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- Course name
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Introduction to Literature and Writing: How to Read, Interpret, and Write about Literature, Part Two
- Summary
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If you want your student to write confidently about what he or she has read, then this is the course for you! Continue your student’s growth in critical thinking and writing skills as we go further into defining and using literary analysis for better reading and writing skills. Get a deeper view into literature, and become comfortable with writing about literature when you join this course! This course is Part 2 of a two-part series; take both courses for a full year’s credit of literature and writing!
Course description: Continue studying and writing about literature with this middle school course, where students will learn how we read, interpret, and write about literature -- for high school, college, and beyond. This course continues guiding students to understanding the literary genres, increasing your student’s critical thinking through the knowledge of story elements in literature, while introducing authors’ writing techniques such as alliteration, assonance, colored narrative, dialogue, narrative elements, tone, description, and more! We’ll analyze stories and famous poems, including works by Tolkien, while also focusing on group discussions that lead to stronger analysis and writing. Students will get a chance to explore more literary elements – and learn how to write about the elements with confidence. During the course, students will get a chance to write every week – and after the course, students will be prepared to move into any middle or high school literature course with confidence. This course is Part 2 of a two-part series; take both courses for a full year’s credit of literature and writing!
©2023-2026 Homeschool Connections, Geralyn Rea. All rights reserved.
This material is only to be used for its intended purpose by active subscribers of Homeschool Connections. Any other use without explicit permission is in violation of the seventh commandment (yes, the 7th commandment) and in violation of US and International copyright laws.
You may print or download to local hard disk extracts for your personal homeschool and non-commercial use only. This is not to be used for homeschool co-ops without express written permission from Homeschool Connections.
If you have any questions please contact us at homeschoolconnections@gmail.com.
All reading materials are provided free by the instructor. Microsoft Word or the ability to convert a document to a Word-compatible document. If you do not own Microsoft Word, you can use a system such as Google Docs that converts to Word documents FREE.
- Course name
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Introduction to Literature and Writing: How to Read, Interpret, and Write about Literature, Part Two
- Instructor
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Natalie Meyer Schira
- Semester
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Spring 2026
- Category
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Writing ➤ Literary Analysis and Writing
- Grade levels
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Middle School
- Editors
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Aubrey Heki, Sharon Hamric-Weis, Bonnie Donlon, Erin M. Brown, MA, MFA, Donna Graziose, Natalie Meyer Schira, Daniel Massett, Geralyn Rea
- Start time
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January 6th, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET
- Course type
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Live
- Price
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$229
- Seats available
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25 seats available
- Seats remaining
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24 seats remaining
- Relative due dates
- Enhanced quiz security
- Enhanced assignment security
- This material is only to be used for its intended purpose by active subscribers of Homeschool Connections or purchasers of the course. Any other use without explicit permission is in violation of the seventh commandment, and in violation of US and International copyright laws.
- You may print or download to your own storage extracts for your personal homeschool and non-commercial use only. This is not to be used for homeschool co-ops without express written permission from Homeschool Connections.
- Upon completion of the course, you must delete all copies of course materials from any storage on which you saved permissible extracts.
Special notes
Course materials are provided free. This is Part Two of a two-part course.
Total classes
Duration
Class dates
Starting time
Prerequisites
Introduction to Literature and Writing: How to Read, Interpret, and Write about Literature, Part One
Suggested grade level
Suggested credit
Outline
Course outline:
Class 1: A solid review of key literary genres and devices used by authors (from Part 1)
Class 2: Examining new literary devices (tone, description, imagery, narrative elements, etc.) with a focus on prose
Class 3: Identifying literary devices and terms in an examination of literary works, gaining practical skills for writing
Class 4: Examining new literary devices (colored narrative, author’s use of dialogue, foreshadowing, and more) with a focus on prose
Class 5: Identifying literary devices and terms in an examination of literary works, gaining practical skills for writing
Class 6: Practicing in-depth prose analysis with te short story, Leaf by Niggle, by Tolkien
Class 7: Continued discussion and analysis of Leaf by Niggle
Class 8: Continued discussion and analysis of Leaf by Niggle, short analysis paper preparation
Class 9: Why poetry analysis – and how do you write about it? Introducing key poetic terms and devices
Class 10: Identifying and examining important poetic terms and devices
Class 11: Poetic scansion and rhythm: how to identify and examine author’s intent
Class 12: Bringing it all together with tools for approaching any piece of literature
Materials
Homework
Between classes each week, students have a reading and writing assignment (a paragraph to page-long assignments) each week, with analysis questions to answer. Depending on the student's reading level, families can expect approximately one to two hours of homework/preparation for the next class. LIVE and Instructor Access students will have grading and direct feedback from the instructor (parents will grade Recorded students’ work).
Fees
Fee: For all 12 classes: $209 if you register on or before November 15, $229 if you register after November 15. (Registration closes one week before the first day of class. After that date, registrations are not guaranteed. There is a $25 surcharge for late enrollments after the course is closed.)
Natalie Meyer Schira
n.schira.hsc@gmail.com
Miss Natalie Meyer Schira, BA, proudly serves as a teacher of middle school English and writing. She graduated from Saint Mary’s College Notre Dame in 2012 with a major in English Literature and a minor in secondary education.Since then, Miss Schira has dedicated herself to Catholic education, joyfully serving nine years teaching English in a Catholic high school in Iowa. Miss Schira has also been featured in publications and with awards and recognition for teaching and inspiration.
With a love of language and teaching, she is committed to cultivating students’ academic and emotional development and using her teaching credentials to collaborate with and support families and students. Miss Schira’s greatest loves include Christ, commas, communication, caffeine, and her beloved Chicago Cubs while living a life grounded in faith, joy, and opportunity.
To quote one of her favorite pieces of wisdom from her mother, “When life gives you 'on-hold music,' dance.” Here at Aquinas Writing Advantage, Miss Schira is beginning her fifth year as a LIVE course teacher for the 6/7 and 7/8 Series middle school writing courses. She is also the Middle School Writing Support Specialist.
© 2024 Homeschool Connections; Natalie Meyer Schira. All Rights Reserved.
Violation of the above copyright policies may result in expulsion without any refund and/or legal action.