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

English 4/5/6 Lit Survey and Composition (Honors)

Course Catalog ID:
3906
Subject Categories:
English Language Arts, Honors, Literature and Media, Writing and Composition
Description

What do stories tell us about ourselves and our world? How can we interact with the words of others in a meaningful way? This course offers students opportunity to deepen their understanding of and appreciation for a wide survey of literature, stories, plays, poems, films and lyrics spanning the timeless works of the last several centuries to contemporary song lyrics, film, and even documentaries. While reading, watching, listening, and discussing, students will also learn the foundational terminology and key concepts that are used to understand, appreciate and critique “literature” in all its media forms. Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, lyrics from U2 and Mumford & Sons, films La La Land and The Truman Show — this is just a short list of the engaging works in this course. The year will conclude with a study of Neil Postman’s cautionary Amusing Ourselves to Death and a sampling of current non-fiction in documentary and podcast form. The writing in this class focuses on building literary analysis into insightful well-crafted essays.

Prerequisites
Grade Levels*:
10, 11, 12
* 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 (80% or higher) of any TPS English 4 (or higher) course
━ OR ━
• Successful completion (80% or higher) of TPS American History, Lit and Comp
━ OR ━
• Successful completion (80% or higher) of TPS English 3 Lit and Comp (Honors)
━ OR ━
• Successful completion (85% or higher) of TPS English 3 Lit and Comp
━ OR ━
• Successful completion of Readiness Test
Notes and Conditions

Transcript Planning: Students typically take two or more English 4/5/6 courses. They may generally be taken in any order, though some sequences may be better for some purposes (e.g., preparation for a particular AP course).

“I recommend this course because it has infinitely opened up my world to different kinds of literature. Before taking this class, I did not read much at all and didn’t believe I could read Shakespeare or analyze non-fiction essays. With the careful guidance of my teacher, I achieved all of this and more. In addition, I have learned to read analytically and form a coherent opinion that I can quickly put into words. This class has also helped my ACT score, inspired me to read more outside of class, and even join a group for young writers.”

Kamilah B
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Student

“TPS Literature Survey is a fantastic course to take if your student is looking for an in-depth, challenging, and immersive study of English literature and formal writing. Over the course of the school year, I learned more from the course and my teacher than in any other writing course I have taken. Each week I had plenty of homework to complete, and the guidelines and expectations were clear and reasonable. Furthermore, the teacher encouraged open discussion in class and required us to truly think and provide support for our beliefs and ideas. This increased the level of productive and meaningful discussions and prevented students from opting out of real participation. Thanks to Literature Survey for its incredible curriculum. And a special thanks to my teacher for growing my appreciation for writing and literature, and for emphasizing the importance to evaluate every material and philosophy through the lens of scripture. :D”

Annalia F
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Student

“The TPS Literature Survey course has been AMAZING! Not one stone has been left unturned in this awesome school year, where I have gained knowledge and wisdom, experienced growth as a writer, and made new friends who support each other in our journey of learning. From plays to movies, short stories to novels, Literature Survey is one of the best courses I’ve ever taken.”

Shyan C
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Student

“I loved this course because it greatly improved my ability to look at books, films, and poetry critically and objectively. Our assignments focused on quality more than quantity, forcing me to learn conciseness in my writing and seriously consider each thought I presented in my arguments before I submitted assignments. It is now difficult to watch a movie or read a story without noticing details behind why something was written or presented in a certain way.”

Brandi G
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Student

“As a missionary kid who studied in a foreign language and had little experience with English as a school subject, this course really helped me to understand how to write solid analytical essays. I now feel confident enough in my writing abilities to pursue higher education in the English language.”

Kayla Z
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Student

“Literature Survey was by far one of the most enjoyable and educational classes I have had during my years of schooling. We could sometimes debate between topics as a class by analyzing the works of literature or drama we had read or viewed. My teacher was engaging and very open to question or opinions. She was one of those “super-teachers” who loves to learn and teach with her students. Out of my other classes I was taking this year, this was the one I looked forward to each and every week. I am definitely going to miss it now that the school year is coming to a close. Thank you for making this course possible for us. :-)”

Sidney R
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Student

“There was so much variety of literature throughout the year which included poetry, short stories, essays, a novel, dramas, and even some films. I loved how we didn’t just learn about one sort of literature, but we got to learn about several different styles. Although it was challenging at times, this course was fun and insightful with all the different things we read and watched. I definitely recommend the Literature Survey class!”

Madeline A
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Student
Reviews from Students and Parents