ENGLISH 11: AMERICAN LITERATURE

NOTE TO SELF: You can use Twain's, Huckleberry Finn to
develop an English 11 essay style question and answer
survey class or pick the syllabus below it.


The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn, Clemens (Twain)

**FOR AN IN DEPTH LOOK AT HUCKLEBERRY FINN,
THE HISTORY BEHIND IT AND THE CURRENT
CONTROVERSY ABOUT IT, USE THESE QUESTIONS AND
PROJECTS TO TEACH ENGLISH 11 THROUGH THIS
BOOK ALONE. THERE IS ENOUGH THERE TO
REALLY GET INTO THE GRIT AND FURTHER THE STUDY
THROUGH THE NATURAL COURSE OF CURIOSITY AND
"SPIN OFF" ESSAYS AND DIALOGUE.


OR DO THE FOLLOWING...

SOURCE

CLICK HERE FOR PROJECT ONE

CLICK HERE FOR PROJECT TWO

Grade level (s) offered: 11 1.0 credit (two semester course)

Brief Course Description:

This course is a survey of American Literature that stresses literary themes. This course includes a variety of genres. A chronological approach is used. There is a strong emphasis on writing technique and on improving personal style and quality.

Course Outcomes:
Students will have a good overview of the chronological history of American Literature.
Students will further their skills as critical thinkers.
Students will continue to develop their skills in writing, discussion, and technology skills.


Methods of Instruction:
Discussion is the primary way in which students come to understand a particular work of fiction or poetry. Discussion is both large group and small group. Discussions are sometimes student led. Cooperative learning groups are also used extensively in this class. There are projects and assignments done individually as well. Students can expect to read and complete other work outside of class.

Resources:

Links in this syllabus to literature online are provided.

The Crucible,

Arthur Miller

Of Mice and Men,

Steinbeck

A Raisin in the Sun, Hansberry


Various Web Resources
American Authors on the Web

Outline of American Literature

An Outline of American Literature by Kathryn VanSpanckeren

C-SPAN American Writers: A Journey Through History

Authors Calendar (great source for biographies)

American Classics: Lit Online

An excellent list of links from Carmel High School

Course Outline:

Page numbers refer to Elements of Literature text.
Semester 1

Overview of English 11/Semester 1
Course Web
Periods & Genres
Lit terms review
The Write Move


Independent Study Project Introduction

Unit One: Puritan/Colonial & Revolutionary Literature (8 weeks)
Introduction
Bradford: from Of Plymouth Plantation, 13 (Links to these early online texts are often to full text versions and do not necessarily match the selections in our text. These links are provided for your interest in further study).
Bradford: from The First Thanksgiving, 22 (online at site above)
Rowlandson: from A Narrative of Her Captivity, 24 & Bradstreet: selected poems
Native American Myths and Culture
Middle Passage
Slave Narratives: web site ► University of Virginia
The Crucible, Miller
Franklin: from Autobiography, 74
Jefferson: from The Autobiography: The Declaration of Independence, 101
McCullough: from his biography of John Adams
Unit Test (Essay #1)
Unit Two: Romanticism & Transcendentalism (3 weeks)
Introduction
Irving: Rip Van Winkle, 125
Hawthorne: Rappaccini's Daughter, 275
Thoreau: from Walden, 207
Influential American Poet: Whitman, 326
Unit Test (Essay #2)
Unit Three: Realism (5 weeks)
Introduction
How do you speak, eh?: a page about dialect and the richness of American English
Twain: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Douglass: from The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, 386
Voices of the Civil War, 439
Garland: Under the Lion's Paw (this story is online); Lion's Paw assignment
Unit Test (Essay #3)
Semester Project (1 week)
Work on project and prepare presentation for exam
Semester 2
Overview of English 11/Semester 2
Course Web
Independent Study Project Introduction
Unit Four: American Women: 1850-1950 (3 weeks)
A Century of Women
The Yellow Wallpaper, Gilman
The Revolt of Mother, Freeman
O' Pioneers (movie)
Independent story
Unit Test (Essay #4)
Unit Five: Modernism (7 weeks)
Introduction
Steinbeck: Of Mice and Men
Sea Biscuit (movie)
Faulkner: A Rose for Emily, 592
O'Connor: The Life You Save May Be Your Own, 603
The Harlem Renaissance
Hansberry: A Raisin in the Sun
Unit Test (Essay #5)
Unit Six: 1945-The Present (4 weeks)
Introduction
American Language
Introduction, p. 1078
"Little Red Riding Hood Revisited," Russell Baker, p. 999
Analyzing nonfiction
"School vs. Education," Russell Baker, p.1002
Two views on war:
"Speaking of Courage," Tim O'Brien, p. 934
from "Dispatches," Michael Herr, p. 1058
Apocalyptic literature
"A Noiseless Flash," Hersey, p. 1048
Diverse voices
"Canyon de Chelly," by Simon Ortiz
Sense of place: copy-change activity
"What it Means to Say Phoenix, AZ" and Smoke Signals by Sherman Alexie
350-400 reflection, typed
Unit Test
Semester Project (3 weeks)
Work on project and prepare presentation for exam