Learn Literature Through the Socratic Discussion
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Our online literature classes draw upon the same Socratic Method as our history classes. In both, students read great texts and participate in open-ended discussions to develop a deeper understanding of big questions. Our approach is “Socratic” because it is driven by questions. Our Socratic teacher does not deliver lectures — he leads conversations.
Our literature students read one book a month, and classes meet on a monthly basis. Each meeting has two components. The first is a lesson in which our teachers lead students through a systematic review of the book they have read. Together, students and teachers apply the core concepts of literary analysis to reach a better understanding of the text. In this part of our course, students discover how elements like setting, characters, symbols, and imagery shape the novel.
After a ten-minute break, students reconvene for a Socratic discussion session. This is where they apply the elements of literary analysis to the book they have read. In our discussion session, teachers do not lecture. Instead, they present students with open-ended questions and facilitate the discussion, providing feedback as appropriate. Our discussion sessions are capped at 20 students. Should more than 20 students sign up for the course, additional discussion sessions will be set up to ensure that all students will be able to speak each time we meet.
Here's what one of our parents said about our literature courses:
"My daughter is really enjoying your class and I am just so thrilled with the amount of books she has read so far. It has been one of the best investments we’ve made towards her education." —Laury F, Online Academy Mom
Our literature students read one book a month, and classes meet on a monthly basis. Each meeting has two components. The first is a lesson in which our teachers lead students through a systematic review of the book they have read. Together, students and teachers apply the core concepts of literary analysis to reach a better understanding of the text. In this part of our course, students discover how elements like setting, characters, symbols, and imagery shape the novel.
After a ten-minute break, students reconvene for a Socratic discussion session. This is where they apply the elements of literary analysis to the book they have read. In our discussion session, teachers do not lecture. Instead, they present students with open-ended questions and facilitate the discussion, providing feedback as appropriate. Our discussion sessions are capped at 20 students. Should more than 20 students sign up for the course, additional discussion sessions will be set up to ensure that all students will be able to speak each time we meet.
Here's what one of our parents said about our literature courses:
"My daughter is really enjoying your class and I am just so thrilled with the amount of books she has read so far. It has been one of the best investments we’ve made towards her education." —Laury F, Online Academy Mom
Online Writing Classes
Our writing supplement runs in parallel to our live discussions. Writing students gain access to recorded lessons that impart the essentials of essay structure, content, and style. Then, they will complete biweekly assignments that are based on our discussion topics.
Our teacher, Adam De Gree, has over 11 years of professional writing experience under his belt. He will be grading every assignment submitted in this course. By the end, students will be confident and capable persuasive writers.
Our teacher, Adam De Gree, has over 11 years of professional writing experience under his belt. He will be grading every assignment submitted in this course. By the end, students will be confident and capable persuasive writers.
Course Schedules
The junior high course will meet on the second Thursday of each month at 8 AM Pacific.
The high school course will meet the fourth Thursday of the month at 8 AM Pacific.
Click HERE for exact dates.
The high school course will meet the fourth Thursday of the month at 8 AM Pacific.
Click HERE for exact dates.
Reading Lists for 2024–25
Junior High
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, ISBN 0099273969
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder,
ISBN 320245821
The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli,
ISBN 0440402832
The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis,
ISBN 0064405052
A Wind in the Door by Madeline L'Engle,
ISBN 0274877430
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle,
ISBN 0008182221
Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, ISBN 0199536562
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott,
ISBN 1950435091
High School
Persuasion by Jane Austen,
ISBN 1840227990
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury,
ISBN 320251660
The Aeneid, translated by Allen Mandelbaum,
ISBN 0553210416
King Lear by Shakespeare,
ISBN 9781853260957
Slaughterhouse V by Kurt Vonnegut,
ISBN 0099800209
The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison,
ISBN 0241970563
The Leopard, Giuseppe Di Lampedusa,
ISBN 9780099512158
Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev, edited by Matlaw,
ISBN 0393957950
Persuasion by Jane Austen,
ISBN 1840227990
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury,
ISBN 320251660
The Aeneid, translated by Allen Mandelbaum,
ISBN 0553210416
King Lear by Shakespeare,
ISBN 9781853260957
Slaughterhouse V by Kurt Vonnegut,
ISBN 0099800209
The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison,
ISBN 0241970563
The Leopard, Giuseppe Di Lampedusa,
ISBN 9780099512158
Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev, edited by Matlaw,
ISBN 0393957950
Reading Lists for 2025/26
Please make sure you buy the right edition and double-check to ensure the ISBN numbers match.
Junior High
Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder, ISBN 978-0064400039
Lord of the Flies by William Golding, ISBN 9780399533372
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, ISBN 978-1788886437
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain, ISBN 978-0007420063
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, ISBN 978-0008663032
Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, ISBN 978-0393283785
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie, ISBN 978-1840228182
Dune by Frank Herbert, ISBN 978-0340960196
Junior High
Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder, ISBN 978-0064400039
Lord of the Flies by William Golding, ISBN 9780399533372
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, ISBN 978-1788886437
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain, ISBN 978-0007420063
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, ISBN 978-0008663032
Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, ISBN 978-0393283785
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie, ISBN 978-1840228182
Dune by Frank Herbert, ISBN 978-0340960196
High School
Please make sure you buy the right edition and double-check to ensure the ISBN numbers match.
Wuthering Heights by Charlotte Bronte, ISBN 978-1509827800
The Oresteia of Aeschylus, ISBN 978-0199537815
That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis (Book Three of The Space Trilogy, ISBN 978-1451664829)
A Midsummer Night's Dream by Shakespeare, ISBN 978-0008400491
The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien (Book One of The Lord of the Rings, ISBN 978-0618640157)
Moby-Dick by Herman Melville ISBN 978-0553213119
The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov, ISBN 978-1847497826
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, translated by J.R.R. Tolkien, ISBN 978-035865297
Please make sure you buy the right edition and double-check to ensure the ISBN numbers match.
Wuthering Heights by Charlotte Bronte, ISBN 978-1509827800
The Oresteia of Aeschylus, ISBN 978-0199537815
That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis (Book Three of The Space Trilogy, ISBN 978-1451664829)
A Midsummer Night's Dream by Shakespeare, ISBN 978-0008400491
The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien (Book One of The Lord of the Rings, ISBN 978-0618640157)
Moby-Dick by Herman Melville ISBN 978-0553213119
The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov, ISBN 978-1847497826
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, translated by J.R.R. Tolkien, ISBN 978-035865297
Our Socratic Literature Teacher
Adam De Gree is a Philosophy graduate from the University of California, Santa Barbara and holds a Master of Arts in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Prague’s CEVRO Institute. His research covers the intersection of aesthetics and economic theory. He and his wife Tessa are raising their three children in a quaint village in the Czech Republic. Adam is available to parents and students at [email protected]
Self-Paced Option
For a self-paced year of literature, choose the recorded course. Students enrolled in the recorded course watch the recordings of our live discussions and complete the homework assignments on their own.
Pricing
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Enroll Through March Enroll Through April Enroll After May |
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Recorded Class
$150 |
Contacts
Teacher:
[email protected]
Administrative Questions:
[email protected]
Technical Questions:
[email protected]
[email protected]
Administrative Questions:
[email protected]
Technical Questions:
[email protected]
Charter School Students
Junior High Courses:
High School Courses:
Because there is a limited number of students in each class, all registration is final and no refunds are given.
However, credit for future courses or materials can be given if an unforeseen event arises.
However, credit for future courses or materials can be given if an unforeseen event arises.
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