Minimum Class Size: 5

Maximum Class Size: 15

Midterm Enrollment:  Yes

Class Time: 3rd hour (10:40-11:35)

Prerequisite: None

Estimated homework hours: 2-3

Required Materials or Books:

• 3 ring binder
• notebook paper
• pen/pencil
• colored pencils
• thesaurus
• rhyming dictionary useful but not required
  

Class Description:  This class focuses on the actual skills of successful writers, and encourages emulation of the literary giants of the world.  Realizing that the literature of great writers is the key to successful writing for everyone, students will look at pieces from those who knew how to proofread and analyze, and will be encouraged to look at good writing, as well as write pieces from every writing genre.  Nine different genres are covered,  plus  "How to Write" guides and checklists for the students are included to aide in mastery: 

* Describing an Object from Jules Verne
* a Place from Charles Dickens
* a Character from Daniel Defoe
* Dialogue from Kenneth Grahame
* The Short Story from O. Henry
* Fables from Aesop
* Friendly Letters from Robert Louis Stevenson
* Poetry - Rhyming Verse from William Wordsworth
* The Ballad or Narrative Poem from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 

includes all needed excerpts from all of the literature modeled.

Additionally, a unit on journalism is included and a co-op "newspaper"
will be created by the class in April.

This class is on a 2 year rotation, so student can take both 7th and again in 8th without repeating information.

Teacher Information: Silvia has homeschooled for 16 years and has graduated two, with three more still schooling away at home.  This is her 7th year to teach at Brazos Valley Co-op.