Short Story Series: Sandra Cisneros
THIS IS A SELF-PACED COURSE
Class starts every Tuesday, starting at the beginning of the semester. You have until the final due date at the end of the semester to complete all work for the course. This means you have the entire semester to complete the course on YOUR schedule!
There is no teacher support for this course. All work is to be completed independently.
Flannery O’Connor
Jack London
Shirley Jackson
O. Henry
Edgar Allan Poe
Richard Connell
Frank R. Stockton
CLASS DESCRIPTION
What is the difference between a short story and a novel (other than the length)? How can the shorter form help a writer focus closely on plot and action? How can a writer make their readers care about the characters they have created without the extra room of a longer novel?
In this one-week course, we will read a short story from a single American writer, Sandra Cisneros, and we will explore common themes in the writer’s work. Students will learn how the short story form has shaped the history of modern literature, and we will look at examples of short stories that have enabled the writer to comment on their own culture and on the events of the world around them.
This course will focus heavily on reading, and full copies of stories we will cover will be provided for students to read on their own.
CLASS FORMAT
No live classes- view lessons on YOUR schedule. In general, expect 1.5-2.5 hours to work through the lesson plan each week, and an additional 2-5 hours working on assignments (it really depends what assignment your child chooses to do and how they manage their time). For classes with two levels, the material is the same for both- the depth of the assignments differs. Younger students should usually be placed in Level 1. Older students, or younger students who want more of a challenge, should be placed in Level 2. Each lesson consists of a fully narrated PowerPoint presentation with images and videos to enhance the topics. Students will have access to our learning management system, Canvas, for viewing their lesson, printing worksheets, taking quizzes, viewing/submitting assignments, and viewing grades. Read more details about self-paced class format.
IMPORTANT!! Self-paced class enrollment is separate from our other courses. You can only enroll by clicking the button below.
Part 1:
The first part of the class will focus on biographical information on the writer’s life and career, and will discuss why this person has remained such a significant voice in American Literature.
Part 2:
The second part of the class will look closely at one of the writer’s most famous short story, “Woman Hollering Creek,” and will discuss why this story has had such a lasting impact on American culture.
Part 3:
The third part of the class will look at common themes and patterns across the writer’s body of work, and will compare ideas from the short story we read to those found in another one of her most celebrated novels, The House on Mango Street.
Although this course will only require reading of one short story, students are also encouraged to continue reading this longer novel on their own time. Links will be provided for free downloadable e-books of the work(s) that we will discuss.
Course Features
- Duration Jan 7 - May 20
- Activities Language Arts
- Class Sizes 1
- Years Old 13-17 One Level