World Literature/Writing (Honors Course)
Directed by Tom Rogers
(grades 11 - 12)
Honors World Literature/Writing is an upper-level independent study course in literature and writing that examines various works of World Literature, from the ancient Greek and Roman era to the present day. The course is designed both by and for the student in close coordination with the instructor. The course stresses college-level formats and extensive reading, as well as general preparation for the verbal portion of the SATs. Students will be expected to review and report on all books read for this course. Vocabulary enrichment and the evaluation of various writing styles will also be emphasized.
This course stresses both reading and writing (both creative and academic writing), with an emphasis on reading for comprehension, stylistic appreciation, and understanding the nuances, goals, and historical contexts of a wide variety of well-known examples of world literature. The work completed equals one high school credit. (Enrollment: 1–6 students)
Tuition: Tuition for this course, which is self-directed and has no formal classroom time, is discounted 50% (i.e., $50/quarter [if paying quarterly] or $90/semester [if paying by semester]). Papers and Literature Evaluations are graded by the instructor, Report Cards are issued quarterly, and students are expected to check in with the instructor several times over the course of the year to discuss their progress and the works they are reading.
Prerequisite: Survey of American Literature and/or Survey of British Literature (preferably both)
Books: Books should be obtained or purchased for a particular quarter before the first class for that quarter.
with corresponding works chosen from within each category. All books are assigned "point values" based on the relative length and difficulty (indicated by superscript numbers in the list below), i.e., a lengthy book = 3 points, a moderate-sized book = 2 points, and a relatively short book or play = 1 point. Students will be required to read the equivalent of at least 5 or 6 points per quarter). Reviews of the readings will be regularly completed and submitted online by students and graded by the instructor throughout the year. If you would like suggestions and recommendations regarding a course of study, please contact the instructor.
(grades 11 - 12)
Honors World Literature/Writing is an upper-level independent study course in literature and writing that examines various works of World Literature, from the ancient Greek and Roman era to the present day. The course is designed both by and for the student in close coordination with the instructor. The course stresses college-level formats and extensive reading, as well as general preparation for the verbal portion of the SATs. Students will be expected to review and report on all books read for this course. Vocabulary enrichment and the evaluation of various writing styles will also be emphasized.
This course stresses both reading and writing (both creative and academic writing), with an emphasis on reading for comprehension, stylistic appreciation, and understanding the nuances, goals, and historical contexts of a wide variety of well-known examples of world literature. The work completed equals one high school credit. (Enrollment: 1–6 students)
Tuition: Tuition for this course, which is self-directed and has no formal classroom time, is discounted 50% (i.e., $50/quarter [if paying quarterly] or $90/semester [if paying by semester]). Papers and Literature Evaluations are graded by the instructor, Report Cards are issued quarterly, and students are expected to check in with the instructor several times over the course of the year to discuss their progress and the works they are reading.
Prerequisite: Survey of American Literature and/or Survey of British Literature (preferably both)
Books: Books should be obtained or purchased for a particular quarter before the first class for that quarter.
- Honors Writing Project. Students will complete a long-form research or creative writing project, one that is planned, graded, and completed within an academic year. This project will consist of approximately 7 to 10 typed, double-spaced pages/quarter or 38 to 40 typed, double-spaced pages for the year. Four quarterly grading "milestones" will be established. Potential projects could, for example, include (i) an in-depth biography or research paper, with clear quarterly goals completed over the course of a year, (ii) a collection of four thematically related short stories (one per quarter), (iii) a longer play in five acts or a novella, or (iv) a detailed analysis and examination of a particular philosophical, political, or theological position.
- Literature. Students will select and read ca. 10 to 20 classic works of world literature from a long list of classic novels and other types of literature over the course of the year (see below). Students, in coordination with the instructor, will develop a reading syllabus/prospectus, choosing a theme for each of the four academic quarters from the 12 categories listed below.
For example, an academic honors reading curriculum might be structured as follows:
Quarter 1—Classical Literature
Quarter 2—European Literature
Quarter 3—William Shakespeare
Quarter 4—History, Science, and Exploration
with corresponding works chosen from within each category. All books are assigned "point values" based on the relative length and difficulty (indicated by superscript numbers in the list below), i.e., a lengthy book = 3 points, a moderate-sized book = 2 points, and a relatively short book or play = 1 point. Students will be required to read the equivalent of at least 5 or 6 points per quarter). Reviews of the readings will be regularly completed and submitted online by students and graded by the instructor throughout the year. If you would like suggestions and recommendations regarding a course of study, please contact the instructor.
- Writing: Art and Theory. Students will also read two of the following works about writing and literature:
On Writing Well by William Zinsser, The Courage to Write by Ralph Keyes, Novel Writing Mastery by S. Evans,
My Reading Life by Pat Conroy, The Brightest Heaven of Invention by Peter J. Leithart (Shakespeare from a Christian Perspective), How Dante Can Save Your Life (Rod Dreher), and The Glamour of Grammar and/or Writing Tools by Roy Peter Clark. - Supplemental Reading. Students may be given select articles, essays, and/or writing samples to read that are by or about various great writers or great works of literature, as directed and at the discretion of the instructor.
- Periodic Conferences. The instructor will regularly check with the student via email, phone, and/or in person to review his or her progress on the honors writing project, to discuss the various books and articles assigned, and to address any writing- or research-related issues that may occur.
1. Classical (Greek/Roman) LiteratureOriginal Works
Notable (Modern) Novels Set in Ancient Times
2. American Literature
3. World Literature*
*The World Literature category also includes selections from all other reading categories. 4. Russian Literature
5. History, Science, and
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7. European Literature
8. British Literature
9. William Shakespeare
10. Faith, Philosophy, and Politics
11. Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Speculative Fiction
12. Charles Dickens
13. Books on Writing or LiteratureAll World Literature/Writing (Honors) students must read at least two of the following books.
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Some works may be considered for multiple categories, e.g., Our Town, by Thornton Wilder, is appropriate for both Poetry, Drama, and Short Stories and American Literature. George Orwell's 1984 is appropriate for both Speculative Fiction and general British Literature, etc. In some instances, category subdivisions (e.g., 19th Century British Literature and 20th Century British Literature) and/or new categories (e.g., American Women Authors or Military History and Literature) are also feasible, pending the approval of the instructor.
Superscript numbers indicate proposed point values based on general length and difficulty.
Several important forms are included below. The first, a downloadable World Literature Honors Prospectus, will allow the student to design and then submit an overall plan for this course.
The second is a PDF version of this web page, which may be printed and used to complete the prospectus.
Finally, students will use the online Literature Evaluation Form to submit brief assessments of the various works of literature they have chosen to read over the course of the year. Evaluation forms must be completed on or before the end of the appropriate quarter (as specified in the prospectus) and are graded independently by the instructor.
The second is a PDF version of this web page, which may be printed and used to complete the prospectus.
Finally, students will use the online Literature Evaluation Form to submit brief assessments of the various works of literature they have chosen to read over the course of the year. Evaluation forms must be completed on or before the end of the appropriate quarter (as specified in the prospectus) and are graded independently by the instructor.
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