Courses

Literary Analysis: Writing in Response to
Texts that Changed the World

Taught by Laura Morefield
ages 12+ (or permission of instructor)
CONCURRENT REGISTRATION in English Lit: Texts that Changed the World REQUIRED

TWO SECTIONS AVAILABLE
NOTE: 1.5 Hour Class
Full Year - 32 week Course

Course Overview:

Let us take your teen on a deeper dive into the texts that shaped history and sparked social change. Literary Analysis: Writing in Response to Texts that Changed the World is an exciting course designed for students ages 12+ (or with instructor permission) who are already enrolled in the English Lit: Texts that Changed the World or an equivalent course. This class offers students the tools to analyze significant works and sharpen their writing through critical reflection and thoughtful analysis.

Course Description:

Throughout the year, students will engage with influential texts—ranging from poems to short stories, songs, and essays—that have inspired social change across time and cultures. The course will help students develop essential skills in critical thinking, close reading, and thesis development, focusing on how to interpret the symbols and themes that run through these works and connect them to larger social and historical contexts.

Schedule and Cost:

TWO SECTIONS AVAILABLE:

Section I: Tuesday 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. ET

Section II: Thursday 8:00 – 9:30 p.m. ET

Course Dates (click to download pdf)

For Tuition Fees, Code of Conduct, and all the details, see THE FINE PRINT

What your Student will Learn:

Close Reading & Theme Identification: Students will start by analyzing accessible themes within their texts, learning how to identify literary techniques and thematic elements.
Connecting Themes Across Texts: As the course progresses, students will begin to recognize recurring themes across different works and explore how these themes influence and reflect society.
Thesis Development: Students will build the skills to develop a strong, arguable thesis and use evidence from the text to support their analysis in longer written responses.
Writing Practice & Reflection: Each week, students will write a short reflection piece on the text(s) they are reading, with instructor feedback to guide them through the revision process. Over time, students may move from paragraph-level responses to writing more complex, structured essays.

Why this Course is Important:

This class is about engaging with powerful texts that have changed the world and using them as a lens to write critically about literature, history, and society. By the end of the course, students will be confident in their ability to write thoughtful, well-argued responses, linking the literature they’ve read to the broader world around them. Whether your teen is considering future studies in literature, history, or social sciences, this course will equip them with the essential analytical and writing skills they need to succeed.

Class Structure and Homework:

Weekly Discussions & Assignments: In each live, weekly class, students will engage in discussions around the techniques of literary analysis, applying them to the texts they are studying. Students will have writing practice each week, with the option to revise and improve previous pieces based on instructor feedback.
Parental Involvement: Parents are welcome to join Google Classroom as students to stay informed on assignments and support their teen’s progress throughout the course.

Upon registration, students and parents will be provided with a Google Classroom link to join. Class materials and assignments will be posted directly to Classroom, and students may communicate with each other through this platform. Students may communicate with the instructor through Classroom and student inquiries are usually addressed as quickly as possible between 9AM and 9PM EST. Student inquiries made on the day of class may be addressed in class instead of through Classroom.

Course Materials:

Students will be using the materials from the English Lit: Texts that Changed the World course.