This course lays a solid foundation in grammar, writing skills, and literature comprehension to ensure academic excellence and success in life. The students will develop an understanding of the spiritual importance of words and effective communication from a biblical perspective. Students will learn to implement the steps of the writing process and develop strategies for mastering effective written communication by practicing a variety of writing styles, including narrative, expository, compare/contrast, and literary analysis. This course utilizes the 6+1 Writing Traits: content, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions, and presentation. The literature studies include King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table by Howard Pyle, Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, Hinds' Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard, poetry, and other short story selections. Student's study of English in this course will be aided by The Gregg Reference Manual, Tenth Edition. Click here for more information.  

Section 1	Mon	9:45 am	-	11:15 am	Closed	Janis Gaines
Section 2	Mon	11:30 am	-	1:00 pm	Closed	Janis Gaines
Section 3	Wed	9:45 am	-	11:15 am	Closed	Janis Gaines
Section 4	Wed	11:30 am	-	1:00 pm	Closed	Janis Gaines
Section 5	Thu	11:30 am	-	1:00 pm	Closed	Janis Gaines
Section 6	Thu	1:15 pm	-	2:45 pm	Closed	Janis Gaines
Section 7	Thu	3:00 pm	-	4:30 pm	Closed	Janis Gaines
Section 8	Wed	1:15 pm	-	2:45 pm	Closed	Nancy Shearon
Section 9	Wed	3:00 pm	-	4:30 pm	Closed	Nancy Shearon
Section 10	Mon	4:45 pm	-	6:15 pm	Closed	Lanie Timko
Section 11	Mon	8:15 pm	-	9:45 pm	Closed	Lanie Timko
Section 12	Thu	8:00 am	-	9:30 am	Closed	Heather Yost
Section 13	Thu	9:45 am	-	11:15 am	Closed	Heather Yost
Section 14	Fri	9:45 am	-	11:15 am	Closed	Janis Gaines

This course is an introductory literature and writing course, in which students will read through the seven books that comprise C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia. Class discussions will focus on the stories from literal, moral, and allegorical points of view. Writing assignments will employ both creative and expository composition. Weekly homework assignments will prepare students for the class discussions.
Click here for more information. 

Section 1	Mon	9:45 am	-	11:15 am	Closed	Kathryn Richards
Section 2	Mon	3:00 pm	-	4:30 pm	Closed	Kathryn Richards
Section 3	Tue	8:15 pm	-	9:45 pm	Closed	Kathryn Richards

Do you need solid composition instruction along with constructive feedback before you tackle your SATs for college entrance or before you enter courses with major writing components? In this course, students will study approximately 20 styles of composition and will gain skills necessary to write solid, clear, and effective compositions, providing them a strong foundation for SATs or any upper-level course with a strong writing component. Students will also receive some weekly grammar notes and instruction relevant to their writing assignments. This demanding course requires students to write a composition of approximately 500-1200 words per week. Their study will aided by The Gregg Reference Manual, Tenth Edition.
Click here for more information.  

Section 1	Mon	9:45 am	-	11:15 am	Closed	Nikki Troxell
Section 2	Mon	11:30 am	-	1:00 pm	Closed	Nikki Troxell
Section 3	Mon	1:15 pm	-	2:45 pm	Closed	Nikki Troxell
Section 4	Tue	11:30 am	-	1:00 pm	Closed	Nikki Troxell
Section 5	Tue	1:15 pm	-	2:45 pm	Closed	Nikki Troxell
Section 6	Mon	3:00 pm	-	4:30 pm	Closed	Melinda Meuser
Section 7	Thu	9:45 am	-	11:15 am	Closed	Naomi Neuman
Section 8	Thu	11:30 am	-	1:00 pm	Closed	Naomi Neuman
Section 9	Mon	8:00 am	-	9:30 am	Closed	Christina Corrin
Section 10	Wed	8:00 am	-	9:30 am	Closed	Christina Corrin
Section 11	Wed	9:45 am	-	11:15 am	Closed	Christina Corrin
Section 12	Thu	4:45 pm	-	6:15 pm	Closed	Jesse Hake
Section 13	Thu	8:15 pm	-	9:45 pm	Closed	Jesse Hake

This course builds a literary foundation to ensure success in upper level literature courses. In this course students will read through five novels and one play from a variety of cultures including British, French, Russian, and American.  Students will learn to employ the use of literary terms within their weekly writing assignments and discussion guides.  Writing assignments will employ both creative and expository composition. Weekly homework assignments will prepare students for the class discussions. Students must come to class prepared to share their answers orally with a working microphone. Participation plays a major part in a student’s grade in this course.

