Description

This Live Course will be offered during the 2025-26 academic year.

American Literature Live will focus on building a comprehensive understanding of basic literary elements such as irony, duality, juxtaposition, and, more importantly, a love of literature.

The class will meet once per week over Zoom, date and time TBD.

The format will be discussion-based with short lectures focused on the historical context of a particular book or short story. Students will read a variety of literary forms and learn how to write a basic thesis paper and find their own voice. The papers should reflect the student’s personal opinion as well as his ability to grasp literary concepts. The course can be used alongside Dave Raymond’s American History course but is also structured to stand alone.

List of Readings

Bold items need to be purchased separately. Any unabridged editions will do. Suggested purchase links are provided.

1. “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” Mark Twain
2. The Aztec Hunters, Francis William Rolt-Wheeler (selections)
3. Explorer Stories (selections)
4. The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Elizabeth George Speare [Amazon, BetterWorldBooks, ThriftBooks]
5. Poems by Anne Bradstreet
6. Poems by Phyllis Wheatley
7. “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” by Patrick Henry
8. Johnny Tremain, Esther Forbes [Amazon, BetterWorldBooks, ThriftBooks]
9. The Declaration of Independence & The United States Constitution
10. “The Cask of Amontillado,” “The Purloined Letter,” Edgar Allan Poe
11. “Rip van Winkle,” Washington Irving
12. Poems by Emily Dickinson
13. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Mark Twain [Amazon, BetterWorldBooks, ThriftBooks]
14. Little House on the Prairie, Laura Ingalls Wilder [Amazon, BetterWorldBooks, ThriftBooks]
15. Battle-Pieces & Aspects of the War, Herman Melville
16. Across Five Aprils, Irene Hunt [Amazon, BetterWorldBooks, Thriftbooks]
17. The Wilderness Hunter, Theodore Roosevelt (selections)
18. “After 20 Years,” O. Henry

Schedule of Class Meetings

Date and time TBD. Runs approximately 39 weeks into May, including holiday breaks.

1. Aug 19 – approximate start date

What if I can’t attend the live Zoom sessions?

All the sessions will be recorded and posted for enrolled families to watch at their convenience. You can use the recordings to review or catch up if you missed a session.

Families who can’t make the schedule above can still participate in the class assignments and group discussions by watching the recordings and submitting the assignments to Dave.

Do you offer refunds on live classes?

We think you will love this class. If you don’t, you may request a refund but must do so no later than before the second scheduled class after your enrollment (purchase) date. This gives you the chance to experience an entire live class session to make your decision.

Credit: Full Credit in Middle School or High School Literature/English

Ages: 12-14 (This course is taught at approximately a ninth-grade level.)

Mary Pierson Purifoy has completed a history degree and was homeschooled until college. An avid reader and writer, she hopes to teach students to love books, writing, and history as well as a solid understanding of these subjects. Film is another passion as is exploring history through film and literature.