Intermediate Literature, Writing

Concerning All of Our Literature and Writing Tutorials

Though tutorials differ as to age, grade level and subject matter, the general philosophy of language studies remains the same. In every tutorial, from middle school through senior year, students work almost entirely from primary sources, analyzing the material independently, through in-class discussions, and in the context of tutor questions and lectures. Students are asked to do the difficult thinking rather than letting Spark Notes do their work for them. Also, though the writing genres are essentially the same for a middle school student as for a professional writer, the complexity of and expectations for student writing change over time. Students are growing as writers within these genres over many years. Therefore, they are asked to achieve greater clarity, control and power as they progress. Finally, these courses seek to engage students in the language arts from the perspective of the Christian faith. It is the position of New Hope Tutorials that the humanities are most profoundly understood and appreciated through the life of faith in Jesus Christ.

Course Description

Intermediate Literature, Writing is a reading and writing course which attempts to develop critical literacy and thoughtful written expression.  These two objectives are always balanced by the overall purpose of the language arts: to hone skills of communication.  Because reading and writing are so closely tied together, students will always work to improve their writing when they are dealing critically with a literary text and, through excellent writing, they will learn to be strong readers.

Those students who have participated in a year of Middle School Lit, Writing are fully prepared for this course which will treat more mature literature and will engage more complex contexts for the various writing genres.  Writing assignments cover a wide range of written expression geared toward the students’ specific ability levels: reflection, exposition, persuasion, literary analysis, narrative, poetry, etc.  This class prepares students to begin to do mature literary analysis and to communicate this analysis through writing.  Students who fulfill all requirements of this class will demonstrate the skills needed for the high school level English courses-of-study offered by New Hope.

Students will write approx. 1 ½ to 2 ½ typed pages every two to three weeks.  Assignments will vary, sometimes connecting to the reading curriculum and sometimes independent from it.  At least one longer paper will replace this pattern, giving students the time they need to work on a more complex and far-reaching essay.  I will teach basic concepts behind persuasion, expression, exposition, theme writing, narrative and verse, and I will ask students to write within these genres (at their ability levels).  Students will have the option of sharing their writing with the class, although this is almost never mandatory.  Outlining, paragraphing, and effective syntax (sentence structure) will be stressed and taught.

This course includes some of the most delightful works of our literary tradition.  Books like Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Jane Eyre are fondly remembered as the years go on.  To Kill a Mockingbird is most often identified as students’ favorite book of all their years of literary study.  These are the books which have served so well in teaching students how to read novels, and most of them are books I never grow tired of reading. 

Book List

Please see Mr. Westrate's UPDATED book lists (PDF file) for all tutorials. This book list has been updated for the academic year 2010-2011. (August 2010)