MS American History Advanced Writing
TAUGHT BY
Eliza Hardin
8th Grade
Through the use of a combination of American Literature short stories and classics, primary sources, and historical reference books, students will study American History, U.S. presidents, American poets and artists, and U.S. geography. It is my desire that students will see and understand how the works of great writers help to tell us the story of our great country. Students will learn to take notes from lectures, outline chapters, and write document-based essays, as well as a literary analysis essay, persuasive essay, and a research paper. There will also be time spent on learning to use logic to argue and persuade, with a focus toward an in-class Lincoln/Douglas style debate. Skills covered will include a more in-depth focus on reading for comprehension and annotating, quoting from sources, citing sources, writing a strong thesis statement, improving writing skills, and developing style and voice. This is a rigorous course with 1-2 hours of homework a week, at least 2 large projects, and an extensive parallel reading list. Please direct questions to Eliza at thehardinfive@gmail.com
CLASS MATERIALS
Students need a 2" three-ring binder with the following tabs: Homework, Maps, People, Timeline, Notes, Citizenship, Reading List. Students will also need a composition notebook. Please purchase the paperback books listed:
● Girls - Sophia’s War - ISBN-13: 978-1442414426
● Boys - My Brother Sam is Dead - ISBN-13: 978-0439783606
● Fever 1793 - ISBN-13: 978-0689848919
● Uncle Tom’s Cabin - ISBN-13: 9781593081218 (Barnes and Noble)
● Sergeant York and the Great War - ISBN-13: 978-1889128467 (look for a used copy
or order from Rainbow Resource)
● The Devil’s Arithmetic - ISBN-13: 978-0142401095
● To Kill a Mockingbird - ISBN-13: 978-0060935467
● A Little History of the United States by James West Davidson -
ISBN-13: 978-030022348
The Lively Art of Writing by Lucile Vaughan Payne. ISBN-13: 978-0451627124
Eliza holds dual degrees in English from King University and in Elementary Education from Western Carolina University. She is also a certified teacher in the State of North Carolina. She taught for three years in the public school system and has been homeschooling for eight years now. She has 3 boys, Ezra, 18, Cyrus, 15, and Jonah, 13. Prior to Classical Scholars, Eliza ran Classical Foundations for three years, where she offered classes two days a week to homeschoolers in grades 3-5. She is also a native of Hendersonville, and when she isn't teaching she enjoys reading, knitting, and spending time with her family.