Ninth Grade Literature

Description: An essential component in the development of superior language skills is the study of good literature, which provides models of correct English and excellence in writing. In this course, readings will increase in difficulty from the previous course, and are works that model heroes, virtues, and high ideals. The poetry covered in this class, and poetry in general, is intense and requires careful, slow, repeated reading, and requires careful thought, and is especially effective in developing comprehension and thinking skills. The student’s ears and eyes will be trained by constant exposure to good English usage and captivating narrative, and we’ve found that students learn best by imitation. This class is designed to develop reading skills, to inspire students to love what is good and noble in life, and to enhance a student’s ability to evaluate literature. Students should devote approximately 45-60 minutes a day for this course. The grade is based on participation, periodic quizzes, periodic essay questions, and final tests over each work. The essays encourage a deeper consideration of the text and trains students to mark important elements of the story. This class is worth 1 high school credit in English, Language Arts, or Literature.

Grade Level: 8-9 (ages 13-15)

Prerequisites: Students should be strong readers, relatively proficient with the basics of English grammar, able to construct grammatically complete sentences, and able to edit any written work with the help of a parent (if needed).

Required Materials: Texts and Study guides for Beowulf the Warrior; Sir Gawain and the Green Knight; A Midsummer Night’s Dream;The Hound of the Baskervilles; The Book of the Middle Ages; and Poetry, Prose, and Drama: Old English and Medieval Periods. Please only purchase these editions and selections to maintain continuity within the course. Teacher Guides are optional. Students will need a headset microphone (built-in microphones will also work). The students should keep a reading notebook for questions they have about the text, and be prepared to use it in the live class.