So the Story Goes: English With Film & Literature

Description

This is a Middle School English course that focuses on developing writing skills through the analysis and discussion of classic literature. In this course, students will explore various genres of classic literature, learn how to write a short analytical piece to communicate their analysis in writing. By honing their literary analysis techniques, critical thinking skills, and effective writing strategies, students will gain a deeper understanding of classic literature and the tools necessary to write about it with confidence and skill. Join us for an enriching journey into the world of classic literature and writing!

Theme:

Short stories are special. They quickly introduce us to characters, settings, conflicts, and themes that relate to our lives. Short story authors are a special breed as well, able to craft a satisfying, thought-provoking story that we can read in one sitting. Stories reflect the human experience and help us see ourselves and the world in which we live. How do authors do this? In this course, we will use classic short stories to study the author’s craft, to learn to analyze literature, and to see its beauty, complexity, and most importantly, the illustration of a human experience in a theme. We will read from a variety of authors from a variety of countries and literary periods. Students will write about the theme of the story each week. They will look at the structure, figurative language, symbolism, syntax of sentences, setting, character development, conflict, motifs, etc. to analyze the way the author developed the theme. Students will submit their writing each week and get feedback from the teacher.

FALL 2023 SCHEDULE (Meets once per week. Stories subject to change):

**Missing stories are coming soon! We expanded this class to cover summer, so we are working on content.**

• The Week Starting Sept 10–The Lottery by Shirley Jackson
• The Week Starting Sept 17–The Last Leaf by O. Henry
• The Week Starting Sept 24–A Ghost by Guy de Maupassant
• The Week Starting Oct 1–Harrison Bergeron by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
• The Week Starting Oct 8–The Lumber Room by H.H. Munro
• The Week Starting Oct 15–Rikki-Tikki-Tavi by Rudyard Kipling
• The Week Starting Oct 22–A Horseman in the Sky by Ambrose Bierce
• The Week Starting Oct 29–The Monkey’s Paw by W.W. Jacobs
• The Week Starting Nov 5–The Hand by Guy de Maupassant
• The Week Starting Nov 12–The Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe
• The Week Starting Nov 19-NO CLASS
• The Week Starting Dec 3–The Star by H.G. Wells
• The Week Starting Dec 10–The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry
• Dec 17 – Jan 6–NO CLASS
• The Week Starting Jan 7–The Sniper by LIam O’Flaherty
• The Week Starting Jan 14–Federigo’s Falcon by Giovanni Boccaccio
• The Week Starting Jan 21–The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde
• The Week Starting Jan 28–How the Camel Got His Hump by Rudyard Kipling
• The Week Starting Feb 4–Little Tiny or Thumbelina by Hans Christian Anderson
• The Week Starting Feb 11–Hearts & Hands AND After Twenty Years by O. Henry
• The Week Starting Feb 18–The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
• The Week Starting Feb 25–The Cat that Walked by Himself by Rudyard Kipling
• The Week Starting Mar 3–The Open Window by H.H. Munro (Saki)
• The Week Starting Mar 10–The Skylight Room by O. Henry
• The Week Starting Mar 17–The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant
• The Week Starting Mar 24–A Sound of Thunder–Ray Bradbury
• The Week Starting Mar 31–Witch’s Loaves by O. Henry
• The Week Starting Apr 7–The Three Questions–Leo Tolstoy
• The Week Starting Apr 14–The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Anderson
• The Week Starting Apr 21–The Hanging Stranger by Philip K. Dick
• The Week Starting Apr 28–The Emperor’s New Clothes by Hans Christian Anderson
• **NO CLASS IN THE MONTH OF MAY**
• The Week Starting Jun 2–Seventh Grade–Gary Soto.
• The Week Starting Jun 9–William Wilson by Edgar Allan Poe
• The Week Starting Jun 16–All Summer in a Day–Ray Bradbury.
• The Week Starting Jun 23–The Treasure in the Forest by H.G. Wells
• The Week Starting Jun 30–One Summer Night by Ambrose Bierce AND The Aged Mother by Matsuo Basho
• The Week Starting Jul 7–The Ransom of Red Chief by O. Henry
• The Week Starting Jul 14–A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings by Gabriel García Márquez
• The Week Starting Jul 21–The Elephant’s Child–Rudyard Kipling
• The Week Starting Jul 28–A Retrieved Reformation by O. Henry

To learn more about the advantages of including classic literature in middle school, feel free to explore more by reading here.

Get to know Mrs. Lemons and our teachers a little more.