Section 1	Wed	1:15 pm	-	2:45 pm	Closed	Nikki Troxell
Section 2	Wed	3:00 pm	-	4:30 pm	Closed	Nikki Troxell
Section 3	Tue	8:00 am	-	9:30 am	Closed	Vanessa Bush
Section 4	Tue	9:45 am	-	11:15 am	Closed	Vanessa Bush

This supplementary, one-semester course provides students with comprehensive instruction in grammar, mechanics, punctuation, usage, and diagramming to enable students to achieve a solid understanding in these areas and prepare them for the SAT and other high school and college English classes. Students will apply their acquired knowledge weekly through grammar and diagramming homework and SAT-style writing assignments. In addition, students will learn to use The Gregg Reference Manual, Tenth Edition and accompanying worksheets, the primary texts in this course, as valuable tools in their writing and understanding of grammar and will also look for punctuation and grammar errors in the world around them. They must complete a midterm and final exam to test comprehension on all topics covered in the class. Grammar Review will benefit almost any high school student in need of grammar improvement who meets the prerequisites. This course is recommended to take concurrently with 10th grade or above composition or literature course, but not with English 3 (which has its own grammar component).  Click here for more information. 

Section 1	Mon	1:15 pm	-	2:45 pm	Closed	Melinda Meuser
Section 2	Wed	3:00 pm	-	4:30 pm	Closed	Melinda Meuser

Please see the course description for Grammar Review (1st Sem).

Section 1

Mon

1:15 pm

-

2:45 pm

Open

Melinda Meuser

NEW! This course introduces students to the process and techniques of different types of creative writing.  Students will discover their voice and imagination through journaling, story prompts, literary devices, word play, and more!  Guided writing assignments allow students to experiment with different genres, including fables, fairy tales, tall tales, poetry, myths, and legends.  Literary classics, such as the Tales of Uncle Remus, Aesop’s Fables, and Grimms Fairy Tales, along with contemporary classics, including The Velveteen Rabbit, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, and Amelia Bedelia, serve as models of analysis and application.  The course also highlights selected works from American folklore, Greek myths, and beloved children’s authors like Rudyard Kipling (How the Leopard Got His Spots), Hans Christian Anderson (The Emperor’s New Clothes) and Shel Silverstein (The Giving Tree).  Students will learn to read and critique compositions for elements of style, form, and humor.  Weekly class time focuses on instruction and discussion, and will allow opportunity for peer editing and collaboration.  All writing will be evaluated using the 6+1 Writing Traits method of assessment.  Students will have weekly writing challenges and maintain an interactive online portfolio of their best work. The second semester will incorporate a guided novel project component, where students can play with the concepts of character, plot, dialogue, theme, and setting.  Throughout participation in this course, students will be encouraged to showcase their talent and pursue various publishing opportunities. 

Section 1

Tue

1:15 pm

-

2:45 pm

Closed

Janis Gaines

Rhetoric is a two-year course on persuasive communication, focusing on the Five Canons originated by Aristotle: Invention, Arrangement, Style, Memory, and Delivery. (The Potter's School also offers Rhetoric 2, listed further down the course list.) The first year emphasizes the first two canons, when we look at how discourses are constructed and argued. It uses the curriculum written by the teacher, Classical Rhetoric for the Christian Student, supplemented with the Penguin Book of Historic Speeches edited by Brian MacAuley. Both years entail analysis of primary works and a fair amount of writing, and a research paper will be required each year as well. Rhetoric I is a rigorous literature and composition course that completely fulfills any upper level "English" requirement. Students must have working microphone at all times. Click here for more information.

