American Literature Course Description

 

What does it cover? 

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 survey 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.

We cover novels, short stories, memoirs, and poetry from writers as diverse as Nathaniel Hawthorne and Harper Lee, even venturing into the 21st century. The course aims to catch a glimpse of major American time periods and cultures, including discussions of Puritan New England, the slave-holding South, the Western frontier, and more. Students will become familiar with key themes of American literature, and come to appreciate different styles and methods. 

Who is it for? 

Due to the amount of reading and the nature of class discussion and assignments, this course is recommended for homeschool students sophomore level and above. 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. 

How does it work? 

Class meets for two hours per week. Along with the reading assignments, students are provided with discussion questions to help prepare for class, and take frequent quizzes to encourage careful reading. Writing assignments are returned with teacher feedback. Evaluations are given at the end of each semester, and parents can also check their students' progress and grades online throughout the school year. 

Class Time: Thursdays, 10-12PM Mountain Time (9-11 Pacific, 11-1 Central, 12-2 Eastern)

The cost for this 33-week course is $550.

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Required Texts

In most cases, the following links are to the editions that Miss Mattson will be using in class. If you already own some of these books, feel free to use whichever edition you have, except in the case of those marked with an asterisk. I have tried to recommend low-cost editions whenever possible, including several Barnes & Noble Classics editions - B&N stores often sell three for the price of two, and this special is sometimes available on their website as well.

Note: This list will be finalized at least one month prior to the start of class.