• Course Overview

    In what ways does education give people power, choice, and independence?

     

    Tara Westover’s memoir Educated tells the powerful story of a young woman who grows up isolated from formal schooling and gradually discovers the transformative power of learning. This unit will examine how Westover’s experiences highlight the role of education in shaping identity, opportunity, and independence. Using Educated as the anchor text, students will analyze how personal stories can reveal broader themes of family, resilience, and the search for truth. This examination is important because it encourages reflection on the value of knowledge and the courage it takes to pursue one’s own path. The unit will also encourage students to consider how education continues to influence individual lives and society.

     

    How do dreams shape who we are and how we treat others?

     

    John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men” explores the hopes, struggles, and friendships of two displaced workers during the Great Depression. This unit will examine how Steinbeck uses characterization, dialogue, and setting to reveal the human need for connection, the fragility of dreams, and the impact of societal pressures. Using the novella as the anchor text, students will analyze how literature reflects both personal and social challenges, encouraging empathy and critical thinking. The unit will also examine historical context and the real-world struggles that shaped Steinbeck’s characters and themes.

     

    How do our desires, values, and circumstances influence the choices we make?

     

    William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is a classic tragedy that explores love, loyalty, and the consequences of impulsive decisions. This unit will examine how Shakespeare uses characterization, dialogue, and dramatic structure to show how personal desires, family expectations, and societal pressures shape the paths we take. Students will analyze how characters weigh—or fail to weigh—their options, exploring the factors that drive human decision-making. Using the play as the anchor text, the unit will also incorporate elements of debate and argumentation, encouraging students to defend perspectives, evaluate choices, and engage in respectful discussion about morality, loyalty, and consequence. This approach helps students see literature as a lens for understanding themselves, others, and the complexity of human choices.

     

    What are the values we look for in leaders?

     

    “Epic: The Musical” is a modern retelling of the classic epic The Odyssey by Homer. This unit will examine how characters, archetypes, and the hero’s journey shape the plot and convey themes of courage, identity, and personal growth. Students will analyze how the musical uses dialogue and song  to communicate complex ideas and connect audiences to universal struggles and triumphs. Using the musical as the anchor text, students will also explore narrative structure and the ways that archetypal characters and plot patterns inform our understanding of heroism, decision-making, and human experience.