Description
English IV: Mastery Course Overview
This class is approved by the NCAA.
This class is part of the MyFunScience online homeschool classes, which offer live instruction for middle school and high school students.
English IV: Mastery is the final level of the comprehensive homeschool English program at MyFunScience and serves as the continuation of English III. As the culminating course in the four-year English sequence, it focuses on advanced grammar mastery, literary analysis, vocabulary development, and research-based academic writing.
This course is more challenging than English III, requiring students to learn larger sets of vocabulary each week and write more cohesive, structured essays that incorporate research, citation, and clear argumentation. Mrs. Bontrager provides guidance and instruction to help students succeed, but students should be prepared to take on a greater workload and higher expectations as they refine their essay writing, grammar precision, and analytical reading skills.
Students engage deeply with classic literature, poetry, and formal literary discussion while strengthening their ability to analyze texts and communicate ideas through well-structured academic essays. The course is designed to prepare students for high school and college-level English, emphasizing strong writing habits, clear thinking, and confident communication.
Students are ready for this class if they can do the following:
- Label most or all eight parts of speech
- Identify the subject and verb in a sentence
- Recognize compound and complex sentences
- Find and label phrases (prepositional, infinitive, gerund, participial, and appositive)
- Write a basic five-paragraph essay
- Memorize 25 new vocabulary words each week
- Read at least at an 8th-grade reading level
Course Overview
- High School Credit: 1 credit
- Recommended Grade Level: Grades 7–12
- Prerequisites: Completion of English III recommended
- Format: Weekly live online class with writing assignments and discussion
- Estimated Workload: Approximately 5 hours per week
English IV Course Outline
Who Is Ready for English IV?
Students entering this course should be able to:
- Identify all eight parts of speech
- Locate subject and verb accurately
- Recognize compound and complex sentence structures
- Identify and label phrases (prepositional, infinitive, gerund, participial, appositive)
- Write a basic five-paragraph essay independently
- Memorize approximately 25 vocabulary words per week
- Read at least at an 8th-grade level
Completion of English III is recommended but not required.
What Students Will Study
- Advanced four-level grammar analysis
- Academic essay structure and research-based writing
- Vocabulary study through classical roots and word analysis
- Poetry analysis including meter, stanza forms, and figures of speech
- Literary study across classic novels, drama, and nonfiction
Major works may include Treasure Island, Wild Boy, A Christmas Carol, The Hobbit, To Kill a Mockingbird, Jurassic Park, and Pygmalion.
Learn About the Class
Watch a Sample Live Online Class Session
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a live online English class?
Yes. Students attend a weekly live online class where the instructor teaches advanced grammar, literature, vocabulary, and essay writing while guiding students through discussion and assignments.
Is this class designed for homeschool students?
Yes. This course is designed specifically for homeschool students who want structured instruction in literature, grammar, vocabulary, and academic writing.
What topics are covered in English IV: Mastery?
Students study advanced grammar, research-based essay writing, vocabulary development through classical roots, poetry analysis, and literature study using classic novels and drama.
Does this course prepare students for college-level writing?
Yes. Students practice structured essays, research writing, and literary analysis that help prepare them for high school and college English expectations.
Curriculum
- Michael Clay Thompson materials from Royal Fireworks Press, including Magic Lens I, Word Within the Word I, and 4Practice
- Classic novels, drama, and literature spanning multiple genres
What Families Are Saying
If only people could see how your class works and how my child loves his virtual classroom. He is far more focused without public school distractions.
-Christel
This year Sarah completed dual enrollment English at the college level. Her courses were rigorous and she excelled in both. She was even encouraged to pursue advanced writing opportunities. Thank you for preparing her so well.
-Martha
The instructors at Big River helped him grow as a writer and challenged him to think beyond the text. Because of this instruction, he was ready for high school literature at a deep level.
Estimated Workload
Approximately 5 hours per week of reading, studying, vocabulary, and essay writing.
