English 11/12

American Literature

“American literature has never been content to be just one among the many literatures of the Western World. It has always aspired to be the literature not only of a new continent but of a New World.” —Christopher Dawson

Meets the requirement for one High School English credit.

In this 30-week class, students will:

  • Learn, identify, and use literary devices such as allegory, foreshadowing, and irony 

  • Discuss each reading’s literary elements

  • Write short essays to be shared in class, as well as an MLA-formatted paper

  • Become familiar with the standard form of a five-paragraph essay and learn how to use literary devices to enhance their writing

  • Practice public speaking and clear communication of ideas

  • Read short stories such as “The Most Dangerous Game” and “The Lottery”

  • Review works by playwrights such as Tennessee Williams, Edward Albee, and Arthur Miller 

  • Read works of poets such as Edgar Allan Poe, Robert Frost, and Emily Dickinson

  • Read a variety of novels

Novels will be chosen from the following great American works:

  • 1984

  • Of Mice and Men

  • The Fault in Our Stars

  • The Outsiders

  • Divergent

  • The Hunger Games

  • The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

  • The Maze Runner

  • Anne of Green Gables

  • The Scarlet Letter

  • A Separate Peace

  • In Cold Blood

  • The Call of the Wild

  • The Awakening

  • Everything Sad is Untrue

  • Haunting of Hill House

  • Night

  • Black Like Me

  • Walden

  • Ethan Frome

  • Where the Red Fern Grows

  • Beloved

Note: We will NOT read all of the novels listed. Students will be expected to read the assigned materials before class and to participate in class discussions. 

Visual media will be used to supplement literature. Finally, we will wrap up our year with a student-selected book approved by the tutor and parents.

Required materials:

  • Access to the literary works assigned. Most are available at your local library. Several are available as free ebooks on Apple Books or Kindle. Bargain books can be purchased at ThriftBooks.com or other second-hand sites. 

  • The Lively Art of Writing by Lucile Vaughan Payne. 

  • Students must have access to a computer, a printer, and the internet. Essays and papers must be typed. They should be submitted electronically and in print form (hard copy). 

  • A journal and a pencil or pen brought to each class

Homework: 

Required reading for the week, as well as a short, subjective essay about the required reading. Consistent assignments to aid in the paper-writing process

Wednesday

Time: 9:00-10:30
Grades: 11-12
Cost: $400
Supply Fee: $50
Tutor: Kelsey Verdell