Daily READING and WRITING are vital for academic success since it enhances language development, comprehension skills, critical thinking abilities, knowledge acquisition, communication skills, and promotes a critical examination of information. By incorporating the strategies covered in this course into their routine, learners can unlock their full potential, excel academically, and develop valuable skills that extend beyond the classroom.

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HOW READING DAILY AND WRITING ABOUT YOUR READING IMPACTS YOUR LEARNING
LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT | Regular reading exposes learners to a wide range of vocabulary, sentence structures, and writing styles. This exposure helps expand their language skills, enabling them to communicate effectively and articulate their thoughts with clarity.

COMPREHENSION SKILLS | Reading regularly improves reading comprehension, as learners encounter diverse texts and practice extracting meaning from them. It enhances their ability to understand complex ideas, interpret information, and draw inferences, which are crucial skills across all subjects.

CRITICAL THINKING | Engaging with different texts stimulates critical thinking skills. Reading prompts to analyze, evaluate, and interpret information, fosters a deeper understanding of concepts and encourages independent thought. Writing about it, on the other hand, allows learners to express their thoughts, develop arguments, and support ideas with evidence, further strengthening their critical thinking abilities.

 KNOWLEDGE ACQUISITION | Reading exposes learners to a wealth of information and broadens their knowledge base. It introduces them to various subjects, cultures, and perspectives, fostering a well-rounded understanding of the world. Additionally, writing helps learners consolidate their learning, as the process of organizing and articulating their thoughts deepens their understanding and retention of the material.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS | Proficient reading and writing skills are essential for effective communication in academic and professional settings. They enable learners to express their ideas clearly, present arguments persuasively, and engage in thoughtful discussions, all of which are vital skills for success in higher education and future careers.

CRITICAL EXAMINATION | Reading and writing encourage learners to question, analyze, and critically examine information. They learn to evaluate the credibility of sources, identify bias, and develop their own informed opinions. These skills empower learners to become discerning and informed learners who actively engage with academic content.

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THE STORIES BY RAY LeCARA JR
o Novel Excerpt: "Future Destiny," (2022) Book 1 of the Torn Timeline Series
Summary: Drawn into a conflict that is not their own three hundred years into the future, a group of teens become unlikely allies to survive. To find a way home. What they learn about each other will shock them. What they learn about themselves will forever change them. What they learn about their future will test them.
  -a YA science fiction novel
  -a 2023 Literary Titan Gold Book Recipient
  -a 2022 Indies Today "Book of the Year" Finalist

o Short Story: "Scent of Juniper"
Summary: A WWI agent confronts his greatest foe.
  -a 2008 RenPen Short Story Winner
  -published in "From Where I Sit," (2022) a 2023 Literary Titan Gold Book collection of short fiction

o Short Story: "One Night in Bangkok"
Summary: Knowing who to trust can mean the difference between life and death.  
  -published in "From Where I Sit," a 2023 Literary Titan Gold Book collection of short fiction

o Short Story: "Goliath IX"
Summary: Something has gone wrong. A space convoy finds itself in jeopardy after dropping out of FTL in a nebula while on their way to a new homeworld.  
  -a 2022 L Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Honorable Mention
  -published in "Of Space & Time," a 2023 Literary Titan Silver Book collection of science fiction short stories

THE LEARNING | Four over-arching topics will be addressed in the reading: 
   --Session 1: Reading selection assignments will focus on how authors create compelling characters and characterization
   --Session 2: Reading selection assignments will focus on understanding the role major and minor conflict plays in a story's plot
   --Session 3: Reading selection assignments will focus on the element of setting and its important role in stories
   --Session 4: Reading selection assignments will focus on themes and properly providing text evidence to support answers
   --Session 5: Wrap up and discussion of story plots, teacher/formal assessment expectations when analyzing stories

HOW
 o  Daily self-guided reading
 o  Daily writing in the form of guided questions, summaries, open-ended questions, observations

INTERACTIONS
 o  Outside of class: Students will have access to teacher 24/7 should they have questions or need further guidance
 o  Outside of class: Students should be prepared (and know how) to post to the Outschool main class page and to the learner section 
 o  During class: Students should be prepared to engage in conversation about the elements of a story.  They should also be prepared to challenge or question other students--and even the teacher--should their interpretation(s) vary.  

CLASS STRUCTURE
o First part of class: discussion on select summaries, readings, guided questions, as well as addressing student-crafted questions
o Second part: setting up the focus of the week

STORY INFLUENCES
o Doctor Who
o Star Trek
o Mythology