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*Even if your learner has not had much formal essay writing, I do believe this course will still be a good fit.  I provide multiple examples, outlines, and feedback on the writing process*

I believe that, through literature and other mediums, we are able to see how people have overcome tribulations.  I love to teach in a “I do”, “We do”, “You do” style, and it has been proven most effective in the classes I’ve taught.  Learners of all abilities are welcomed in my classes.  In addition to building on basic reading comprehension skills, this class will ask students to dig deeper into the texts and analyze universal themes, text structure, and much more.  We will be using many primary sources throughout this course, nonfiction, fiction, music, and video clips.

The purpose of this course is to introduce learners to historical time periods and how literature (both fiction and non-fiction), photos, audio, and video tell the story of the struggles and triumphs of that era.  Through critical thinking, analysis, and writing, learners will build their confidence and strengthen their literary responses, focusing on text to world, text to self and text to text analysis.  The final four weeks of the course, learners will choose a historical period of their choice and complete a culminating writing and research project.  This mini-essay project allows learners to really analyze, not summarize, texts and other mediums in a meaningful way, yet still through formal essay writing.  Instead of just analyzing texts, learners are able to explore other mediums in order to have a deeper understanding of each historical period.

*Weeks 1-2: Civil War
-Readings: "A Horseman in the Sky" by Ambrose Bierce, Civil War letters (primary documents), excerpt from the novel Killer Angels by Michael Shaara in connection with Colonel Chamberlain's "Deserters Speech"
-Writing task: Short essay response with a focus on building strong thesis statements and body paragraphs

*Weeks 3-4: The Progressive Era
-Readings: newspaper clippings focused on Susan B. Anthony, poetry from Robert Frost, Ezra Pound, ee cummings, and F. Scott Fitzgerald
-Writing task: Short essay response with a focus on strong introductions and conclusions

*Weeks 5-6: Civil Rights Movement
Video: The Children's March
Music and Lyrics: "The Death of Emmett" Till by Bob Dylan
Photos: Elizabeth Eckford of the Little Rock Nine
Writing task: Photo analysis essay

*Weeks 7-8: Vietnam War
Readings: "Ambush" by Tim O'Brien
Photography: primary sources from the National Archives
Writing Task: Learner Choice Board

*Weeks 9-12: Learner Choice Writing Portfolio Project on era of their choice using multiple mediums (literature, non-fiction texts, videos, music, art, etc...) with a focus on analysis

This course will help learners build their confidence with both their reading and writing skills. I am very open-minded and respect the opinions of all learners! I will be providing extensive feedback both in class and outside of class.