This course is divided into themes, with each theme lasting from 4 to 7 weeks. During each theme, students will read, write, and work on a creative project. For theme 1, students will create a fantasy world and write a short fantasy story. For theme 2, students will choose a short story and turn it into a graphic novel. And for our final theme, students will compose a literary analysis essay.

This class aims to create a secure and engaging classroom where students feel safe to share their thoughts, writings, and projects with me and each other to help them grow in their analysis skills and their writing skills. This course is heavy on reading and is best suited for students who are passionate about ELA. Please note, that we will have one week off between themes 1 and 2 and 2 and 3 for students to catch up on any writing/reading. 

Theme 1: The Fantasy Novel - For weeks 1 to 7, students will read and analyze two fantasy books ( A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin and A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge). They will work on different fantasy elements and analyze literary terms. 
Week 1: Elements in every fantasy novel, discussion of the first fantasy book, weekly literary term, reading response due
Week 2: Importance of worldbuilding in fantasy novels, discussion on worlds and settings in different fantasies, world-building assignment, weekly literary term
Week 3: Characters in fantasy novels, including heroes, villains, and mentors, character assignment, weekly literary term
Week 4: Review of character assignment, magic in the fantasy novel, magic assignment, weekly literary term 
Week 5: Discussion of the second fantasy book, fantasy reading response due, introduction to the hero's journey, weekly literary term 
Week 6: Creating a short fantasy story that follows the hero's journey, practical writing workshop, weekly literary term
Week 7: Practical writing workshop, share and support of writing, conclusion of fantasy unit

One-week break. Fantasy short story due at the end of the break. 

Theme 2: The Graphic Novel - For weeks 8 to 11, we will be reading Booked by Kwame Alexander and students will adapt a short story of their choice into their own graphic novel.

Week 8: Discussion of Booked, reading response due, introduction to the graphic novel, short story assignment, weekly literary term
Week 9: Elements of a graphic novel, how to tell a story through words and pictures, short story choice due, weekly literary term
Week 10: Begin working on your graphic novel, practical writing workshop, weekly literary term
Week 11: Share and support art and writing, individual writing support, weekly literary term

One-week break. The graphic novel project is due at the end of the break.

Theme 3: The Literary Analysis Essay - For weeks 12 to 15, we will be reading The Lord of the Flies by William Golding, The Lottery by Shirley Jackson, and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Students will compose a literary essay. 
Week 12: Discussion of The Lord of the Flies, introduction to the literary analysis essay, analysis of thesis statements
Week 13: Discussion of The Lottery and The Hunger Games, themes and symbols in literature, review of sample essays, brainstorming essay ideas
Week 14: Analysis of all three novels together, thesis sentence due, intro to the body paragraphs, and the concluding paragraph
Week 15: Practical writing workshop, sharing of ideas, discussion on the importance of evidence

Literary essay due a week after our last meeting.