Subject Area: Literature
Course Title: American Literature
Course Length: Semester
Grade Level:
Junior
Major Concepts:
The
purpose of this course is to teach students about early and modern American
literature within the necessary historical contexts so they will be able to
fully understand the writing and genres of a variety of authors.
Content:
The content shall include but
is not limited to the following:
- A survey of a variety of American literature in a
range of genres, including letters, speeches, poetry, novels, narratives,
songs, pamphlets, and journal excerpts.
- Analysis of both male and female authors from a
range of ethnic backgrounds: African, Indian, Hispanic, and Caucasian.
- An examination of texts within their original
historical contexts.
- An author’s purpose, use of literary devices,
format, style, audience, and figurative language.
- Synthesis of large literary concepts in literary
analysis essays.
- Listening, viewing, and speaking skills regarding
American literature content.
Special Note: Students need a three-ring
binder and single-subject spiral.
Intended Outcomes:
After
successfully completing this course, the student will be able to:
- Compare and contrast
the themes of multiple authors within each author’s respective historical
context in literary analysis essays.
- Analyze and evaluate an
author’s purpose in daily journal entries and literary response papers.
- Deliver a 10-minute
oral presentation synthesizing the ideas of an outside author within
his/her historical context for the class; students will make use of visual
aids, multimedia, and class participation.
- Employ a variety of
communication techniques to demonstrate their understanding of the
material, including individual reading and writing, paired reading, small
group interpretations, discussions, and enactments, and whole class
discussions, literary evaluations, and activities.
- Present a writing
portfolio with samples of several periods in American literature ranging
from early to modern.
- Use correct Modern
Language Association format.
- Avoid plagiarism.
Grading:
Students will be graded on the following criteria: