Middle School Literature, Writing

A Note on Booklists

First, New Hope’s Middle School Literature and Writing tutorial utilizes two rotating book lists, giving students the option of taking two years of Middle School Lit before moving on to Intermediate Lit. The two current book lists appear below but are under review and may see minor changes.

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 Cliff's 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

The main focus of Middle School Literature is student enjoyment of literature and writing. Students read young adult literature ranging from Richard Adams and Tolkien to literary classics including Dickens, Dumas and Shakespeare. Students also read poetry and short stories and are asked to experiment with creative writing as a way to enjoy language and their own life stories. Primary emphasis is placed on analysis of the literature and student writing. Written assignments will cover a wide range of written expression geared toward students’ specific ability levels. These genres include: reflection, exposition, persuasion, literary analysis, narrative, poetry, etc.

Ordering Through CBD

New Hope is an affiliate of CBD (Christian Book Distributors), i.e. we receive a percentage of orders placed from our website. To ensure that we receive that percentage, you must do the following:

• You must always visit New Hope’s website first.
• If the right column in a book list has a CBD link next to it, click on that link to go to the CBD website.
• Do not leave the CBD website, e.g. to visit other websites, until you have completed your order. Otherwise, the connection to New Hope will be lost.

Book List A (2009-2010)

Watership Down by Richard Adams, (Scribner) ISBN 0743277708

"The Tempest" by William Shakespeare (Shakespeare Made Easy) ISBN 0812036034

Walk in the Light and Twenty-Three Tales by Leo Tolstoy (Orbis Books) ISBN 1570754608

A unit of Myths, packet to be provided by the tutor

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (Signet Classics) ISBN 0451531191

Silas Marner by George Elliot (Penguin Classics) ISBN 0141439750

A unit of American short stories and poems, packet to be provided by the tutor

Lord of the Flies by William Golding (Perigee Books) ISBN 0-399-50148-7

Book List B (projected for 2010-2011)