Visual Lit's High School Classics: Ongoing Book Club

Why Take This Course?
This class suits learners eager to cultivate a deeper appreciation for timeless literary works, boost their speaking skills through lively discussions, sharpen their analytical writing with insightful visual literary explorations, enhance their reading comprehension in a learner-led environment, and follow a flexible structure that encourages individual pacing while reinforcing structure.

Who Should Enroll?
This course is ideal for teens who are enthusiastic about reading and sharing ideas, students wanting to bolster their confidence in literary analysis and sketchnoting skills, and those who wish to engage meaningfully with peers through discussions. Exposure to classic literature primes learners for the rigors of college-level courses.

Curriculum Overview
The ongoing course explores various timeless themes through a flexible yet structured reading schedule. Each unit focuses on classic novels, plays, or essays, allowing ample time to delve deeply into their richness.

Reading Schedule: Weekly reading assignments (no more than nine pages per night) are provided, along with optional sketchnoting projects for those desiring feedback.

Teaching Approach
Employing a mix of Socratic questioning and targeted instruction, Jordan guides students through complex texts while nurturing critical thinking and comprehensive literary analysis in a warm, inclusive environment.

Inclusivity & Content Note
Sensitive themes found in classic literature are tackled, so reviewing the reading list to ensure alignment with a learner’s interests and readiness is encouraged. Jordan embraces inclusivity in the classroom, warmly welcoming neurodivergent students and those with unique social and/or learning needs.

This learner-led course begins with Fahrenheit 451, chosen by the instructor, while subsequent texts are selected by class vote. A reading schedule will be updated with dates as soon as a new text is chosen.

Schedule for Fahrenheit 451 

 

Jan 20-24:  Introduction to novel. Background. How to read this novel for success.   No pre-reading required!! After class #1: Read after class for homework: page 15 (Hearth and the Salamander) that starts with the sentence: “ It was a pleasure to burn”... to page 22 using this version of the book as your guide (60th anniversary edition by Simon and Schuster): https://www.eriesd.org/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=35845&dataid=55011&FileName=Fahrenheit-451.pdf   Stop when you reach: “How rarely did other people’s faces take of you and throw back to you your own expression, your own innermost trembling thought?” (Fahrenheit 451)

Jan 27-31: Time and Its Impact: HW: Close reading of pages 8 -9 
 
Feb 3-7: he Dystopian Landscape: Exploring the setting and its implications. Read after class for homework: Pages 23-30. Stop when you get to the sentence: “Don’t you remember?” (Fahrenheit 451)

Feb 10-14: The Role of Fire: Symbolism and the duality of destruction and renewal. Read after class for homework: Pages 31-39. Stop when you get to the sentence: “But Montag did not move and only stood thinking of the ventilator grill in the hall at home and what lay hidden behind the grill.” (Fahrenheit 451)

Feb 17-24: The Power of Knowledge: Why knowledge is vital and its consequences in society. Read after class for homework: Pages 40-49. Stop when you get to the sentence: You were simply cleaning up. (Fahrenheit 451)

Feb 24-28: Individual vs. Society: The struggle between conformity and individuality.  Read after class for homework: Pages 49-57. Stop when you get to the sentence: “What a shame! You’re not in love with anyone!” And why not? (Fahrenheit 451)

Mar 3-7: The Impact of Technology: How technology shapes relationships and communication. Read after class for homework: Pages 58-66. Stop when you get to the sentence: “How long is it since you were really bothered? About something important, about something real?” (Fahrenheit 451)

Mar 10-14: The Nature of Happiness: What does true happiness mean in a controlled society? Read after class for homework: Pages 67-74. Stop when you get to the sentence: “Montag held his breath.”  (Fahrenheit 451)

Mar 17-21: Voices of Rebellion: Focusing on characters who challenge the status quo. Read after class for homework: Pages 75-83. Stop when you get to the sentence: “Here now,” said Montag. “We’ll start over again, at the beginning.” (Fahrenheit 451)

Mar 24-28: The Echoes of the Past: How history shapes identity in a future society.
Read after class for homework: Pages 84-92. Stop when you get to the sentence: “Call the guard.” “The man’s off—” (Fahrenheit 451)

Mar 31-April 4: The Illusion of Freedom: Understanding the concept of freedom in a dystopia. Read after class for homework: Pages 93-101. Stop when you get to the sentence: “The hands tore the flyleaf and then the first and then the second page.”  (Fahrenheit 451)

April 7-11: The Role of Media: Analyzing the portrayal of media and its societal influence. Read after class for homework: Pages 102-110. Stop when you get to the sentence: “Two Caesareans turned the trick, yes, sir.” (Fahrenheit 451)

April 14-18: The Power of Literature Why books matter and their role in our lives. Read after class for homework: Pages 111-119. Stop when you get to the sentence: ““Old man,” he said, “stay with me.” (Fahrenheit 451)

April 21-25: Emotional Disconnect. Exploring relationships in an emotionally barren world. Read after class for homework: Pages 120-128. Stop when you get to the sentence: “There are no consequences and no responsibilities. Except that there are.” (Fahrenheit 451)

April 28-May 2: Symbols of Oppression. Identifying symbols that represent control and surveillance. Read after class for homework: Pages 129-137. Stop when you get to the sentence: “He thought of Faber.” (Fahrenheit 451)

May 5-9: The Journey of the Protagonist: A deep dive into Montag’s transformation and challenges. Read after class for homework: Pages 137-146. Stop when you get to the sentence: “Even though practically everything’s air-borne these days and most of the tracks are abandoned, the rails are still there, rusting.” (Fahrenheit 451)

May 12-16: The Future of Humanity. Discussing potential futures based on present actions. Read after class for homework: Pages 146-155. Stop when you get to the sentence: “The sun burned every day. It burned Time.”  (Fahrenheit 451)

May 19-23:  Community vs. Isolation. The importance of community in a disconnected world. Read after class for homework: Pages 155-164. Stop when you get to the sentence:” Darkness.”  (Fahrenheit 451)

May 26-30: Martyrs of Knowledge. Examining characters who sacrifice for the sake of truth. Read after class for homework: Pages 165-173. Stop when you get to the sentence: “Once the bomb release was yanked, it was over.” (VOTE ON NEXT TEXT!)