Section 1	Mon	3:00 pm	-	4:30 pm	Closed	Shaunna Howat
Section 2	Wed	9:45 am	-	11:15 am	Closed	Shaunna Howat

Rhetoric II is the second year of continued study of the art and science of persuasive communication. Using Aristotle's Five Canons, Rhetoric 2 will emphasize Style, Memory and Delivery. We incorporate the study and use of Figures of Speech and different styles of writing, including a research paper, and will read several pieces of literature for the purupose of discussing both worldview and literary analysis. Students will learn about public speaking and practice different methods--memorized speeches, persuasive, impromptu, debate, etc., and will continue applying those methods of analysis of original discourses learned in Classical Rhetoric I. This course uses Classical Rhetoric for the Christian Student Level 2, authored by the instructor. Also required for this course are the following books: The Penguin Book of Historic Speeches, edited by Brian MacArthur; The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde; Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad; 1984 by George Orwell; and The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis. Rhetoric II is a rigorous literature and composition course that completely fulfills any upper level "English" requirement. Students must have working microphone at all times.  A webcam will be used for speeches to be recorded and uploaded.  Click here for more information.

Section 1

Wed

11:30 am

-

1:00 pm

Closed

Shaunna Howat

NEW!  In his book, Wild at Heart, John Eldridge theorizes that every man has three things he seeks in life: a battle to fight, a beauty to rescue, and an adventure to live. This literature course will explore the depths of several adventure novels from the past couple of centuries. We will analyze the literature by looking for themes and seeking the commonalities among the adventures in the given novels, including the three things Eldridge theorizes men look for in their lives. Students will have discussion questions and writing assignments to complete based on their weekly reading assignment. Each week students will discuss how their given text qualifies as an adventure novel, and students will also be concurrently working on their own adventure pieces and examining how God created adventure in their own lives. Students will write four larger papers (one per quarter) in this course and several smaller papers on a weekly basis.

Section 1

Tue

3:00 pm

-

4:30 pm

Closed

Nikki Troxell

For years, the Bible and the works of William Shakespeare could be found in most English-speaking homes. Yes, Shakespeare did write popular plays--better than other playwrights of his time--but he was not divine. Students will study two renowned tragedies containing strong masculine characters: King Lear and Hamlet. Students will read the plays aloud and discuss plot, characterization, poetic imagery, dramatization, and the use of irony. Weekly writing assignments include short essay responses and creative tasks. The study of each play culminates with an exam that includes identification of characters and quotations as well as short essays.

Section 1

Tue

9:45 am

-

11:15 am

Closed

Jenny Dolton

Please see description for Shakespeare: Major Works (1st Sem).

Section 1

Wed

9:45 am

-

11:15 am

Open

Jenny Dolton

NEW! Literature both shapes and is shaped by our culture. Familiarity with the classics helps a student not only understand the impact certain writings have had on the world, but also how world events influenced the authors and their writings. This course introduces students to several nineteenth century authors, their works, and their impact on our culture, including Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, some Romantic poetry pieces, and short stories. This course will further develop a student's understanding of literary concepts while encouraging a lifelong enjoyment of literature through a Christian Worldview. Each week students complete written assignments that include short answer questions, essay questions, and creative writing responses. These assignments will run two or more pages on average, and require approximately two to five hours a week, depending on student ability.

Section 1

Wed

9:45 am

-

11:15 am

Closed

Heather Yost

NEW! Please see description for 19th Century Literature (1st Sem).

