20th Century World History and Literature

Plus SAT Essay Preparation

Class Time: Tuesday 10am-11:30am

Start Date: Fall 2009

Cost: $550 a Student

Grade: 9th-12th

Read the great modern writers, and learn about World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. In depth study of the 1900's offers students a global perspective on our world. See how American policy has influenced modern times, and learn how to critically analyze the result. Monthly essay assignments are designed to prepare students for the essay portion of the SAT. One research project will be completed by the student and include instruction on research techniques and MLA format. An important class for any college bound student!

The following literature will be read as well as a history textbook. Class is 36 weeks long.

Book List:

No Man’s Land by Kevin Major

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Good Earth by Pearl Buck

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Lost Names by Richard Kim

The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn

Hiroshima by John Hersey

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

Cry the Beloved Country by Alan Paton

Animal Farm by George Orwell

The textbook for this class is A History of the Twentieth Century: The Concise Edition of the Acclaimed World History by Martin Gilbert.

American History and Literature from 1620 - 1899

Class Time: Tuesday 12pm-1:30pm

Start Date: Fall 2009

Cost: $550 a Student

Grade: 9th-12th

Plus SAT Essay Preparation

Study America's great founding and history from the Pilgrims through the 19th Century. Covers all the major events of our countries early History - Colonial Period, Revolution, Constitutional Convention, War of 1812, Westward Expansion, Civil War, Reconstruction, Spanish American War and much more!

Book List

The Mayflower Compact

Tales for Fifteen by James Fenimore Cooper

Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Scarlet Stockings by Louisa May Alcott

Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington

The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe

Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne

Virginia’s General by Albert Marrin

Killer Angels by Michael Shaara

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas

Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog by Mark Twain

The Stolen White Elephant by Mark Twain

Poor Richard by James Daugherty

The textbook for this class is A History of the American People by Paul Johnson.

About the Teacher

Hilary Berg Severson was home schooled K through high school by her parents Rea and Russ Berg, founders of Beautiful Feet Books. At the age of 14 she wrote A History of the Horse: A Literature Approach. The study uses notable books about horses to learn history, and has sold over 10,000 copies nationwide.  She majored in History at California Polytechnic State University and was the recipient of the Dr. Dan K. Krieger Award for Excellence in the Study of History.  Her teaching experience includes tutoring students while in college as well as teaching 3rd through 8th grade home schooled students History and Language Arts at San Luis Obispo Classical Academy. Currently she is tutoring high school students on-line in history, literature and SAT Prep. For many years Hilary has advised home schooling parents from Hawaii to Massachusetts with her parent’s publishing company. Hilary loves reading, traveling to historic places, and inspiring students love of history!  If you have any questions about the class please call or e-mail Hilary at 805.223.0359 or hilaryseverson@gmail.com

Classes are for grades 9 – 12

Class time – one and a half hours

Fee - $550 per student per year.  Payment can be split into two payments, one due in September and the other in January.