American Literature

Course Description

In this course, students will explore the fascinating world of American Literature. Through lecture, discussion, and readings, students will discover the changing patterns of American thought. Students will encounter new authors and perhaps get reacquainted with some that they have previously read. They will continue to develop their communication skills and to build their vocabulary. Students will be engaged in the material through the Common Core State Standards framework, which will focus on close readings of texts, argumentation strategies and practice, and Socratic discussions.

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11/02/15--Class Info

Can you believe it is November already?!
*Word Crime #8
*Today we began our short week on Transcendentalism. You read and asked questions about a short Power Point to get the gist of Transcendentalist ideals.
*We read through excerpts of Emerson's "Nature" and "Self-Reliance" looking for rhetorical strategies and elements of Transcendentalism.
*We finished the class with Journal #9
HW: 1. Q2 terms due December 1. 2. Word Crime 8 due Friday

10/29/15--Class Info

*Today was SPAR Day. You all improved with every round and overall I was very happy with the arguments I heard and saw. Well done. If you were absent, you will have to write an essay on one side of the argument you were assigned and will have to deliver it in the form of a speech to me during a lunch period.
HW: Q2 terms due December 1st.

10/28/15--Class Info

*I have a sub today, but here's the agenda.
*Complete Student Paths survey then continue with SPAR research. Be ready to SPAR tomorrow (Thursday).
HW: 1. Q2 terms due December 1st. 2. SPAR research packets will be collected tomorrow (Thursday).

10/27/15--Class Info

*Today we continued SPAR research on the laptops.
HW: 1. Q2 terms due December 1st. 2. SPAR Research due Thursday.
 

10/23/15--Class Info

*Collected Word Crime 7
*Assigned SPAR topics---if you were absent, I have your packet with your name on it.
*Letter from Birmingham Jail assignment with video of Road to Selma
HW: 1. Q2 terms due December 1st.

10/22/15--Class Info

*Today we shared out the devices you found in Thomas Paine and I collected Patrick Henry and Thomas Paine.
*We then had a brief introduction to SPAR (Spontaneous Argumentation) and had a couple rounds with silly topics.
HW: 1. Q2 terms due December 1st. 2. Word Crime #7 due tomorrow.

10/21/15--Class Info

*We finished discussing rhetorical strategies used Patrick Henry's speech, then you began to look at the strategies used in Thomas Paine's "The Crisis".
HW: 1. Q2 terms due December 1st. 2. Word Crime #7 due Friday. 3. Finish assigned rhetorical strategies for Paine.