Description
American Literature Course Description
This class is approved by the NCAA.
American Literature covers various authors and literary movements, beginning with pastor Jonathan Edwards and ending with the writings of John Steinbeck. Students will chronologically explore American writing styles including Puritanism, Romanticism, Naturalism/Realism, and more.
The main focus of the course is analyzing the works for theme, symbolism, plot, and characterization. This class stretches students’ abilities to think critically and analyze literature.
Grade Levels
- 10th – 12th grade
Prerequisites
Prerequisites – helpful, but not vital:
- Ability to write solid paragraphs
- Familiarity and experience with thesis statements
- Mastery of parts of speech and phrases
- Familiarity with clauses (adjectival, adverbial, subordinate, etc.)
- Knowledge of MLA style including the use of in-text citations and a Works Cited page.
Curriculum
- The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, ISBN: 9780486290737
- Young Goodman Brown and Other Short Stories (Hawthorne), ISBN: 9780486270609
- The Raven and Other Favorite Poems (Edgar Allan Poe), ISBN: 9780486266855
- Humorous Stories and Sketches (Mark Twain), ISBN: 9780486292793
- The Red Badge of Courage (Stephen Crane) with Introduction and Notes by Richard Fusco, ISBN: 9781593081195
- The Road Not Taken and Other Poems (Robert Frost), ISBN: 9780486275505
- This Side of Paradise (F. Scott Fitzgerald), ISBN: 9781593082437
- The Old Man and the Sea (Ernest Hemingway), ISBN: 9780684801223
- The Pearl (John Steinbeck), ISBN: 9780140177374
- My Antonia (Willa Cather), ISBN: 9780743487696 (pdf form also available in class)
Handouts or online links will be supplied for some readings.
American Literature Course Outline
FALL SEMESTER
- Week 1 – Jonathan Edwards, Anne Bradstreet
- Week 2 – Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
- Week 3 – Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
- Week 4 – Paper #1
- Week 5 – Short Stories of Nathaniel Hawthorne
- Week 6 – Short Stories of Nathaniel Hawthorne
- Week 7 – Short Stories of Edgar Allan Poe
- Week 8 – Short Stories of Edgar Allan Poe
- Week 9 – Paper #2
- Week 10 – Poetry of Edgar Allan Poe
- Week 11 – Washington Irving
- Week 12 – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- Week 13 – Paper #3
- Week 14 – Short Stories of Mark Twain
- Week 15 – Short Stories of Mark Twain and Final Exam
* Fall Semester Project due before Thanksgiving
SPRING SEMESTER
- Week 16 – The Red Badge of Courage
- Week 17 – The Red Badge of Courage
- Week 18 – The Red Badge of Courage
- Week 19 – Paper #4
- Week 20 – Poetry of Robert Frost
- Week 21 – F. Scott Fitzgerald Short Story – Prezi Project
- Week 22 – This Side of Paradise
- Week 23 – This Side of Paradise
- Week 24 – This Side of Paradise
- Week 25 – Paper #5
- Week 26 – The Old Man and the Sea
- Week 27 – The Pearl
- Week 28 – My Antonia; Creative projects and presentations
- Week 29 – My Antonia; Creative project and presentations
- Week 30 – Review; Final Exam
* Non-fiction Project due usually during Week 26; Creative Project due Week 29
Estimated Workload
- Varies per readings and projects; 30-60 minutes Monday – Friday
Testimonials / Reviews
“The most valuable piece of knowledge I will take away from this course is how to critique and appreciate literature. As I read more books, I noticed certain types of characters I enjoy, characters I don’t enjoy, certain things done in books that irritate me, etc. It’s important to me to know more about the nature of literature and to have my own opinions on it.” May 2024
“The most valuable skill I will take away from this course is the ability to analyze literature and look past the story to find the hidden meaning. Many stories have an underlying message they are trying to convey to their readers, and I find it fascinating to try and find those messages.” May 2024
“I think what i liked about this course is the poetic descriptions and how they really make you think about how words have stronger meaning the way you put them. I love literature.” May 2024
