Write a Response to Literature Essay
In this 8-week class, learners will plan and write a response to literature essay based on a work of literature of their choosing. Feedback will be given. No live meetings.
Julie Willis
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What's included
8 pre-recorded lessons
8 weeks
of teacher support1 year access
to the contentHomework
1 hour per week. includedAssessment
includedClass Experience
US Grade 5 - 9
Writing about literature is one of many ways that we can deepen our understanding and appreciation of great literature (a story, a poem, a book, a play). Writing about literature can also improve our writing skills because when we write about literature, we must refer to the text. Referring to a text is an advanced writing skill that will be useful for many years. This class will help your learner either begin or continue their journey of writing about literature. The lessons will show your learner how to write a response to literature essay step by step. Beginners can keep it short and simple; more advanced learners are welcome to try the extra challenges and choose more complex literature to write about. What will they write about? That is, in large part, up to the learner and their adult(s). Since the class focuses on writing, it may make more sense to choose a work the learner has read recently (as opposed to starting something new). It should be something they have access to (not, for example, a library book they have already returned) because they will need to refer to it throughout the entire course. What if the learner needs help choosing? I am happy to help with that! I have lots and lots and lots of suggestions for stories and books for a variety of reading levels and interests. Please feel free to ask for some suggestions. Each lesson consists of a video tutorial, a writing assignment, and detailed feedback. Please see syllabus for more details about the lessons.
Learning Goals
Learners will interact with a text of their choice and write an effective, well organized response to literature essay, supported by evidence from the literature they have chosen.
Syllabus
8 Lessons
over 8 WeeksLesson 1:
Getting Started: Overview of a Response to Literature Essay; Choosing a Text
In this lesson, learners will gain a better understanding of what it means to write a response to literature essay. They will also choose their piece of literature. If your learner doesn't know what to write about, please let me know their interests and approximate reading level, and I will offer some suggestions. 1 assignment
Lesson 2:
Summary
Summaries have a very different purpose and style than essays. This exercise will help the learner differentiate these purposes and also practice writing a summary of the work of literature they have chosen. 1 assignment
Lesson 3:
Story Elements and Essay Topic Ideas
This lesson will review characters, setting, plot, and theme. Possible essay topics will come from these basic elements. Learners will choose a prompt for their essay. 1 assignment
Lesson 4:
Outline
Now that the learner has chosen a work of literature and a prompt to write about, we will start planning the essay. The lesson will show an example of how to create an outline. Then the learner will write an outline for their own topic. 1 assignment
Other Details
Pre-Requisites
Learners should be able to read a story or book independently and have some basic essay writing skills. This class will incorporate both literacy and writing.
Language of Instruction
English
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined January, 2021
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168reviews
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Teacher expertise and credentials
Master's Degree in English from California State University
I have taught English for 26 years at all levels: elementary school, middle school, dual enrollment, and college, and currently I homeschool my lovely children, who are 11 and 13 years old. I have taught mainstream, remedial, and GATE (gifted and talented) classes.
I have bachelor's and master's degrees in English from California State Universities.
I believe that everyone can learn and that how much you learn often depends much on the amount of effort you're willing to invest. To that end, I try to encourage and motivate my students to have a can-do attitude and a growth mindset. In part, that means that both the learner and the instructor may have to look for outside-the-box ways to approach a topic in order to make it more accessible.
For fun, I enjoy being outdoors. I love nature, wildlife, and hiking. I also enjoy spending time at home reading and sewing. Every so often I take a class in something I've never done before just to remind myself what it feels like to be new to a topic. This helps me feel compassion for my learners who are not yet experts in my content area, and it keeps me humble and helps me think of creative ways to reach my learners.Reviews
Self-Paced Course
$16
weekly or $125 for all content8 pre-recorded lessons
8 weeks of teacher support
Choose your start date
1 year of access to the content
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Ages: 11-14
