When Women Write: Little Women
A 5-week university-prep literature study of Louisa May Alcott's classic, Little Women #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 hoursHomework
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.Assessment
All essays are read and returned to learners with notes, helpful suggestions, and plenty of encouragement.Class Experience
US Grade 7 - 10
One of the best-loved American books of all time, 𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝑾𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏 was masterfully written as a testament to the quiet strength and achievements of women in the 19th Century. But what was it like to be a female author in a time when women were not valued outside of domesticity? What are the themes Ms. Alcott wove through her story of four sisters growing up in Massachusetts at the time of the Civil War? How does a book like 𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝑾𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏 remain popular over 150 years after its publication? In this 5-week course, we'll read 𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝑾𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏 together, exploring themes of feminism, sibling relationships, loss, loneliness, and love. I'll introduce you to author Louisa May Alcott, bring historical context to life, and help you develop a passion about 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 a lot of reading (roughly 5 chapters per week), but 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— Intro to the author and book, in class Week Two— Read chapters 1-11 Week Three—Read chapters 12-23 Week Four— Read chapters 24-35 Week Five— Read chapters 36-47 -I will be giving a pre-reading lecture during the first session complete with pictures and an ample study on the background of the author, her work, and what that means to the books she wrote. You will feel prepared to understand why Little Women is such an important addition to the American literary canon. -An essay topic will be assigned during the 3rd week so that you can begin forming an opinion and a thesis. I will read and return your essay with notes and feedback, with the goal of helping you be a better reader and lover of literature. -We'll also be doing some creative projects around the book and its topics. Don't worry if you're not an artist! You'll do just great. -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 19th-Century vocabulary, and give us your thoughts and opinions about Louisa May Alcott's 𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝑾𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏. Socratic discussion is the center of our time together, and and each When Women Write course is designed to prepare you for college and university-level literature analysis. -Is this class just for girls? Absolutely not! Many boys have also taken courses in the When Women Write series, and several have really enjoyed 𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝑾𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏 in particular. To read more about why 𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝑾𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏 isn't just a book for girls, see Heather Woodie's excellent article here: https://blogshewrote.org/little-women-not-just-for-girls -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
Students will become familiar with Alcott's 𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝑾𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏, learn to identify its theme and motifs, and be able to draw educated conclusions from our rhetorical discussions.
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.
Syllabus
5 Lessons
over 5 WeeksLesson 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 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 read yet, but feel free to start it if you like. 50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Discussing Chapters 1-11
During the live meeting, we will discuss Chapters 1-11 by Socratic method. We will also discuss the week’s project and assignments. 50 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
Discussing Chapters 12-23
During the live meeting, we will discuss Chapters 12-23 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 24-35
During the live meeting, we will discuss Chapters 24-35 and projects from the previous week. 50 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Supply List
A copy of 𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝑾𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏 will be required. There are several free online versions that I encourage you to use, but if you want a hard copy (great for underlining and making your own notes as we read), I suggest The Sterling Unabridged, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯, or the Oxford World's Classics. As long as your copy is unabridged, you're good to go!
Language of Instruction
English
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined April, 2019
5.0
521reviews
Star Educator
Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from University of the Pacific
Growing up without sisters, 𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝑾𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏 had instant appeal to me because I so envied the relationships of the March sisters. Their story of maturing and becoming such unique women moved me deeply, both because of its compelling personal narrative and because Ms. Alcott was such a masterful storyteller. As an author myself, I particularly enjoy studying the works and perspectives of other female authors.Reviews
Live Group Course
$89
for 5 classes1x per week, 5 weeks
50 min
Completed by 119 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-17
1-8 learners per class
