This class is designed to prepare the student to function as an informed citizen in a democratic society, to appreciate the cultural diversities that make his/her world rich and varied, and to realize personal fulfillment through the study of great literature. The student will prepare for the study of core selections by being exposed to literature that shares themes with the major work to be studied, work with the literary selection with understanding, and go beyond the literature to discover its meaning in his/her own experience, by realizing that each piece of literature is a relevant interpretation of society, culture and mankind. Course content will include instruction in the four writing domains through a literary –based writing program in conjunction with the development of reading, listening, speaking and critical thinking activities giving the student an opportunity to express individual ideas and personal evaluations based on the literature read and analyzed. The student will draw on his/her own experiences to clarify meaning, adjust language for the benefit of audience and present ideas in a powerful yet accessible manner.