10-11th Grade Writing & Literature

Required Textbooks: TBD

Teacher: Michelle Moraga

Course Description: The goal of this class is to build the reading, writing, discussion, critical thinking, analytical, speaking, and research skills students will use in high school and beyond. These skills are not only academic skills but also life skills that will serve students in whatever God calls them to in the future. Through the reading selections, students will explore literary themes and devices, hone their analysis and discussion skills, and consider authors' beliefs and values alongside their own worldviews. They will read in multiple genres, including novels, poetry, plays, and essays; these selections will include classic works of literature and important voices from history.  As they read, they will continue to improve their writing skills, composing different styles of essays, compiling a research paper, and experimenting with various forms of creative writing.

Classroom Work: Direct instruction, discussion, peer review, presentations, group activities, and writing, along with occasional quizzes and some games to spice things up.

Homework: Reading, note-taking, literature response, writing assignments, independent research, and other projects and presentations. Timely completion of homework is essential for a functioning class time, and homework will be graded.

Pre-Requisites: This is a high school level, college preparatory class. Students should be comfortable with the steps of the writing process and be able to construct a thesis statement and write a thesis-driven essay. (Although we will refine our essay-writing skills in class, the assumption will be that students are familiar with the basics.) Students should be independent readers who demonstrate age-appropriate annotation and textual analysis skills, moving beyond the surface-level details of the plot into structure, technique, and theme. Students who are new to the class must contact the teacher in advance for a small assignment to be completed before Compass begins.