Course Offerings
English
Honors Grammar and Composition – Tutor: Mr. Jack Gale
Grammar and Composition is a two-semester course that begins with a review of traditional grammar, including parts of speech, noun usage, and basic sentence patterns, and moves on to verb conjugations, phrases, and clauses before the year ends. The grammar portion of the class emphasizes usage problems, such as major grammatical errors, common usage problems like agreement, punctuation, and sentence construction. Concurrent with the grammar portion of the class is a course in writing. The first semester focuses on various types of paragraphs (argumentation, persuasion, comparison, analysis, etc.) of a formal, three-part nature since this type of writing is the emphasis of most standardized tests, the SAT, and colleges. During the second semester students move on to full-length essays and conclude the year with a research paper on a general topic. Students are encouraged to use outside sources during the entire year and must practice the correct use of notes and bibliography. While this is not a reading class, per se, students will read a number of short literary works and one or two short novels to provide material for literary analysis. This course prepares students for college composition.
Text: will be provided
Course Credit: 1 credit of English
Available: All grades but recommended before college writing
Annual Tuition: $500
American Literature with Honors Option – Mr. Jack Gale, Tutor 2019-2020
Prerequisite: Grammar and Composition through Shanan OR if the student has had a thorough writing course previously with approval by the tutor.
Available: Juniors and Seniors
This class is a two-semester survey of American literature, mostly excerpts and shorter selections, from the beginnings of our country to the present. Since history usually provides a context for the literature, students also have an opportunity to review the history of our nation and the most significant literary periods. Though the emphasis is on shorter works in order to get as broad an overview as possible, students will also read all or many of the following standard works: The Scarlet Letter, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Walden, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and a twentieth-century selection, such as To Kill a Mockingbird or The Great Gatsby. Selections will vary by class or interest. American Literature also provides students with an opportunity to hone their writing skills through a wide range of writing assignments in which they may argue an issue of interest, discuss a matter of concern, or analyze material they have read. As time and the interests/needs of students permit, they will have opportunities to write a number of timed, in-class practice essays of the type and format suggested by the SAT. The second semester will conclude with a formal research paper.
Text: will be provided
Annual Tuition: $500
Credit: 1 credit of English
Analysis of World Literature – Tutor: Sarah Litowski 2019-2020
Analysis of World Literature will cover at least 10 major historical works (see list below) and analysis of key concepts in the books. There will be comprehension, writing assignments and analysis questions on each work. It is the perfect accompaniment to our World History by Notgrass, but can be taken independently.
Required Reading:
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The Cat of the Bubastes by G.A. Henty
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The Art of War by Sun Tzu
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No Fear Shakespeare Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
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The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis
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Here I Stand by Roland Bainton
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A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
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The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
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Animal Farm by George Orwell
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Goodbye, Vietnam by Gloria Whelan
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The Abolition of Man by C.S. Lewis
Required workbook: Exploring World History Student Review Pack with Quiz & Test Book, Updated NOTGRASS COMPANY / 2014 (Cost approx. $17) Feel free to purchase copies from Homeschool Room or Amazon.
Course Credit: 1 credit of English
Available: All grades but recommended in the sophomore year or above
Annual Tuition: $425
Introduction to Grammar & Composition- Tutor: Sarah Litowski 2019-2020
This course will go over the fundamentals of different styles of composition as well as word processing, study skills including note taking. This course uses Analytical Grammar which teaches English grammar, punctuation, and usage. This innovative and logical method is not only extremely effective, but makes learning grammar fun. Analytical Grammar is an easy-to-follow, step-by-step approach that will prepare your student for high school and college-level work. The course is structured to boost 8th graders English knowledge and skills before they go on to high school level classes. Ninth graders should only take this class if the parent does not feel that they are ready for high school English classes. If a 9th grader takes this course, there will be higher expectations for their assignments.
Required Book: Analytical Grammar A Systematic Approach to Language Mastery - Student Book Paperback – 1996 Can be purchased Christianbook.com and used copies available at Amazon
ASIN: B00TQWBE9O
Available: 8th & 9th grade (1 credit of English for 9th graders)
Annual Tuition: $350
CLOSED Literary Analysis: Lord of the Rings – Tutor: Sarah Litowski CLOSED
Prerequisite: Grammar and Composition through Shanan OR if the student has had a thorough writing course previously with approval by the tutor.
This course is an Introduction to Literary Analysis. It thoroughly covers one major impressive work of literature, Lord of the Rings, and focuses on one author, Tolkien. While studying LOTR your students will be acquainted with over 130 literary terms and over 600 new vocabulary words. They will also be introduced to several of the great literary sources that provided the background for Tolkien’s world. Though a goal of this class is to acquaint the student with the writings of Tolkien, an even more important goal is that they learn literary analysis skills that will carry over to their studies of other works.
Text: Literary Lessons from the Lord of the Rings Student Edition (2nd edition) ISBN 978-0-9754934-3-4; and The Lord of the Rings (entire trilogy in one volume) ISBN 978-0-618-64015-7 (this edition keyed to the student lessons). These can be purchased at www.homescholarbooks.com.
THIS COURSE IS CLOSED
Course Credit: 1 credit of English
Available: Sophomores and above
Annual Tuition: $500