Literature & Composition 202

Literature 202 is designed to teach both literature and composition. Rather than separating the two skills, we use the literature to guide our topic choices in a variety of writing styles, including narrative, poetry, comparison, exposition, and research writing.

Additionally, two unit tests introduce the idea of the literary essay test, a staple in college classes.

This class picks up where Literature 201 left off and moves through the rest of the major literary movements into the 19th and 20th centuries.

We start with a unit on literary techniques that become more popular through these movements, including epiphany and juxtaposition, and we get to try to utilize these tools in our own writing.

We move to the Victorians and read several fiction and nonfiction pieces that include their desire to affect the world with their writing. We let that guide our writing in our own social action essays.

We then take a pause to read Shakespeare’s Macbeth, which is a psychological drama with many of the same motifs that we see writers exploring later in the 20th century.

We head back to the Victorians and Realists with a novel of your choice from that era.

We focus next on the modernism movement with some short stories and poems, followed by the great American novel: The Great Gatsby.

We end the year with a research project that allows students to explore one of these authors or events from this time in more detail.

This class meets honors diploma requirements in most states. Please be sure to check your state’s guidelines to ensure honors credit for your student.

In this course, students will:

• Demonstrate an understanding of literary techniques, including epiphany, juxtaposition, doppelgangers, and motifs
• Cite textual evidence to support literary analysis
• Lead short activities in discussion groups
• Understand the tenets of the Victorian, Realism, and Modernism movements
• Write in several different styles, including narration, exposition, comparison, poetry, and description

Students will submit their narrative, social action essay, and poetry to the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards writing contest as part of the class.  Daily contact with a coach who evaluates mastery and skills will be provided.

Literature 202 is designed for students who have completed Literature 201 or an equivalent class.

Classes have daily assignments. Some assignments span several days to give flexibility. Assignments are intended to take approximately 1½ hours per day to complete.

Required materials

Writing From the Heart: A Resource Guide to Engage Writers
Macbeth (Folger Shakespeare Library Edition)
Literature Guide 201 (ebook)
One 19th or 20th century novel of the student’s choice, including these authors: Twain, Wharton, Dickens, Kipling, Crane, Hardy, Carroll, and Wilde
One 19th century novel of the student’s choice, including authors like: Bronte, Dumas, Shelly, Hawthorne, Hugo, Alcott, Melville, Austen, and Stowe

Refund available until October 1. View refund policy for details.