Course description
What students will do
This course fosters middle school reading and writing habits that carry students into high school. Students spend the full session in deep, sustained study of a single short story, reading it multiple times and from multiple angles.
Students examine literary devices, narrative structure, and character development through psychological frameworks such as Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and Jungian archetypes. The course culminates in one polished essay developed through drafting, substantive peer review, and instructor-guided revision.
Small-group discussion is central. Students practice articulating ideas, responding to peers, and defending interpretations with evidence from the text.
Who this is for
Students in grades 6–8 who are ready to strengthen close reading, discussion, analytical writing, and revision habits.