American Literature and Composition

Class Year:  2026-2027
Time:  Wed 08:30 am - 11:00 am;
Teacher:  Stacie Ripkowski
Tuition:  $650 / Year or $65 / Month for 10 Months (August - May)
Supply Fee:  $85 / Year - Due Upon Registration (Non-Refundable After August 1)
Location:  Northwest (Cypress)

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Tuition: $650/year OR $65/month for 10 months (August – May). I accept cash, checks, Venmo, and Zelle. When using Venmo, it will be $66/month and $659/year. I prefer automated checks via your bank each month. A late fee of $10 per week will be due if tuition is not paid on the first day of class each month.

One Time Supply Fee: $85 (Note: Your supply fee holds your spot in the class. No supply fee refunds after August 1.) Parents supply all novels and supplemental texts (must purchase specific edition and it must be unmarked).

Withdrawal Fee: Two months’ tuition after 9/30/2026

Minimum Student Requirement for course to make: 6 (This is a discussion-based course, and I find that students get the most out of the course with at least 6 in the class)

American Literature is a college-preparatory literature course. The works we read in this course, including novels, short stories, and poems, have been selected for literary quality and for their place in the historical development of literature. Students will gain an understanding of the development of American literature and will practice the skills of close literary analysis through essays and discussion. We will examine the worldviews of both the authors and their times and how this shaped their writing.

This course will cover a large section of American literature beginning with the colonial times to the present.  We will read authors such as Fitzgerald, Hawthorne, Poe, Steinbeck, and Bradbury.  Students will read closely, think carefully, critically & analytically, and discuss thoroughly. This prepares them to write persuasively.

Our writing focus will be on literary analysis which will be done through short essays and a full research paper. Comprehension will be tested through short quizzes each week as well as unit and semester finals.

My goal is for students to be excited about seeing literature come to life, sharing their words through writing, and broadening their world view. I set high standards but work to provide students with the tools necessary to succeed.

**Students wishing to take this course without prior completion of Classic and World Literature MUST have teacher approval.

**Upon successful completion of this course, parents may choose to award 1 High School Honors English credit.

A complete list of novels and texts TBD

How this class fits into the sequence of PREP High School Literature:

9^th grade (& up)– Classic Literature. This course covers the basics of writing, including how to gather information, outline thoughts, and write with style. Students will begin learning analysis in their reading through various works of short stories, full length novels, plays and poetry.

10th grade (& up)– World Literature. This course continues to build on the writing skills and expand the depth at which we look at literature. Students will dig deeper into literary analysis through short stories, novels, plays, and poetry from around the world. Students will write a research paper in this class.

11^th grade – American Literature.   This course will cover a large scope of American literature from colonial times to now. This course is faster paced. Students will become proficient in analyzing the works that are read which will include a mixture of novels, short stories, plays, and poetry. The writing focus is on literary analysis and college ready writing.