Christian Literature – Socratic Approach
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“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)
While reading God’s Word is indispensable for knowing and glorifying Him, reading and discussing literature written by Christians helps us to “think about such things” more deeply as we fellowship with other believers and strive to obey our Lord.
In this one-semester Socratic literature course, students will consider what Christian literature teaches them about God and faith. Readings will include a wide range of fiction, nonfiction, short stories, poetry, scripture, biography, essays, sermons, and even film. The course relies heavily on critical thinking, literary analysis, class discussion, and personal application.
Through an emphasis on rich discussion rather than theological debate, students will learn to support their assertions with evidence from the reading, to ask insightful questions, to listen to and build upon the thoughts of others, to articulate ideas clearly, and to interact respectfully and cooperatively as they deepen their understanding of the texts.
PLEASE NOTE: Students who are unwilling or unable to complete the reading assignments should not register for this course. Also, because the course is discussion-based, students will be required to have and utilize microphones during class.
Homework will consist mainly of reading, preparing for in-class discussions, and reflecting on the student’s own thinking and class contributions. Students will be expected to read an average of 75 pages of literature each week, participate in live discussion, and complete one culminating project of their own design—with approval of teacher and parent(s).
Please view prerequisites and required supplies below.
So much great Christian literature and so little time! For this course, I have curated a collection of literature that will encourage rich discussion. This literature represents different denominations, time periods, topics, and genres. I’ve also tried to include works students might not have already studied. With those goals in mind, here are the materials required for this course:
A Great Awakening (Sight & Sound Films), available on streaming platforms or on DVD
Bible (whichever translation you prefer)
Letters to a Diminished Church by Dorothy Sayers, ISBN 978-0849945267 (To facilitate discussion, students must have the correct edition.)
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, ISBN 978-0060652920 (To facilitate discussion, students must have the correct edition.)
God’s Smuggler, by Brother Andrew, ISBN 978-0800796853 (To facilitate discussion, students must have the correct edition.)
Les Misérables by Victor Hugo, translated by Charles E. Wilbour, abridged by James K. Robinson, ISBN 978-0449300022 (To facilitate discussion, students must have the correct edition.)
Christian Literature with Mrs. Burnette: This class workbook will be available on Amazon this summer; parents will receive a link for it via email when it becomes available. The book will include the following readings: “Contemplations” (Anne Bradstreet), “Westward from the Jordan” (Kate Sgamboti), “When I Consider How My Light Is Spent” (John Milton), “At Smithville Methodist Church” (Stephen Dunn), “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” (Martin Luther), “To God Be the Glory” (Fanny Crosby), “I Cannot Tell” (W.Y. Fullerton), “The Three Hermits” (Leo Tolstoy), “Leaf by Niggle” (J.R.R. Tolkien), “The Final Gift” (Michael Stackpole), “Young Goodman Brown” (Nathaniel Hawthorne), “A Divine and Supernatural Light” (Jonathan Edwards), “The Good Shepherd” (George Whitefield), “A Piece of Chalk” (G.K. Chesterton), “Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 1, Chapter 1” (John Calvin)
All other class materials will be provided by the teacher.
Dawn Burnette is truly excited to be part of the Excelsior family as an English teacher! Dawn holds a B.A. in English Education/Journalism from Lenoir-Rhyne University and an M.A. in English Education from Georgia State University. She has also earned National Board Certification and gifted endorsement. While teaching English at a public high school for 15 years, Dawn served as English department chair, coached a nationally ranked dance team, and won a few local, state, and national teaching awards. Dawn loves sharing her passion for reading and writing, and she works tirelessly to help students reach their academic potential and to glorify God in all pursuits. Soli Deo Gloria!
When it was time for their children to start school, Dawn and her husband Rod moved the family from an Atlanta suburb to the North Georgia mountains, acquired way too many animals, and spent the next 12 years homeschooling. Their daughter Ansley graduated from Samford University in 2022 and works at Sight & Sound Theater in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and their son Beck graduated from and played collegiate golf at Lee University and the University of Georgia and began playing professional golf in 2024.
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