In this class, I will walk students through the steps of analyzing and writing about a piece of literature.  First of all, we will discuss how analyzations focus on an assertion and are very different from a summary.  Then, I will show students what to look for while reading and how to take effective notes about what they read.  Finally, I will show the students a writing plan and format for an analyzation essay.  I will give students plenty of explanations, examples, and hands-on practice.  We will spend time discussing a short story and poem in class so they thoroughly understand how to analyze each one. Students will practice what they've learned by writing a literary analysis essay about the short story they read.    

*This class works best if students leave their cameras on and actively participate in our discussions* 

Week One:  I will introduce the literary analysis essay and go over what parts of a story (or other piece of literature) to focus on while reading.  I will also give students tips and different examples of ways to annotate while reading.  Students will complete some in-class practice of their own. 
Homework:  Students will finish reading the short story "The Necklace," which is found online in the public domain.

Week Two: We will discuss "The Necklace" and share our annotations.  I will show students how I would put my own notes together for my literary analysis essay. We will discuss how to properly use direct quotes to support our assertions. 
Homework:  Students will write a short literary analysis essay and submit it to me via private message or classroom post before our next meeting. I will provide thorough feedback and constructive criticism to help students improve their future essays.

Week Three:  I will share my literary analysis essay and explain how I put it together.  Students will get more practice as we discuss and analyze two poems together.  I will give the students some possible topics to write about when analyzing poetry. 
  
Optional Extra Practice:  Students can write a second literary analysis essay or a paragraph on one of the poems we discuss in class and send it to me via private message or classroom post within a week after our class ends. I will provide thorough feedback and constructive criticism to help students improve their future essays.