American Literature & Composition is a literature and writing course that focuses on major works of American literature and the composition skills necessary to write effectively at the high school level and which will prepare them for a subsequent literature and composition course and the college preparatory course Writing for College. During this year, students will grow as readers, writers, and learners. Students will learn to read actively, make careful observations of textual detail, establish connections among observations, and make interpretive conclusions about meaning and value. They will learn to think critically, analyze, synthesize, evaluate, and compare through lectures, discussion, reading, writing, and presentation. All literature will be analyzed through the lens of Scripture, and students will learn through repeated practice in class discussion and composition to always question how and in what way what they read is aligned with Truth and how these analyses impact them personally. In this way, students will come to take ownership of their growth as lifetime learners and Christ followers. Expectations and requirements will be at the 10-12 grade high school level, so it is imperative that students are committed to diligence and excellence in all reading, discussing, and writing. Students should expect to be in each class session as each is vital to understanding the material and instruction. Additionally, students should expect to spend approximately three hours a week on homework assignments (sometimes more in advance of a formal essay or substantial reading assignment and sometimes less when reading poetry). Major essays: 1) Analysis 2) Compare & Contrast 3) Research 4) Persuasive 5) Reflection
Textbooks to purchase:
Edwards, Jonathan. Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God ISBN-13 978-1420961775 (sermon)
Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter ISBN-13 978-0486280486
Steinbeck, John. The Pearl ISBN-13 978-0140177374 (novella)
Under Class Details, see the Class Attachment for pictures of the textbooks.
Will be provided by the instructor:
Thoreau, Henry David. Walden (selections)
Short Stories:
Bradbury, Ray.The Veldt
Ursula Le Guin, The Wife’s Story
Marlantes, Karl. What it is Like to Go to War
Poetry:
Edgar Allen Poe, Emily Dickinson, T.S. Eliot, Langston Hughes
Supplies:
2-inch, 3-ring binder
10 binder tabs
2 highlighters - any color
loose-leaf college-ruled paper
consistent access to printer, ink, printer paper
Successful completion of KEYS HS English I and/or II with permission of the instructor. If students are NOT CURRENTLY ENROLLED in a KEYS Math or English class, we require Placement Evaluations to be sure they are placed at the best level to help them be successful in the coming year. Please contact the office to schedule an evaluation prior to class selection.
Parents are responsible for purchasing all textbooks and supplies before the first day of class.
Supply fees are due to each teacher on the first day of class. This fee covers materials, lab supplies, and other expenses incurred by the teacher. They are a one-time fee.
Please note the grade level for this class. Students younger than the recommended grade levels need special permission before signing up for the class. Please contact the office for more information.
What happens if a class is full? You may email administration@keysofva.org to be waitlisted.
