American Literature

Course Description

 American Literature is required of most sophomore students and has an average level of difficulty. Course work centers on an awareness of American literary heritage beginning with the works of Native Americans and early settlers and concluding with 20th century writers.

Students explore a variety of genres and literary movements as well as work on composition skills, vocabulary acquisition, and literary analysis. Students are expected to read independently as well as during class time. Student progress is assessed through objective tests, writing assignments, presentations, and class participation, in addition to creative projects. Summer reading is required.

Upcoming Assignments See all

Could not find any upcoming assignments due.

See all posted assignments for this class.

Posts

American Lit - plans 4/24 - 5/4

4/24 - complete discussion of Twain's "...Jumping Frog..."
4/25 - reading quiz
4/26 - 4/28 - Walt Whitman...in class reading, Q & A, creative writing
4/30 - Song of Self DUE and Intro to Emily Dickinson
5/1- 5/3 - Dickinson poetry...interpretive assignment
5/4 - To Kill a Mockingbird TEST/discussion
5/7 - The Great Gatsby...
 

American Lit - end of year plans

4/9-12 = Realism.... Bierce & Chopin
4/13-20  = Regionalism.... Twain and Civil War era poets Whitman & Dickinson
4/24-5/11 = The Great Gatsby
5/13-5/15 = Of Mice and Men
5/15-5/30 = The Crucible
 
 

American Lit 3/19 - Easter Break!

Mon 3/19
Tues
3/20
 Weds 3/21 Thurs 3/22 Fri     3/23 Mon 3/26  Tues 3/27
Scarlet Letter test Scarlet Letter test Vocab review Vocab quiz Spirituals class work Bierce reading quiz Analyze rhetoric - Truth
Mass sched.   Parody lesson Intro to realism Assign - Bierce reading Discuss realism  
     To Kill a Mocking-bird assigned        

American Literature Q2 plans...

January 19-26
     1.  Class work.... Watch, analyze and discuss film, The Great Debaters
     2.  Homework....read Fahrenheit 451 and complete related exercise provided.  LAST CHANCE to READ!!  Test...Jan. 29th or 30th
     3.  Classwork/Homework...Civil Disobedience DBQ - final discussion, DBQ quiz and essay preparation.  Essay due date TBA.
 
Feb. 1-2
     1.  Class work... Introduction to Dark Romanticism
     2.  Classwork/Homework.... Read The Devil and Tom Walker
 
Feb. 5-9
     1.  Classwork/Homework.... Intro. to Poe... Read and analyze The Raven....packet due Feb. 7th
     2.  Homework.... Poe cartoon assignment.... Due Feb. 14th
     3.  Classwork.... Intro. to Nathaniel Hawthorne and The Scarlet Letter... study guide and vocabulary packet. (Feb. 8th - ? )

American Literature - Oct. 23rd - 27th

Monday - group project work presentations
Tuesday - imagery board-work...define, review and practice
Wednesday - introduction to Puritan literature...
Thursday -  Retreat
Friday -  Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God reaing and imagery scavenger hunt
Personal Narratives are due Friday, Oct. 27th.

American Literature - Oct. 9th-13th

Monday....continue study of early American narratives by reading an excerpt of William Byrd's "History of the Dividing Line" and responding to questions.
Tuesday....discuss responses to Byrd and begin work on Olaudah Equiano's narrative.
Wednesday... PSAT testing (special schedule/shortened classes).  Crossword puzzle for relaxation and critical thinking.
Thursday...continued reading of Equiano's narrative for discussion on Friday.
Friday....discuss Equiano's work and assign narrative writing project.
 
Tentative schedule for Oct. 16th - 20th
Monday 10/16...skills review and discussion of book test
Tuesday 10/17....narratives quiz

Next week....10/2-10/6

Textbooks are needed in class this week to explore the narrative works of early Americans.  Throughout the week, authors from explorers and settlers to slaves and colonists will be read, and a culminating quiz and/or project will follow.

American Literature

The study of Native American literature is complete and as discussed in class, there will be a multiple choice quiz on the content of this selection, which includes The Sky Tree myth, The Earth Only poem, Coyote Finishes his Work and the Blackfeet Genesis as well as the related cultural history and literary terms.
The remainder of the week will be devoted to culminating projects for selection 1.  Next week, selection 2 exploring American narrative history will begin.

American Lit. Summer Reading Tests

 This is the schedule for summer reading tests per our class discussions last week. Having completed the Secret Life of Bees review 'game' Friday, that exam is first.  Contact me with questions or concerns.  Use the materials provided to prepare as discussed.  Thanks. 
 
Tuesday 9/5 - The Secret Life of Bees exam
     Wednesday 9/6 - discussion and review of summer reading, Code Talkers
Thursday 9/7 - Code Talker exam
     Friday 9/8 - summer reading timed writing exam/exercise