American Literature grade

Honors American Literature overviews the chronological history of American literature through the modern era and involves reading, analyzing, and interpreting significant literary works both on their own and within their historical and social contexts. The course will prepare students for senior-level reading and writing by helping them continue to think critically about literature and to demonstrate depth of thought in literary analysis, class discussion, daybooks, Socratic seminars, and formal writing.

Prerequisite

Final year average of an A in English II or an A or B in Honors English II

Students will need to purchase novels and plays in digital or paperback format. Homework

Special Purchases

Major Concepts Covered

This course examines worldviews and philosophy present in American literature, the development of American thinking and writing styles from the Puritans to the Postmodern period, short stories, plays and poetry. Students will make arguments and present evidence of analysis and focus on a literary approach to readings, discussions, and assessments.

Insider Information

This would be a good class for those who have done well in the literature of an English classroom. The course moves at a faster pace and the instructor requires more reading to be done in a shorter amount of time. The instructor teaches this course with the expectation that students can read and analyze literature without study guides or external sources for aid. This would be the best course for readers and those who prefer fiction and discussion to analysis of nonfiction writing.

Although there are writing assignments, this course is for both critical and pleasure readers more than a course for the technical analysis of writing style and structure.