American Letters
Course Expectations for American Letters
Recommended for students in 9th-12th grade.
Planned to be taken in conjunction with the American History class, students will be studying American Literature, poetry, drama, and philosophy. Note taking, discussion, and four three to five-page papers will be required.
Minimum Expectations:
• Parents will assume all responsibility for making sure reading assignments are done on time.
• Two additional assignments (oral or written) will be given each semester. Completed assignments must be turned in on the deadlines given by the tutor.
• Parents must help their students edit all writing assignments. Guidelines are given in the writer’s checklist that each student will receive. Elements of Grammar by Strunk and White is a valuable resource to assist you with this.
• Students will attend class regularly and participate in the discussion. Prior notice of all absences is required.
• Any quizzes or tests given are not an optional part of the class.
• Students are expected to read the full version of each book assigned. Substituting a synopsis such as Cliff Notes is unethical and would not fully prepare a student for class participation and assignments.
• Students will be required to take their own notes on materials covered in this class. Using notes from another source would be unethical and is not permitted.
• In order for this class to have full credit value, it is highly recommended that parents provide additional related learning experiences outside of this class.
American Letters Enrichment Suggestions:
• Writing on books that are not assigned an accompanying composition in class
• Biographical studies of the authors whose works are read
• Research on the historical setting of a story read in class
• Begin a timeline to use throughout your study of history and literature in ARCHES classes.
• Parents - read the books as they are assigned and discuss them with your student.
• Read Shakespeare assignments aloud with your student. As plays, they are meant to be spoken and
are more effectively understood when read aloud.
• Vocabulary building - Require a certain number of vocabulary words from the assigned works, but
allow student to create their own list.
• Personal response journal: Student pulls ideas from assigned works to comment on how they relate to
issues in modern life.
Prerequisite: Students must have demonstrated the ability to write a three-page paper.
Corequisite: American History
Books:
ISBN: 0553273221
Fees:
Tutor: Laura Klimisch
Recommended for students in 9th-12th grade.
Planned to be taken in conjunction with the American History class, students will be studying American Literature, poetry, drama, and philosophy. Note taking, discussion, and four three to five-page papers will be required.
Minimum Expectations:
• Parents will assume all responsibility for making sure reading assignments are done on time.
• Two additional assignments (oral or written) will be given each semester. Completed assignments must be turned in on the deadlines given by the tutor.
• Parents must help their students edit all writing assignments. Guidelines are given in the writer’s checklist that each student will receive. Elements of Grammar by Strunk and White is a valuable resource to assist you with this.
• Students will attend class regularly and participate in the discussion. Prior notice of all absences is required.
• Any quizzes or tests given are not an optional part of the class.
• Students are expected to read the full version of each book assigned. Substituting a synopsis such as Cliff Notes is unethical and would not fully prepare a student for class participation and assignments.
• Students will be required to take their own notes on materials covered in this class. Using notes from another source would be unethical and is not permitted.
• In order for this class to have full credit value, it is highly recommended that parents provide additional related learning experiences outside of this class.
American Letters Enrichment Suggestions:
• Writing on books that are not assigned an accompanying composition in class
• Biographical studies of the authors whose works are read
• Research on the historical setting of a story read in class
• Begin a timeline to use throughout your study of history and literature in ARCHES classes.
• Parents - read the books as they are assigned and discuss them with your student.
• Read Shakespeare assignments aloud with your student. As plays, they are meant to be spoken and
are more effectively understood when read aloud.
• Vocabulary building - Require a certain number of vocabulary words from the assigned works, but
allow student to create their own list.
• Personal response journal: Student pulls ideas from assigned works to comment on how they relate to
issues in modern life.
Prerequisite: Students must have demonstrated the ability to write a three-page paper.
Corequisite: American History
Books:
- The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Published by: Dover Thrift Editions
ISBN: 0-486-28048-9 - The Federalist Papers by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay
Published by: Bantam Classic
ISBN: 0-553-21340-7 - Walden, or, Life in the Woods by Henry David Thoreau
Published by: Dover Thrift Editions
ISBN: 0-486-28495-6 - Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper
Published by: Bantam Classics
ISBN: 0-553-21329-6 - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Published by: Dover Thrift Editions
ISBN: 0-486-28061-6 - April Morning by Howard Fast
ISBN: 0553273221
- The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane
Published by: Dover Thrift Editions
ISBN: 0-486-26465-3 - The Gold Bug and Other Stories by Edgar Allen Poe
Published by: Dover Thrift Editions
ISBN: 0-486-26875-6 - O Pioneers! by Willa Cather
Published by: Dover Thrift Editions
ISBN: 0-486-27785-2 - The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
Published by: Bantam Classics
ISBN: 0-553-21245-1 - The Pearl by John Steinbeck
Published by: Penguin Books
ISBN: 0-14-017737-X - 101 Great American Poems by The American Poetry & Literacy Project
Published by: Dover Thrift Editions
ISBN: 0-486-40158-8 - Great American Short Stories by W & M Stegner
Published by: Dell Publishing
ISBN: 0-440-33060-2 - Abraham Lincoln's Greatest Speeches by Lincoln, Grafton, Basler
Published by: Dover Thrift Editions
ISBN: 0-486-26872-1
Fees:
- $25.00 Administrative Fee payable to: ARCHES
- $250.00 Tuition payable per semester to: Laura Klimisch
Tutor: Laura Klimisch
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