a journey. It boldly imagines a future in which no hope remains, but in which the father and his son, "each the other's world entire," are sustained by love. Awesome in the totality of its vision, it is an unflinching meditation on the worst and the best that we are capable of: ultimate destructiveness, desperate tenacity, and the tenderness that keeps two people alive in the face of total devastation" (McCarthy). - Citation provided at the bottom of the course description

Through our discussions, we will discuss the destruction of the environment, nuclear warfare, the post-apocalypse, and more! Our discussions will focus on the uniqueness of the novel and writing style while investigating the messages that the author is sending the reader about our actions, their consequences, and the effects it has on the world around us. While we will be discussing current events, we are not teaching about the current events. We will be investigating how the novel relates to current events and the dangers that human mistakes can pose to our world as we know it. 

Citation: 
           McCarthy, Cormac. The Road. New York, Vintage International, 2006.
Learning Goals
- Students will be able to identify the following literary elements: character and character development, genre, plot development and major plot points, symbolism, themes, and more!
- Students will engage in discussions and debates with one another as we explore more than just reading comprehension but also the complex decisions the author makes and its cultural and historical connections to the time period.
learning goal

Other Details

Parental Guidance
Please make sure to read the parental guide for The Road. The book can be quite intense and has violence, sexuality, and post-apocalyptic topics which can be intense. Please make sure to be aware of the topics so that you can make an informed decision. Please let me know if you have any questions! - https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/the-road/user-reviews/adult
Supply List
Students will need to get a copy of the novel so that they can use it to read and to bring to class each week.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined January, 2020
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Teacher expertise and credentials
Colorado Teaching Certificate in Secondary Education
I am a professional Middle School and High School teacher and have taught for more than 7 years. I have taught this novel multiple times on Outschool and once through public school as well. Below is a link to the course where I have run this course as a part of the novel studies that I run here. I am also a part of a local book discussion group and we have studied this novel before as well. If you have questions, please let me know! 
     - https://outschool.com/classes/classic-literature-novel-study-V9NC71b3?sectionUid=a98b6fc9-d1ee-4566-9f16-706c174d2350&usid=l0R3fRwf&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link

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Live Group Class
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$115

for 6 classes
1x per week, 6 weeks
40 min

Completed by 3 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-16
2-6 learners per class

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