Section 1

Tue

9:45 am

-

11:15 am

Open

Heather Yost

NEW! Many Christians enjoy science fiction, but not all science fiction honors God. In this class students will study from a Christian perspective literary themes specific to science fiction, the potentially evil subtleties that permeate some classical science fiction, and the redemptive qualities of certain Christian science fiction. During this semester we will read H. G. Wells’ War of the Worlds and Time Machine, George Lucas’s Star Wars, and C. S. Lewis’s Out of the Silent Planet. This course has a strong writing component.  Students will write an essay and a creative piece weekly, developing strong evaluative, analytical, and written skills for college. In addition, students will complete vocabulary, book questions, and literary findings. Each week, students will share their literary findings and essays in class for peer critique and instructor comment. Students must write at an upper high school to pre-college level to enter this class. Dr. Sharon Bridwell designed this course and selected Mrs. Naomi Neuman to teach it.  Though this course may be taken as a standalone course, it is intended as a first semester to the second semester TPS Fantasy Literature class, and registration priority will be given to those who are registered for both courses.

Section 1

Wed

11:30 am

-

1:00 pm

Closed

Naomi Neuman

NEW! How can we read, write, and enjoy the beauty of fantasy literature from a Christian perspective? Our close study of three major fantasy authors—J. R. R. Tolkien, George MacDonald, and Calvin Miller—will help us “baptize our imaginations” as we answer this question. In this class, while sharpening their Biblical worldview, students will also hone their analytical, evaluative, and communicative skills as they prepare for college. During this semester students will read The Hobbit, The Princess and the Goblin, The Princess and Curdie, and The Singer Trilogy. This course has a strong writing component, and students will write two essays or creative pieces weekly as well as completing vocabulary, book questions, and literary findings. Students will weekly share their literary findings and essays in class for peer critique and instructor comment. Students must write at an upper high school to pre-college level to enter this class. Dr. Sharon Bridwell designed this course and selected Mrs. Naomi Neuman to teach it.  Though it may be taken as a standalone course, this is intended as a second semester to the first semester TPS Science Fiction Literature class, and registration priority will be given to those who are registered for both courses.

Section 1

Wed

11:30 am

-

1:00 pm

Open

Naomi Neuman

Do you want a literature course that prepares you in the areas of written expression, analytical thinking, and critical thinking and that will prepare you for college literature courses? If so, this course is for you. This course uses the college text The Norton Anthology of American Literature to 1865, Volumes A and B, to study American writers from the 1600s to 1865. There will be additional reading outside the text using handouts provided by the teacher. Students will examine the cultural, political, literary, and differing worldviews propagated by many famous American authors. Students will write one long essay weekly, covering different literary points of interest relating to the authors and their works, and complete discussion questions. They will also learn to write the AP-Style Analysis essay. Students will weekly share their written essays for peer review and instructor comment. The course will develop analytical reading and expository writing skills to prepare students for college. There will be a midterm exam and final exam for each semester that contain multiple-choice and essay questions.  Click here for more information.

Section 1

Wed

1:15 pm

-

2:45 pm

Closed

Melinda Meuser

NEW! The course includes a selection of books from World War II to the present.  Historical literary movements often encompass centuries, whereas the last seven decades have seen numerous philosophies or approaches to literature come and apparently leave.  In the course, we will examine the progression and trends of literature during these years.  Because this time period includes the present day, we also have the opportunity to better understand our own culture by examining the literary and philosophical movements that immediately precede the present. Most importantly, we will examine all of these works through a biblical worldview and learn to engage contemporary philosophy and culture in a manner that is cautious and discerning but also seeks to discover the ways in which God “has put eternity into man’s heart” (Ecclesiastes 3:11) and therefore may reveal truth to us through surprising means.  (Click here for the complete booklist.)

Section 1

Tue

11:30 am

-

1:00 pm

Closed

Lindsey Rosie

NEW! Do you know who claimed, "Tis education forms the common mind; just as the twig is bent, the tree's inclined?" Come explore how much of our modern "common mind" is rooted on a small island that once held sway over half the world. This survey of British Literature will move chronologically from Beowulf to Eliot, and include some post-colonial voices of the British Empire, such as Achebe and Naipaul. Students will gain an appreciation for the historical and societal influences that shaped seven literary periods and the development of various genres. The course will develop college-level analytical reading and expository writing skills. Students will read 100-200 pages and write a 600-word analytical essay on the reading each week. There will be a mid-term exam and a final exam.Click here for the class syllabus and here for the booklist.

