Semester Units
American Lit
What things most I understand on my journey from childhood to adulthood?
How has America’s identity changed and developed over time?
How is my identity changing and developing?
Unit 1: Early Americans (importance of beliefs and identification/exploration)
Part 1
Unit 2: The Romantics
Part 1
Unit 3: The Civil War Era
Part 1
Unit 4: Women in Lit.
Part 1
Unit 5: Contemporary Lit. (The perception of men)
Part 1
What things most I understand on my journey from childhood to adulthood?
How has America’s identity changed and developed over time?
How is my identity changing and developing?
Unit 1: Early Americans (importance of beliefs and identification/exploration)
Part 1
- ”How the World was Made” (22)
- “The Iroquois Constitution” (47)
- Focus: THEIR belief system. What makes up their beliefs? What do they believe in? (Bull Durham Speech) What values shape who they are? (Tie to presidential election) What exactly influences their identities?
- “La Relacion” (54) *in search of something → unsure of what will be encountered
- “Of Plymouth Plantation” (60) *in search of something →seeking more to life
- “Olaudah Equiano” (66) *maybe find a focus in fear or forgiveness
- A Narrative of the Captivity of Mary Rowlandson” (74) *empathy for people/religion
- “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” (88) *maybe find a focus in judgement
- The Crucible (1022) *focus: sin/identity AND the role/strength of women
- WRITING: The Role of Women in Society (some research??)
- “Speech to the Second Virginia Convention” (106)
- “The Declaration of Independence” (112)
- “The Crisis, No. 1”
- Focus: Persuasion (teach argument/Ethos, Pathos, Logos) How are you persuaded in your life?
- WRITING: research an issue. Stand up to a belief (use contemporary!!) Use argumentative essay template and lessons.
Unit 2: The Romantics
Part 1
- “Nature” (178)
- “Self-Reliance” (183)
- “Walden” (202)
- “Civil Disobedience” (211)
- WRITING?
- Focus: View of self: how do you find who you are?
- “The Devil and Tom Walker” (228)
- “The Raven” (242)
- “The Minister’s Black Veil” (265)
- Poe Short Story Project
- Focus: Human nature is…? There are elements of good and evil that exist in all of us→ what happens when you go off the path? (Explore their view of the world--is it optimistic or pessimistic?)
Unit 3: The Civil War Era
Part 1
- “My Bondage, My Freedom” (337)
- Sojourner Truth (354)
- Focus: What should you resist? What does it take to stand by your convictions? When have you done this? When have you seen this done?
- “Letter to His Son” (368)
- “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”
- WRITING: Narrative - tell a story about a time that you stood by something that you;ve done
- Whitman (394)
- Dickinson (423)
- Focus: How do you experience life--on the inside or on the outside? What are the benefits of each? What is a life well-lived?? (can use as a transition to Gatsby?)
Unit 4: Women in Lit.
Part 1
- “A Wagner Matinee” (518)
- “The Story of an Hour” (546)
- “The Yellow Wallpaper”
- Focus: The Role of Women...if we have not already covered this. Maybe expand and have them choose a female in the news that is helping/hurting the role??
Unit 5: Contemporary Lit. (The perception of men)
Part 1
- A Soldier’s Home (online)
- Hemingway Short Stories (In Our Time)
- Winter Dreams
- Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock
- Jilting of Granny?? (774)
- Focus/ideas: Portrayl of men (perception) misogyny/chauvinism. Role of men vs. sensitivity of men → tolerance. How men have evolved. WHAT KIND OF MAN/WOMAN do you really want to be? Are you on your way their? Is the way you live your life conducive with this goal?
- The Great Gatsby
- Ideas: project board? Interview Speech? Collage?