Introduction to Literature (English 1) is a one year, college-prep literature and composition course for co-op, classroom, or homeschool use.
The curriculum
The Excellence in Literature curriculum presents a feast of great ideas by immersing students in great literature. Classics that have stood the test of time-rollicking adventures, compelling plays, engaging poetry-encourage students to enjoy literature study, rather than just endure it. Students will study and write about the following books:
Short Stories by Eudora Welty, O. Henry, and others,
Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne,
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court by Mark Twain,
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte,
Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw,
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson,
Animal Farm by George Orwell,
The Tempest by William Shakespeare,
Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift.
How it works
A four-week lesson plan guides the study of each unabridged classic, providing writing assignments and context resources - background information on the author, relevant historical events, related art and music resources, etc.. To help students stay engaged, a variety of sources, voices, and formats have been carefully chosen as context resources, with links provided to those that are online.
There are 9 4-week modules in each study guide for one school year of study. An optional Honors track adds additional reading and writing, including a research paper and an optional CLEP exam. The text is written directly to the student, and can be used independently or in a classroom. There is no separate teacher manual; all writing assignments, context resource links, and student/teacher helps are included in the Introduction to Literature study guide.
Student helps
Week-by-week assignment schedule
Instructions and a student-written model for each type of paper assigned
A chapter on how to read and understand challenging literature
Overview of how to write an essay, from conception to revision
A curriculum website with supporting resources, including author biographies, art, music, related poetry, and writing helps.
Built-in time for both a rough and a final draft of each month’s essay
Instructions for setting up a study area and English notebook - Suggestions for study habits, time management, and the computer
A model essay that teaches and demonstrates MLA formatting
Glossary of literary terms
Teacher helps
Week-by-week pacing chart with overview of reading and writing for the entire school year
Grading instructions and reproducible rubric
Suggestions for using in a co-op or classroom
A year-end Student Evaluation Summary to keep with student records
Each student and teacher will need a copy of the study guide, plus a copy of each classic that is studied (short stories are linked online). There are specific book editions recommended, but students who already own a different edition may use that. It is also helpful to have access to a dictionary, thesaurus, and the Handbook for Writers (from Excellence in Literature).
This award-winning curriculum, now in its fourth edition, is designed to be flexible and easy to use for homeschool families, co-op teachers, and classroom instructors. Reading and hearing wonderful books, poetry, and plays, all at a reasonable pace, can cultivate a love of great literature, just as steady, careful practice in a variety of writing forms helps to cultivate clarity and confidence in communication skills. Enjoy!
