Course Description
In this course the students will read, analyze, and interpret a variety of genres of American Literature. This course is divided into four distinct parts, each consisting of three, fifteen-lesson units. Each of the units is based around a central theme as outlined below. Students will find graded assessments after each lesson and an exam at the end of each unit of the course.
Through this survey of American Literature, the students will be able to understand and appreciate American history to its fullest. By incorporating more history into literary studies, literature comes alive and holds more meaning for the students. In this course, the students will be challenged to interpret each piece of literature soundly, and handle literary techniques skillfully; they will have the opportunity to relate much of what they read to the world that surrounds them. After the completion of this course, students will have increased their vocabulary skills, improved their grammar, usage, sentence structure, diction, and punctuation, and, finally, enhanced their reading, speaking, listening, and writing skills.
Part 1 Description
This part of the course covers character, plot, setting, narrator, and voice by examining works of American Literature. The course begins with a focus on study of character and characterization. Next, students will analyze plot and setting in literature. Part 1 of the course ends with a unit that focuses on narrator and voice.
Part 2 Description
Part 2 is a study of several literary devices, including irony, style and symbolism. The first unit examines irony and its use in literature. Students will learn to recognize irony in writing and explore its influence in the narrative. Next, students will learn to recognize and analyze style in literature. Students will identify how an author creates style, and how it can be used to convey a point of view. Symbolism is the focus of the final unit in Part 2. Students develop their analytical skills by studying and understanding various uses of symbolism in writing.
Part 3 Description
Poetry, essay, and drama are the focus of Part 3 of this course. The first unit of Part 3 is the study of poetry through reading and analysis. Students will then move to a unit about essay, where they will improve their own writing skills using the knowledge that they gained in previous parts of this course. This unit requires that students synthesize knowledge and skills that they have gained through the study of literature. Finally, students will focus on drama and its importance in American Literature.
Part 4 Description
This final part of American Literature focuses on folktale, epic, biography, and theme. This part begins with an investigation of American folktales and epics. Students will then focus on biography where they will learn more about important figures in American history. Finally, students will examine different themes of American literature.
Through this survey of American Literature, the students will be able to understand and appreciate American history to its fullest. By incorporating more history into literary studies, literature comes alive and holds more meaning for the students. In this course, the students will be challenged to interpret each piece of literature soundly, and handle literary techniques skillfully; they will have the opportunity to relate much of what they read to the world that surrounds them. After the completion of this course, students will have increased their vocabulary skills, improved their grammar, usage, sentence structure, diction, and punctuation, and, finally, enhanced their reading, speaking, listening, and writing skills.
Part 1 Description
This part of the course covers character, plot, setting, narrator, and voice by examining works of American Literature. The course begins with a focus on study of character and characterization. Next, students will analyze plot and setting in literature. Part 1 of the course ends with a unit that focuses on narrator and voice.
- Part 1 Unit 1 Character
- Part 1 Unit 2 Plot and Setting
- Part 1 Unit 3 Narrator and Voice
Part 2 Description
Part 2 is a study of several literary devices, including irony, style and symbolism. The first unit examines irony and its use in literature. Students will learn to recognize irony in writing and explore its influence in the narrative. Next, students will learn to recognize and analyze style in literature. Students will identify how an author creates style, and how it can be used to convey a point of view. Symbolism is the focus of the final unit in Part 2. Students develop their analytical skills by studying and understanding various uses of symbolism in writing.
- Part 2 Unit 1 Irony
- Part 2 Unit 2 Style
- Part 2 Unit 3 Symbolism
Part 3 Description
Poetry, essay, and drama are the focus of Part 3 of this course. The first unit of Part 3 is the study of poetry through reading and analysis. Students will then move to a unit about essay, where they will improve their own writing skills using the knowledge that they gained in previous parts of this course. This unit requires that students synthesize knowledge and skills that they have gained through the study of literature. Finally, students will focus on drama and its importance in American Literature.
- Part 3 Unit 1 Poetry
- Part 3 Unit 2 Essay
- Part 3 Unit 3 Drama
Part 4 Description
This final part of American Literature focuses on folktale, epic, biography, and theme. This part begins with an investigation of American folktales and epics. Students will then focus on biography where they will learn more about important figures in American history. Finally, students will examine different themes of American literature.
- Part 4 Unit 1 Folktale/Epic
- Part 4 Unit 2 Biography
- Part 4 Unit 3 Comparing Themes