Literature and Composition 1 
2019-2020 Course Overview
​This syllabus is subject to revision 

L&C1 Prerequisites

Literature
"Rikki-Tikki-Tavi," by Rudyard Kipling
“The Ransom of Red-Chief,” by O. Henry
“The Necklace," by Guy de Maupassant
Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson
Heroes, Gods and Monsters of the Greek Myths by Bernard Evslin
The Call of the Wild, by Jack London
Johnny Tremain, by Esther Forbes
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain
An introduction to Poetics
A play by William Shakespeare, TBD

Partial List of Skills Taught
Literature:

• become familiar with the five elements of literature (setting, character, plot, conflict, theme)
• become familiar with the elements of plot development 
• understand the elements of characterization 
• analyze major characters within a story
• summarize a story or paraphrase a story  
• notice the uses of figurative language and metaphor
• become familiar with narrative poetry 
• demonstrate understanding of poetic devices including: rhyme, meter, alliteration, assonance, consonance, onomatopoeia, metaphor, simile, imagery, extended metaphor, symbolism, and allusion 
• learn about 5 act plays
• learn about Shakespearean language 
• begin to write about elements from books read and discussed in class 
• compare and contrast stories read

Composition:  

• understand the importance of organized and orderly composition 
• learn how to create one- and two-level outlines
• develop skill in ​writing narratives, descriptions, and sequences across subjects​
• focused work on the art of crafting good sentences and paragraphs 

Grammar:

• the eight parts of speech
• verbs: action verbs, linking verbs and verb tense
• subject and predicate
• subject/verb agreement
• pronoun/antecedent agreement
• direct objects, indirect objects, and subject complements
• misplaced modifiers
• punctuation as a function of grammar
• verbals (gerunds, infinitives, participles)
• phrases (prepositional, verbal, appositive)
• independent clauses
• dependent clauses 
• sentence purpose (declarative, exclamatory, imperative, interrogative)
• sentence type (simple, complex, compound, compound-complex)

Focus of Work
In class:  
-A balance of lecture and discussion focusing on literary analysis and literary appreciation. 
-Focused lessons on grammar and composition.
-Guided practice in composition.
-Review of weekly grammar homework.

Homework:
-Read assigned literature and prepare for discussion.  
-Complete weekly composition assignments. 
-Complete weekly grammar practice. 
-Complete multiple developed compositions throughout the year.


                                                                               This syllabus is subject to revision.