On Fairy Stories: An Essay by Tolkien
Reading Fairy Stories with J. R. Tolkien In “On Fairy Stories,” J. R. R. Tolkien explores the realm of Faerie, and considers “What are fairy-stories? What is their origin? What is the use of them?”...
Category: Resources for Teaching
History Suggestions for Excellence in Literature
History options that fit well with Excellence in Literature Many books and programs work well with EIL, but I’ll list a few resources I have used or carefully examined, with comments on each. This is...
Sara Selby Resources
Sara Selby has kindly shared the following resources with Excellence in Literature: Emily Brontë: A Biographical Sketch Wuthering Heights Family Trees Versification [Verse Structure Patterns] A Micro-History of the English Language *** These materials...
Literary Periods Chart
Excellence in Literature Chart of Literary Periods Literary periods can be a useful clue to the style, purpose, and philosophy of a work of literature. Here is a brief downloadable chart with basic information...
How to Use a Writer’s Handbook to Evaluate Writing
Parents often wonder how to grade essays and other writing assignments. Unlike subjects where there is an answer key, writing can seem much harder to evaluate and grade fairly. However, evaluating writing doesn’t have...
Versification by Sara Selby
Have you ever wondered what the art of making verses is called? It’s versification — a word you won’t often hear. In this article, Professor Sara Selby clearly describes the principles of prosody, which...
A Micro-History of the English Language
A Micro-History of the English Language by Sara Selby In the family tree of world languages, English descends from the Indo-European branch, which can be traced to ca. 2500 BC. When the Romans arrived...
American Literature Texts
English III: American Literature, A Survey Course What does American Literature cover? American Literature is a college-preparatory chronological literature survey course. Focus works, including novels, short stories, poems, and drama, have been selected for...
Texts for British Literature
English IV: British Literature, A Survey Course What does British Literature cover? British Literature is a college-preparatory chronological literary survey course. Focus works, including novels, short stories, poems, and drama, have been selected for...
Texts for World Literature
English V: World Literature What does World Literature cover? World Literature is a college-prep literature survey course. Focus works, including novels, short stories, poems, and drama, have been selected for literary quality, and for...
Introduction to Literature Focus Texts
Introduction to Literature study guide In this first level of Excellence in Literature, students will become familiar with the lesson format they’ll use through all five years of the curriculum. Introduction to Literature is...
Texts for Literature and Composition
English II: Literature and Composition What does Literature and Composition cover? Literature and Composition is a college-preparatory literature and composition course. Focus works, including novels, short stories, poems, and drama, have been selected for...
Working it Out with George Herbert & Joseph Womack
Would you like to deepen your devotional reading? Have you always wanted to understand great poetry? Working it Out may be just what you need! In Working it Out, you will study the work...
Overview – Outline of American Literature Index
As a context resource for the American Literature study guide (English 3 from the Excellence in Literature curriculum) we offer these chapters from the Outline of American Literature, a public-domain American Literature textbook published by...
Biographical Approach Paper Format
What goes into a biographical approach paper? Like other approach papers, this is a tool for initial analysis of a subject. As you think through each element of the paper, you’ll gain a deeper...
Victorian and Modern Comparison by Melba Cuddy-Keane
Comparison of Victorian and Modern Novel Characteristics by Dr. Melba Cuddy-Keane An exercise in relational definition: Early comparisons between the Victorian novel and the modernist novel set up the following binaries: (Also compare the later...
Teach Language Arts the Easy, Natural Way (Video)
Here’s a workshop on teaching K-12 language arts from the 2012 MidSouth Homeschool Convention. The program description read, “Communication skills are essential for every area of life, but it’s easy to get lost in the wilderness...
What is Iambic Pentameter?
I heard about iambic pentameter for years before I understood what it meant. I was able to figure out that it had something to do with five (penta), but the standard definition, “in poetry,...
Copywork: How Benjamin Franklin Taught Himself to Write Well
Although copywork is often seen as an exercise for young students, it’s a classic tool that is useful for almost anything you want to learn to do well. Artists copy the works of great...
How to Read Poetry Aloud
Reading poetry aloud is a wonderful way to internalize the rhythm and cadence of beautifully crafted language, as well as poetic imagery. Learning to read poetry aloud can lead to creative recitations, and the...
Modernism and Experimentation: 1914-1945 — Outline of American Literature Chapter 6
Chapter 6: Outline of American Literature Modernism and Experimentation: 1914-1945 Historians characterize this period as U.S.’ traumatic “coming of age.” By Kathryn VanSpanckeren Introduction & Overview Modernism Poetry 1914-1945: Experiments in Form: Ezra Pound, T.S....
The Rise of Realism: 1860-1914: Outline of American Literature Chapter 5
Chapter 5: Outline of American Literature by Kathryn VanSpanckeren The Rise of Realism: 1860-1914 This chapter features a brief overview of the realist movement, and brief biographies of writers such as Mark Twain, Edith...
To the Lighthouse Study Guide
Study Guide for To the Lighthouse © by Cathy Decker, 1998 In this study guide by Dr. Cathy Decker, a professor from Chaffey College (CA), you’ll find questions you might want to consider when you read...
Romantic Period — American Literature
The Romantic Period, 1820-1860: Fiction Outline of American Literature: Chapter 4 Protagonists of the American Romance are haunted, alienated individuals. By Kathryn VanSpanckeren The American Novelist The Romance: Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, Edgar Allan Poe...
Democratic Origins and Revolutionary Writers: Outline of American Literature Chapter 2
Outline of American Literature Chapter 2 Democratic Origins and Revolutionary Writers, 1776-1820 By Kathryn VanSpanckeren Introduction and Overview The American Enlightenment: Benjamin Franklin, Hector St. John de Crèvecoeur The Political Pamphlet: Thomas Paine Neoclassicism:...
Top 10 Reasons to Read Fiction
Dr. Randy Laist of Goodwin College offers a thoughtful list of his top 10 reasons for reading fiction. Building cultural literacy is just the beginning — stories not only offer a portal into other...
Outline of U.S. History: A Free Text
Here is a free American history text book that is available online or for download as a PDF from the United States Department of State.
Literary Analysis: Elements of Narrative
Learn basic concepts of literary analysis, including plot, character, and setting with Professor Randy Laist of Goodwin College.
Techniques of Literary Summary and Analysis
Using the nursery rhyme, “Jack and Jill,” Professor Randy Laist explains basic techniques of literary summary and analysis.
Citation and Style Guides
Citation and Style Guides Here is a list of the most commonly used citation and style guides and resources. For Excellence in Literature, you will be using MLA citations, but I suggest becoming familiar...
