Fostering academic excellence and biblical virtue to equip students for lives as local and global Christian servants.

English 2 Lit and Comp - Intuition and Escapades

Course Catalog ID:
4632
Subject Categories:
English Language Arts, Literature and Media, Writing and Composition
Description

Some of the world’s most successful people are those who learn to rely on their instincts, do the “unexpected thing,” and set their mind on achieving their goal. In this literature and composition course, students will not only read the stories of characters who use their intuition on various escapades, but they also will develop their own academic instincts as they analyze various genres of literature and write compositions in fresh ways. This course will guide students through a wide array of styles to build their literary repertoire, from short story to film to poetry to the stage. Each style of literature approaches storytelling with a unique twist, and students will become experts at identifying the similarities and differences between these methods. Analyzing individual voices in a nonfiction unit and applying persuasive appeals in rhetoric, students will explore how to convince an audience of their point of view. As we dive into the fantasy worlds of Percy Jackson and Frodo, uncover mysteries with Sherlock Holmes, travel to the Olympics with the 1936 U.S. rowing team, adventure through history with the March sisters, and discover new secrets in the depths of the sea of science fiction, students will be challenged to find the devices and ideas that make these characters’ stories so compelling. Writing across the disciplines from literature to history to science, students will experiment with assorted tones, styles, and purposes to prepare them for the writing that lies ahead in upper level English courses. Join us in a challenging exciting year of developing the literary thinker and the purposeful writer!

Prerequisites
Grade Levels*:
8, 9
* Enrollment restricted based on Date of Birth and Grad Year (whichever is more limiting). Enrollment outside these levels requires written concurrence from TPS Support.
Readiness
• Successful completion (75% or higher) of TPS English 1 Lit and Comp
━ OR ━
• Successful completion of Readiness Test
Notes and Conditions

Grade 9: Depending on your student’s individual progress and goals, this course may be well-suited for his or her grade 9 curriculum. It cannot be listed on a TPS transcript for high school credit, but it may be used on a homeschool transcript or omitted from a transcript.

“English 2 was exactly what I needed! The teacher knows her stuff and teaching comes naturally to her. I’ve never been the biggest fan of writing but this class made the whole process so much easier! It provides a specific writing format which we use in every essay and I will use for a lot of my writing in the future. I truly believe that my writing is a lot better after this class. The literature in this class is also great! I enjoyed most of the books we read. We always had great classroom discussions about themes and characters and occasionally met in breakout rooms for fun activities! The grammar in this class is also amazing. The book we use is so clear and helpful! Overall, I really liked this class! The workload wasn’t too bad at all and most of the assignments are weekly so it’s easy to plan them into your schedule.”

Ashlyn D
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Student

“TPS English has helped me develop more skill in writing than I’ve ever had before. Without the help of the school, I wouldn’t be as good as I am now. Writing is very important to me, and this class helped me understand how to put detail and effort into my words. I am very thankful for everything this class has taught me. :)”

Claire F
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Student

“English 2 gives great help to people who want to improve their writing and grammar skills. It tackles subjects such as essay writing, literature, and note-taking. This course also touches on many other subjects along the way from logic and history to movie-making! I, personally, was a little nervous in starting this course. Now that I look back, however, I can see that though at times finishing a lot of homework on time was challenging, I have learned so much about good grammar, reading, and engaging writing. This course has even helped me to write this testimonial today! The teachers were funny and thoughtful as well as helpful in classes and answering questions. The subjects for reading and writing were very diverse and pretty interesting. I have learned much through this course and feel that I am prepared for English 3. I strongly recommend this useful course for training up your English skills.”

E.J. L
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Student

“I would recommend this course to all students who wish to train in their formal writing and analytical thinking. After taking this course, writing formally became almost second nature to me. English 2, Uncommon Valor proves more challenging than English 1, but this course serves as a steady stepping stone for students transitioning from middle school into high school. My teacher consistently pushes her students to do their bests under higher standards and challenges. Her way of teaching teenage students such as me and my class proves extremely effective and engaging. The challenges in this course help establish stronger writing and critical thinking skills, essential for life.”

Meiling K (Student)
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Student

“I have always struggled with grammar and writing skills, but TPS teaches them in a very effective way. In class, my teacher always makes sure everyone understands before moving on. She doesn’t mind questions as long as it is relevant and is always patient when we ask. The textbook is written by the English teachers themselves, and we not only read, but practice the skills learned as well. Before the teacher gives us any assignment, she always prepares us well as to make sure we don’t struggle. All TPS courses, not only this one, provide a very interactive class for students. Students can volunteer to read the class slides, answer questions, share their own work, and input their own comments. There are also fun games when we review for grammar quizzes! I always enjoy the prayer session at the beginning of class and going out into breakout rooms to practice with fellow classmates and peers. I recommend this course to anyone who wants to enjoy an effective experience of polishing both writing and grammar skills, all the while having a fun time!”

Dorcas L
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Student

“Having been with TPS for almost three years, I have loved it greatly. The teachers are amazing — so understanding and fun — and on the way I have made so many friends who are hardworking students and friendly classmates. Personally, English is one of my favourite subjects in TPS. Having done English 2 this year, I’ll admit, it was a blast! Although the essays and annotations were stressful at some point in the journey, persevering is so worth it and rewarding! I highly enjoyed all the chosen books for the class with so many fun and meaningful adventures that inspired me in my own creative journey of writing and generally me as a person. With a great teacher and fun classmates, the year went by with barely a feel of drag. I highly recommend this course to everyone — lover or hater of English — and no matter what skill level they are at, this course will definitely improve their skill in some way or the other.”

Marco L
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Student

“This class taught me so much about writing, grammar, and understanding what I read. The writing assignments were challenging yet enjoyable and helped me feel comfortable writing about subjects I’d never written about. The books we read were fun, interesting, and thought provoking. All the lessons are explained clearly in the textbook. Overall, this course was really enjoyable and helped build my English skills.”

Madeleine D
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Student

“I would recommend this course to others because it really challenges you to become a better writer. We learn so much grammar, read so many books, learn how to annotate better, and become stronger writers all in just a short period of time.”

Emma W
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Student

“This course was so helpful. Without it I would get lost in how to write a history, science, rhetoric, or theme essay. Also, I would never have been introduced to some of the great books, stories, and even films that English 2 Uncommon Valor offered. Through the weekly grammar lessons I learned how to use commas better than ever, and not only how to punctuate my writing well but how to make the words work better together because of the punctuation.”

Declan M
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Student

“E2 was a lot of fun! I had a great time interacting with the other students and the teacher during the school year. The class kept you right on course with the homework. The novels were fun to read, and the film unit was a great way to wrap up the year. I would definitely recommend TPS English for anyone who wants a fun, challenging school year!”

Ever M
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Student
Reviews from Students and Parents