High School English

Excellence in Literature: Reading and Writing Through the Classics Self-Directed Literature-Based College Preparatory High-School English for Homeschoolers

9.2.08 It's here! I've just uploaded the e-book, and it's available right now! I'll be sending out an e-zine, and personal notes to everyone who asked to be notified, but for everyone else, here's the order link!

Click here for the instantly downloadable e-book of Excellence in Literature: English 1!

10-01-08 I have just a few (seven, I think) printed copies of the beta version of Excellence in Literature: Introduction to Literature (English I) (beta version has a temporary cover design and is still being proofread, so there are doubtless a few small typos). You may order one of these by sending your namea and address, along with $33.95 ($29 plus $4.95 shipping) to my PayPal address or to the mailing address on my Contact page. If your payment arrives after the last one is sold, please indicate whether you want me to refund it immediately, or hold it for the reprint (planned for November, Lord willing).

4.14.08- Update: We plan to have all five levels of Excellence in Literature available by early 2009. We may have some levels available in beta form for the fall semester of 2008-- please e-mail us if you would like to be notified when it's available.

Nothing captures the spirit of an age like great literature! Books that have stood the test of time contain the intellectual wealth of the ages, and students who study them in context develop a firm foundation, not only in the language arts, but also in the humanities. Excellence in Literature presents a feast of great literature, along with the context information needed to fully appreciate each work.

These challenging, self-directed courses introduce students to great literature in its historical context, while developing skills in writing and literary analysis. English I and II provide foundational skills; English III and IV offer a chronological survey of American and British literature, and English V focuses on European literature.

An Honors Track, with additional readings and writing, for each course encourages preparation for AP or CLEP exams. Some students who have taken this track have been permitted advanced placement in college based upon the material covered. Students who complete four years of Excellence in Literature have the potential of earning 24-30 hours of college credit through testing.

Course Format

The literature-based unit format of Excellence in Literature offers students the opportunity to grow thoroughly familiar with some of the greatest writers and literary works of all time. There are nine four-week units in each level.

Study and writing for each unit is centered around a focus text— a novel, play, or poem— chosen for its significance to the period of literature being studied. A reasonable number of context works, including poetry, short biographies, art, music, videos, and online resources, are selected to enhance the student’s understanding of the focus text, its author, and the literary period in which it was created.

There is an emphasis on the analytical essay, which offers the opportunity to perfect the standard writing process of planning, drafting, and revising. Shorter assignments in various forms will round out each unit.

What's in EiL?

Here's a sample table of contents from the first level. The book is designed to be used directly by the student, with very little help from the parent or writing mentor, so the first part of the book explains how to use it, and each unit is laid out with complete resource links and week-by-week assignment instructions. The Formats and Models chapter contains complete instructions and samples for the approach papers and essays the student will write, and the evaluation rubric will help the student and the evaluator determine the strengths and weaknesses of each piece of writing.

Introduction 5
Overview and Objectives for Excellence in Literature 7
Frequently Asked Questions 13
How to Read A Book 19
Unit 1 25
Unit 2 29
Unit 3 35
Unit 4 41
Unit 5 47
Unit 6 53
Unit 7 59
Unit 8 67
Unit 9 77
Honors 87
Formats and Models 89
Excellence in Literature Evaluation Rubric 105
Glossary 109
Selected Resources 119

I offer a free sample unit so you can see how the assignments are structured. Each unit has the same basic structure, so that the student knows what to expect and how to do everything. The explanations at the beginning of the book are long enough to be clear, but not so long as to be overwhelming, and the Formats and Models chapter, along with the Glossary, assures that students will be able to find out what they need to know. To get the sample, just click the link below, and the PDF will download immediately to your computer.

Free Sample Unit

Evaluations

A special rubric using an evaluation model similar to the 6-Traits model makes evaluation simple for writing mentors-- including parents, tutors, or co-op leaders. You can find a link to a site with details of the 6-Traits evaluation on the FAQ page.

For parents who would like extra help with evaluations, I suggest visiting the website of the National Association of Independent Writing Evaluators. This organization offers a database of writing evaluators (available beginning in 2008) who may be able to help with evaluating Excellence in Literature assignments. When you visit the NAIWE website, search for evaluators that work with academic writing. You can be sure that your students are getting the in-depth, college-prep reading and writing assignments that you want them to have, as well as objective, accurate assessments. It works!

What's Special About Excellence in Literature?

• Carefully-chosen great books increase cultural literacy.
• Self-directed courses encourage independent learning.
• College-style syllabus helps to prepare students for university academic experiences.
• Week-by-week lesson plans make it easy to know what to do when.
• Honors Option provides motivated students the opportunity to earn advanced placement or college credit.
• Evaluation rubric makes grading simple.
• Carefully designed end-of-semester evaluation reports provide a detailed snapshot of progress.
• Context readings provide in-depth understanding of literature in its historical and artistic context.
• Students will be introduced to books they'll never forget.

It takes a great deal of history to produce a little literature. Henry James, 1843-1916

Click here for the instantly downloadable e-book of Excellence in Literature: English 1!

My Qualifications
I graduated with honors from Mary Baldwin College with a B.A. in English, and I have freelanced as a writer and editor since the late 1980's. My educational philosophy is most closely aligned with A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver Van DeMille and the Charlotte Mason series on education. I have also homeschooled my four sons, two of whom have graduated from college, and coached other students in writing. My goal is to encourage a love of good literature while preparing students for the challenges of college-level writing.

In addition to Excellence in Literature, my books include Transcripts Made Easy: The Homeschooler's Guide to High School Paperwork, Evaluate Writing the Easy Way!, and Get a Jump Start on College! A Practical Guide for Teens.

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