Young Adult Readers: The History and Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes

Between 1875 and 1914, Sherlock Holmes unraveled bizarre mysteries and solved perplexing crimes. Chronicler and companion Dr. Watson recounts these adventures in the stories and novels published between 1887 and 1927 by the duo's creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. More than a century later, these stories still capture readers' imaginations. During this course, we will enrich our appreciation of the adventures with a deeper understanding of significant issues of the times: criminality, imperialism, and geopolitics. Drawing on primary and secondary sources, we will pen persuasive essays, compare various characters, and create a character study. Throughout this interactive course, we'll share observations, discuss perspectives, and exchange feedback with peers. Time commitment: 2.5-3.5 hours per week (1.5 hours of class time, 1-2 hours of independent work). Course will include 6 sessions over 12 weeks. Course Overview Learning Objectives: Identify and analyze narrative elements and features of the mystery and historical fiction genres Analyze primary and secondary textual evidence while writing stories Analyze the historical context of the Sherlock Holmes stories, paying particular attention to criminality, imperialism, and geopolitics Create original writing framed within the historical context of the canon of Sherlock Holmes and the imagined perspectives of characters within the texts About Advanced Enrichment Courses These courses offer above-grade-level material that is presented in a novel context, explored with other advanced learners, and guided by a CTY educator to help prepare students for higher-order thinking and college-style academic challenges. The content in The History and Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes overlaps with the CTY course Young Adult Readers: Study of Sherlock. Students who have already taken Young Adult Readers: Study of Sherlock may wish to consult with an enrollment advisor before enrolling in this course.