This course will concentrate on three areas of study: literature, language, and writing. Our study of literature will concentrate on American Literature from the Colonial to the Contemporary periods and will include short stories, poetry, nonfiction, and the novel Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. Students will develop their language skills through grammar and vocabulary practice and SAT practice problems. Students will develop their writing skills, first in the narrative genre, then by writing a personal statement, and finally in a formal literary essay. Throughout the course, students will practice written communication in smaller written responses. The course is united by several Essential Question, chief among them: How does American writing and literature show American values and themes? Students will return to these questions throughout the course, analyzing literature from each literary period to discover American values and to connect the literature to its historical time period.
Please note that this course is an abbreviated course which lasts 8 weeks. Therefore, the course does not cover a full year’s curriculum with the same depth that is covered in a year-long course. Students are expected to work approximately 8-10 hours per week. In addition, if the student is taking this course for credit recovery or initial credit, it is strongly advised that you check with the student's school to confirm that the topics covered (see course syllabus) match those required by the school. You may also want to confirm with the school the process for receiving credits, which may involve an assessment administered separately by the school.
English 10
Required Texts: This course requires students to obtain a copy of a certain text. Details provided in the Additional Requirements field of this course description.
Students will need to obtain a copy of the following text which is available at many school or local libraries or for purchase online for a small fee.
- John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men
*Students who plan to transfer credit from VHS Learning to their full-time high school should check with their school to confirm they will accept the credits before registering for a VHS Learning summer course.