Section 1

Tue

3:00 pm

-

4:30 pm

Closed

Lindsey Rosie

We live in a global community where ours is not the only voice and what someone does in a country across the world can have a dramatic effect on our lives. Therefore it behooves us to understand the literature, culture, and perspectives of other nations. Because of the grand scope of world literature, this course will focus primarily on the 19th and 20th centuries. It will cover the Enlightenment, Romanticism, Realism, Surrealism, Modernism, and Postmodernism, as well as a cross-section of genres, including poetry, short novels, short stories, essays and plays. The course will concentrate on non-English works (in translation), except for comparison purposes. For instance, when students study post-colonial African writers and the Negritude movement of the 20th century, they will also look briefly at American writers involved in the Harlem Renaissance, as the two have a special correspondence. The class will concentrate on French, German, Russian, Spanish, Latin American, and African writers, but will also look at some Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Hebrew and Arab works. The course will develop college-level analytical reading and expository writing skills. Students will read 100-200 pages and write 600-word analytical essay on the reading each week. There will be a mid-term exam and a final exam.

Section 1

Thu

3:00 pm

-

4:30 pm

Closed

Deborah Kindel

C. S. Lewis manifested his beliefs in all genres of his writings -- from fiction, fantasy, and poetry to apologetics, biography, and letters. These beliefs proved central to his life and influence Christian thought today: (1) He worked to uphold the reality and utter truthfulness of orthodox Christianity. (2) He taught that all men are destined to eternal life either in heaven or in hell and that momentarily they are preparing themselves for one place or the other. (3) He lived as if God should be obeyed explicitly. (4) He held a conviction of the existence of a devilish fallacy at the center of much modern thought. (5) He saw the elevation of self over God as perhaps man's most persistent temptation. (6) He often mentioned that many world myths were but shadows of the light of God brooding over man. Students will study five of Lewis's books: Surprised by Joy, Mere Christianity, Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce, and Till We Have Faces. The course allows students to review all major areas of literary study in preparation for college placement exams, and allows students to develop critical analysis skills within the literary genres of philosophy, theology, apologetics, mythology, and fiction. Students taking this course will complete written weekly assignments of three types of essay formats, brief findings, book reviews/analyses, and other literary discussion. Under the direction of the instructor, students will actually do much of the teaching during class, based on their weekly readings and study. All students will share their written essays for peer review and instructor comment. This course was designed by Dr. Sharon Bridwell, and she personally selected Mrs. Naomi Neuman to teach it. Though it may be taken as a standalone course, it is intended as a first semester to the second semester Tolkien class, and registration priority will be given to those who are registered for both courses.

Section 1

Wed

1:15 pm

-

2:45 pm

Closed

Naomi Neuman

In The Lord of the Rings, J. R. R. Tolkien's imaginative genius forged a new world, Middle-earth, complete with its own legends and history, and its own languages and peoples. Many have read the books and seen the movies, but few have actually studied The Lord of the Rings series in depth. This advanced Grade 12 course will look at Tolkien's background in early English literature and comparative mythology to see how he prepared himself for writing the Annals of the Shire and the translated narrative from the pen of Frodo Baggins. Students will complete written weekly assignments of three types of essay formats, brief findings, book reviews, poetry/song analyses, and other literary discussion on The Lord of the Rings. Students will review Tolkien's works by using his own standard of what makes good fantasy literature. The course allows students to review all major areas of literary study in preparation for college placement exams, and allows students to develop critical analysis skills within the fantasy genre. Under the direction of the instructor, students will actually do much of the teaching during class based on their weekly readings and study. All students will share their written essays for peer review and instructor comment. This course was designed by Dr. Sharon Bridwell, and she personally selected Mrs. Naomi Neuman to teach it. Though it may be taken as a standalone course, it is intended as a second semester to the first semester Lewis class, and registration priority will be given to those who are registered for both courses.

Section 1

Wed

1:15 pm

-

2:45 pm

Open

Naomi Neuman