In How to Read A Book, Van Doren and Mortimer talk about four main levels of reading: elementary reading, inspectional reading, analytical reading, and syntopical reading.
Analytical reading goes beyond elementary reading (putting sounds and words together to discover surface-level meaning) and inspectional reading (systematic skimming and superficial reading) to the point where the student begins to understand the book and the author's views on the subject. From this point, the students will be better able to tackle the syntopic reading skills that will enable them to thrive in higher levels of academia.
In this class, students will:
(1) Practice Elementary Reading
(2) Learn Inspectional Reading (systematic skimming, superficial reading)
(3) Learn Analytical Reading (classifying, summarizing, relating the part to whole and vice versa, and defining the problem that the author has articulated)
(4) Write critical analysis essays
(5) Build up vocabulary through the readings and exercises
(6) Develop a unique, critical essay writing style with logical structure and correct grammar.
This class is designed with a one-year curriculum for Grade 7-9 students. The class will use various books on different terms throughout the year. Sunshine will provide an Ecopy of the books used in class or free rental of the hard copy of the book whenever possible.
Text Books for Literary Reading Level III-A:
(1) Red Scarf Girl, by Ji-li Jiang
(2) excerpts from Mindset, by Carol Dweck
(3) Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
(4) Okay for Now, by Gary Schmidt
Note: If many students have already read a novel, we will choose an alternate.
We will also draw from these Additional Text Books (pdfs provided):
(1) How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines.
(2) A Short Guide to Writing about Literature (12th Edition)
(3) Reading the World: Contemporary Literature from Around the Globe by Plc
(4) A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers by Lee A. Jacobus (essays)
Instructor:
Julie Hlad
