Write Two Literary Essays
In this four-week self-paced (video-based) class, students will compose two complete literary essays (one based on a fairy tale, the other based on a book).
Dana Lorelle, Writing, Vocabulary, Essays
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What's included
4 pre-recorded lessons
4 weeks
of teacher support1 year access
to the contentHomework
1-2 hours per week. Class 1: Students most compose the body paragraphs and make any changes suggested by the instructor. Class 2: Students must complete the intro and conclusion. Class 3: Students must compose the body paragraphs and make any changes suggested by the instructor. Class 4: Students must complete the intro and conclusion.Assessment
Each submitted essay will receive a detailed evaluation with notes on the student's content, writing style, grammar, and organization.Class Experience
US Grade 6 - 9
This four-part self-paced (video-based) class will guide students through the creation of two literary essays. This first will be based on a fairy tale of the student’s choice and will examine an action or decision of a particular character. Examples of essay topics are “Was Jack right to chop down the beanstalk?” and “Should the fairy godmother have helped Cinderella?” Students are of course able to formulate their own questions. The second essay will be based on a book of the student’s choice. In this essay, students will choose a particular literary aspect such as theme, symbolism, character development, or use of foreshadowing, and compose an essay that examines this topic. Both essays will be five paragraphs with an introduction (and thesis), three body paragraphs, and a conclusion (with a restated thesis). Additionally, the second essay challenges students to elevate their writing by meeting various grammatical and literary standards, like including a dependent clause, adverb, and alliteration. Students MUST be familiar with the construction of a basic five-paragraph essay. Skills taught and/or reviewed in this class are: brainstorming, evidence gathering, thesis generation, outlining, quote selection and usage, citation creation, and literary analysis. Each video lasts roughly 40 minutes, not including in-video activities. Each video begins with a warm-up, followed by an instructor presentation with interesting content, activities, and examples. The assignments and instructions are very clear. After each class, students should plan on submitting their body paragraphs for instructor feedback and the completed essays for a full evaluation. All submitted essays will receive a full evaluation.
Learning Goals
Students will understand the process of writing and organizing a literary essay.
Syllabus
4 Lessons
over 4 WeeksLesson 1:
Class 1
Students will select a fairy tale. The video will guide students through the process of developing a list of questions that examine a character’s actions. Then, students will use an instructor-provided yes/no chart to gather evidence (using citations) and develop their thesis statement. After this, students will decide on their three main points of evidence and outline their body paragraphs. The final step is for students to write the three body paragraphs. 1 assignment
Lesson 2:
Class 2
Students will examine/improve their own body paragraphs for both content and grammar/style. The focus this week will be on creating the introduction and conclusion for the fairy tale essay. The intro will include a full thesis, and the conclusion will use a restated thesis, a counter-argument, and a rebuttal. 1 assignment
Lesson 3:
Class 3
Now, students should select their own book. They are welcome to pick any book as well as examine any aspect of that book, such as theme, character development, use of setting, plot devices, literary devices, tone, etc. The process of evidence gathering will be similar to Week 1. Students must create a thesis, such as “Charlotte Bronte, in “Jane Eyre,” shows the character’s moral fortitude in how Jane…” Students will write their three body paragraphs. 1 assignment
Lesson 4:
Class 4
After examining and hopefully improving the body paragraphs, students will write the introduction and the conclusion. The instructor will give different ideas for the introduction’s hook, and the conclusion should focus on interpreting the author’s or society’s connection to the element that was examined. 1 assignment
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Parents, some fairy tales (at least in their original forms!) have violent and/or gory elements that may be mentioned in class. An example is that Cinderella's stepsister tried to cut off her foot to make the shoe fit.
Language of Instruction
English
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined February, 2019
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Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
With more than four years on Outschool, I have developed a focused but fun teaching methodology that works with students of all abilities and learning styles. In my essay courses, I pay attention to both content/organization and grammar/style, and my goal is that students will improve their writing skills with each subsequent essay.
I worked as a professional freelancer and journalist for numerous years, with publications appearing in numerous newspapers and magazines. I hold degrees in French literature and Journalism from UNC-Chapel Hill. Reviews
Self-Paced Course
$20
weekly or $80 for all content4 pre-recorded lessons
4 weeks of teacher support
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1 year of access to the content
Completed by 8 learners
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Ages: 10-15
