Read Close-ly: Literary Analysis with Composition – Fall 2023 & Winter 2024 – 20 Weeks – Grades 9 – 10

This course is ideal for both the voracious and reluctant reader. Students will increase their critical thinking skills through the practice of close reading. Research indicates that close reading helps the student learn how to think, and it increases student focus.

Using teacher selected short stories and excerpts from various genres (novels, poetry, non-fiction), students will learn to analyze great literature for the author’s purpose and stylistic choices. This involves repeated readings and student annotation of literary (setting, character, plot) and rhetorical (diction, allusion, theme) devices. With the teacher as their guide, students will dive deeply into texts by international authors from both classic and modern times. The depth and length of assigned readings will increase over the twenty weeks but to nothing longer than George Orwell’s novella, Animal Farm. Building this stamina for reading is an important college and workplace readiness skill. 

Each week, students will be asked to write a brief analysis of their close reading using a blueprint provided by the teacher. Students will also have practice with grammar and writing mechanics while editing teacher provided passages. To conclude the course, students will write a five paragraph analysis of a rhetorical device of the student’s choosing utilizing text evidence gathered from the readings during the course. 

Students are expected to read for pleasure. Although electronic formats are acceptable, a public library card is highly suggested as students will be asked to participate in daily reading of titles of their choosing; anticipate the inspiration for these titles to come from excerpts and authors read during class. Each student will set a personal goal and maintain a log with the goal of showing increased stamina over time. 

By taking a closer look at the art of literature, students will discover that literature mirrors the world and our understanding of it.  Great literature reveals to us truths about being human.  We read to discover who we are. 

Short stories, poetry, etc. provided by the teacher (PDF to be printed or Internet link)

Based on the student’s current stamina for reading, choose one:

How to Read Literature like a Professor for Kids by Thomas C. Foster (ISBN-10: 0062200860)

How to Read Literature like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster (ISBN-10:9780062301673)

Animal Farm by George Orwell (ISBN-10: 1840228032)

Approximately 4-6 hours of homework a week can be expected. This includes reading (and re-reading) selections, writing and editing assignments, viewing additional recorded lessons and extension videos correlated with weekly topic of study.

This course is worth 1 high school credit for English.

NOTE: This class must reach the minimum of five students by August 20th to run. If we do not reach this minimum, parents will be notified via email.