Friday, February 26, 2010

Huckleberry Finn for Middle School: Online Classes

Update: This live course has concluded and is available now as a recorded course through our Subscription Service. This is a great way to learn at your own pace when your schedule allows. To subscribe or learn more:Adult and High School Catholic Online Classes


Drum roll please ... Our first ever course designed just for middle school students is here!

(click here and scroll down to register)

Class dates: Saturdays, September 11 to October 16, 2010
Total classes: 6
Starting time: 11:00 am, Eastern Daylight Time (10:00 am Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Instructor: Dayspring Brock

Course Description:
In his lecture notes concerning his most profound work, "Huckleberry Finn," Mark Twain says that "a sound heart is a surer guide than an ill-trained conscience." One of the most beloved American novels written, this story of a young Odyssean wanderer discovers friendship and loyalty through the the runaway slave, Jim, and discovers a profound lesson in trusting in the worth of a another human being over and against the societal prejudice of the time. Though the work can often be taught as a study on American racism, this course will mostly focus on themes of friendship, loyalty, and the value of the human heart. Students at this age enjoy the masterful plot of this story and will be thoroughly challenged through it's reading and lectures. Vocabulary and grammar will be reading based and the paper written will cover a particular theme of the work. The first three lectures will cover the work and the final three lectures will concern the writing.

Equipment requirements:
Students are required to have high-speed internet and a headset with microphone.

Misc:
Miss Brock will be available via email in between classes for questions and comments.

Recordings of classes are provided to students within 24 hours and available for 6 months.

Homeschool Connections does not provide record keeping services.

Fee: This course is regularly $80 for the entire 6-week course. Early Registration Discount of $10 off before June 1, 2010.

Course Outline:
Session One - Introduction to Huckleberry Finn and the American Novel (please have read Ch. 1-5 for the first session)
Session Two – (Ch. 6-20); Vocabulary due
Session Three – (Ch. 21-35)
Session Four – (Ch. 36-End); Character map due; Writing about a theme
Session Five – Lecture; Editing the rough draft
Session Six - Lecture; Final paper

Homework:
Miss Brock will provide vocabulary, reading quizzes, essay assignment and instructions, and a Final Exam. Answer keys will be provided for parents to grade.

Course text:
We will use the Penguin Classic of Huckleberry Finn
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Penguin Classics; Deluxe edition (Oct. 27, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0143105949
You are free to use any edition, but for better ease of reading along with the teacher, the student would be best served if the page numbers correspond with the teacher’s edition.


Instructor's biography:
Dayspring Brock has been teaching in private schools since 2004 in the Dallas area. She grew up a Dallasite. Her undergraduate degree is in history and philosophy from Dallas Baptist University and she holds a Masters of Humanities in Literature from the University of Dallas. Dayspring is a current candidate to enter the Catholic Church (an Anglican rite church) and can’t wait to take her first Eucharist at Easter. She has a passion for books, current events, films, fashion, pop culture, coffee, and music. She loves Junior High Students and the opportunities to show how reading and writing can open up a whole new dimension to a student.

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