Welcome! You are warmly invited to join me in the joyful pursuit of appreciating great literature. My small, interactive, live online classes offer a rigorous but enjoyable study of English literature, inspiring students to love the written word and to seek to understand it in light of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are designed for motivated, homeschooled high school students who enjoy reading and can work independently.

In the Fall of 2009 I am offering a year-long course on American Literature. Please see the course description below. You will find Frequently Asked Questions and Registration information linked from the right-hand sidebar, as well as a short reflection on the importance of studying literature. I hope you will consider joining my classes!

Sincerely,
Melodee Mattson

Course Offering for 2009/2010

American Literature

The study of English literature often tends to emphasize the great heritage of British literature, overlooking many of the literary achievements of our young country. This year-long course attempts to correct that neglect by studying a wide scope of American literature, ranging from the early days of the USA up until the present day. It will cover novels, short stories, memoirs, and poetry from writers as diverse as Nathaniel Hawthorne and Harper Lee.

Due to the amount of reading and the nature of class discussion and critical assignments, this course is not recommended for students below sophomore level. All students will be expected to participate in class discussions. Evaluation will be based on their participation as well as other assignments including short response essays, presentations, quizzes, and one formal paper at the end of each semester. The class will meet once a week for two hours. Please see registration details and course fees on the Registration & Fees page.

Class Time: Fridays, 12-2PM Mountain Time (11-1 Pacific, 2-4 Eastern)

Reading List: Visit the American Lit information page for a list of required texts.

Victorian Literature 

Queen Victoria reigned from 1837-1901, the longest reign of a British monarch. This time period is called the Victorian Era in her honor, and it produced a diverse body of literature, from the irrepressible Dickens to the passionate Charlotte Brontë to the hilarious Oscar Wilde. This year-long course covers a variety of works from Victorian authors, including some poetry and drama, but focusing primarily on novels. Students become familiar with great works of English literature, come to appreciate different styles and methods, gain an understanding of literary criticism, and learn how the gospel applies to literature. This course is designed to provide solid high school-appropriate preparation for college-level literature classes. There is a significant amount of reading involved, but we spend approximately three weeks on each novel, depending on its length, so the reading is broken up into manageable sections.

Due to the amount of reading and the nature of class discussion and critical assignments, this course is not recommended for students below sophomore level. All students are expected to participate in class discussions. Evaluation is based on their participation as well as other assignments including short response essays, presentations, quizzes, and one formal paper at the end of each semester.

What Students & Parents Say About CTT Classes

"What I love about Miss Mattson's class is the way that she ties spirituality in with great literature, teaching her students to look at both the faults and triumphs of novel characters to reflect, influence, and compare their own hearts to the characters', and also to learn from their mistakes. The online discussions with the other students is great, and the lectures and teachings always intriguing. Even while only at the second semester point, it feels like many of my classmates are my friends, and not just a group of students that I learn with. We laugh and bond while learning about some of the greatest novels... There is simply nothing like it! This has been my favorite class all year and I hope to take another class from Miss Mattson again!" - Shelby, Victorian Lit student

"This class was incredible. The books were amazing, the teacher [... gave a] perfect balance of lecture and guidance while allowing us students the freedom to explore, within reason, our own ideas about the book and its meanings. I learned so much from this class that will move with me throughout my life. Not to mention all the new friends I've made!" - Megan, Victorian Lit student

"The class was perfect for my daughter! Although she already had a passion for literature, the class allowed her an outlet for that love as well as deepened her knowledge and understanding of good literature. I feel her skills were sharpened in the areas of composition, poetry, and rhetoric. I was particularly impressed with the profound thought that went into Miss Mattson's critique of her compositions. Miss Mattson's enthusiasm for literature definitely made an impression on my daughter and took her to new levels. I am very thankful for her instruction." - Parent of Victorian Lit student