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When Women Write: Death on the Nile

An engaging university-prep study with Agatha Christie, two newlyweds, a murder, and a complicated plot. #academic
Kendra Fletcher
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:
(521)
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What's included

5 live meetings
4 hrs 10 mins in-class hours
Homework
2-4 hours per week. Weekly reading, an essay, creative projects, and dramatic reading prep. I give a lot of space for learning disabilities and non-neurotypical learners (I have a few in my own home!), so if you're hesitant about the class format, please reach out to me.

Class Experience

US Grade 8 - 11
What makes a mystery story take on a life of its own in film and theatre adaptations? Why does a story like this continue to surprise and shock generations who are introduced to it anew? And what was it like to be a woman who wrote more than 80 mysteries, 6 romance novels, 19 plays, and an autobiography?

In this 5-week course, we'll read 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑵𝒊𝒍𝒆 together, exploring themes of good and evil, lies and deceit, greed, and good old fashioned mystery and intrigue. I'll introduce you to author Agatha Christie, bring historical context to life, and help you develop a passion for the story (which means you might end up hating it just as much as you might end up loving it!)

-We will stick to a strict reading schedule that guarantees book completion in the 5-week course time. It's not a lot of reading (roughly 6 chapters per week), and listening to an audio version is perfectly acceptable if that is better for you. However, you will want to be able to take notes.

Week One: Lecture and pre-reading discussion
Week Two: Read and discuss Chapters 1-7
Week Three: Read and discuss Chapters 8-16
Week Four: Read and discuss Chapters 17-24
Week Five: Read and Discuss Chapters 25-31

-I will be giving a pre-reading lecture during the first session complete with pictures and ample study on the background of the author, her work, and what that means relative to the books she wrote. You will feel prepared to understand why Death on the Nile is such an important addition to the English mystery canon.

-We'll take notes just as legendary detective Hercule Poirot does in the novel, attempting to solve the same murders he will. 

-A creative writing project will be assigned so that you can try your hand at writing your own mystery. Or perhaps you'd like to attempt to turn this story into another literary genre (it would make a terrific graphic novel). I will read and return your work with notes and feedback, with the goal of helping you be a better reader and lover of literature.

-We will discuss the film adaptations of 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑵𝒊𝒍𝒆, including the 2022 Kenneth Branagh version. 

-Class participation and discussion will be the best way for us to learn together. Come prepared to talk about the story, the chapters we're covering, unfamiliar vocabulary, and give us your thoughts and opinions about Agatha Christie’s 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑵𝒊𝒍𝒆. Socratic discussion is the center of our time together, and each When Women Write course is designed to prepare you for college and university-level literature analysis.

-For extra reading enhancement, I'll provide optional creative projects. These typically include creating a book cover or illustrating quotes, making playlists to accompany the plot, or filming your own scene. Each When Women Write course is different and learners have come to love the variety of projects and assignments uniquely chosen for each book selection. 

-To round out a high school semester, add either:
Essentials for Reluctant Writers Semester I (academic essay writing) 𝘰𝘳
Essentials for Reluctant Writers Semester II (creative writing) 𝘢𝘯𝘥
High School English: Read Literature Like a Professor (literary analysis)

My College-Bound Reader courses include 𝘖𝘧 𝘔𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘦𝘯, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘓𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳, and 𝘞𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘏𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴.

I offer other When Women Write courses featuring excellent female authors. When Women Write courses include 𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘦 𝘌𝘺𝘳𝘦, 𝘍𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘪𝘯, 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯, 𝘈 𝘛𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘭𝘺𝘯, 𝘛𝘰 𝘒𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢 𝘔𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘥, 𝘚𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 & 𝘚𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘌𝘮𝘮𝘢, 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦 & 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘫𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘦, 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘪𝘭𝘦, 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘞𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘯𝘦, and 𝘔𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴.
Learning Goals
Our goals are to understand the novel from beginning to end and to learn how to analyze characters, setting, and plot. My goal with each class and every learner is that we will have an enriching experience together to carry throughout our lives. 

CCSS
RL.8.1
Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
CCSS
RL.8.10
By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, at the high end of grades 6–8 text complexity band independently and proficiently.
CCSS
RL.9-10.1
Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
CCSS
RL.9-10.10
By the end of grade 9, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, in the grades 9-10 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.By the end of grade 10, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, at the high end of the grades 9-10 text complexity band independently and proficiently.
CCSS
RL.11-12.1
Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including determining where the text leaves matters uncertain.
CCSS
RL.11-12.10
By the end of grade 11, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, in the grades 11-CCR text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.By the end of grade 12, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, at the high end of the grades 11-CCR text complexity band independently and proficiently.
CCSS
W.8.4
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
CCSS
W.8.5
With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed.
CCSS
W.8.9
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
CCSS
W.8.10
Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.
CCSS
W.9-10.4
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
CCSS
W.9-10.5
Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience.
CCSS
W.9-10.9
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
CCSS
W.9-10.10
Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.
CCSS
W.11-12.4
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
CCSS
W.11-12.5
Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and audience.
CCSS
W.11-12.9
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
CCSS
W.11-12.10
Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.
learning goal

Syllabus

5 Lessons
over 5 Weeks
Lesson 1:
Introductory Lecture and Discussion
 During the first live meeting, I will be introducing you to the author and the novel, focusing on cultural, historical, and social issues covered in the story. You don't need to have any of 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘪𝘭𝘦 read yet, but feel free to start it if you like. 
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Discussing Chapters 1-7
 During the live meeting, we will discuss Chapters 1-7 by Socratic method. We will also discuss the week’s project and assignments. 
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Discussing Chapters 8-16
 During the live meeting, we will discuss Chapters 8-16 by Socratic method. We will also share our projects and discuss the essay due at the end of the course. 
50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Discussing Chapters 17-24
 During the live meeting, we will discuss Chapters 17-24 and projects from the previous week. 
50 mins online live lesson

Other Details

Parental Guidance
Since this is a murder mystery, we will be discussing crime and murder in particular.
Supply List
A copy of 𝑫𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑵𝒊𝒍𝒆 will be required. You may buy or borrow whichever edition works for you. As long as your copy is unabridged, you're good to go.
Language of Instruction
English
Joined April, 2019
5.0
521reviews
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Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from University of the Pacific
By the time I entered the 8th grade, I had read more than half of the mystery novels written by Agatha Christie. Her writing was kind of an obsession for me, and I made it my goal to read every single one. Her tight writing and excellent character development made each one of her mysteries delightful, and I soon developed my favorite Christie crime solvers (ask me which ones!) As an author myself, I particularly enjoy studying the works and perspectives of other female authors.

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Live Group Course
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$89

for 5 classes
1x per week, 5 weeks
50 min

Completed by 28 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
1-8 learners per class

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