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This course provides experience in written expression of ideas in expository prose with emphasis on the development of ideas, awareness of audience, and clarity. The course focuses on the writing process, patterns of writing, development of ideas, precise expression, critical thinking, and research skills. My ultimate goal is for you to become competent and confident writers. This requires PRACTICE. You will be expected to write daily and produce polished/published pieces monthly. Â
 In addition to composition techniques, this class will study the structure and function of the English language: mechanics, usage and grammar.
*Students receive high school and college credit through the Montana University System.
This course will explore the evolution of the Gothic and Horror genre in American Literature. As we study this genre we will unpack the key elements and applications of literary texts and their connections to societal values of character and ethical paradigms between right and wrong. This genre is unique in its primary goal to evoke emotion and elicit reader responses of shock and fear as it pushes the limits of what is considered culturally acceptable and at the same time uses style, characters, setting and plot to reach the human psyche and engage readers. You will be immersed in the world of literature and writing all while participating in rotating literature pods for continuous analysis and discussion. There is required outside reading in preparation for in-class/online discussions, activities and assignments.
This course is a study of a variety of American authors and texts. America has defined and redefined itself through its literature. Fiction and non-fiction pieces help us develop a better understanding of America then and now. The American Dream is a thread that runs through all American Literature. This dream was there from the very beginning, and it progressed from era to era, adapting itself to new challenges and concerns. Pilgrims and pioneers built the foundation of their lives upon it. Great leaders enshrined it in law. Wars tested and tried it. Outcasts broadened its reach. Crises questioned its validity. New generations revived it and adopted it—making it their own. This dream is not only for the past but also the future. The dream lives on through us, and the experiment continues. This course will provide opportunities to expand your strategic reading and critical thinking skills, improve your writing skills, and help you see yourself as a proficient reader and writer – and your place in the story of America.
This course is designed to encourage critical analysis of major literary forms – fiction, poetry, and drama. We’ll explore the formal elements of literature and examine a range of contemporary approaches to literary texts. This requires outside reading; you are expected to come to class prepared to discuss the assigned readings. The course incorporates composition techniques connected directly to literary analysis.