Worlds Unraveled: Dystopian/Post Apocalyptic Lit & Composition

This online course, "Dystopian & Apocalyptic Lit and Comp," is a year-long English literature program designed for high school students in 10th grade and above. Students explore the realms of classic and contemporary dystopian literature, delving into the dark "what ifs" that question societal structures and human nature. Key authors investigated include George Orwell, Aldous Huxley, and Shirley Jackson. Through reading, discussing, and writing, students analyze themes of control, individuality, and survival, assessing how these narratives resonate in today's world.

The course combines literary analysis with creative writing, offering students the chance to develop their own dystopian or post-apocalyptic story over the semester. Students will examine various aspects of writing, including characterization, setting, themes, and the writing process, culminating in a capstone project that can be submitted as a screenplay, short story, graphic novel, or other pre-approved formats. The course also integrates technology using the SAMR model and aligns well with psychology, art, and video editing classes.