American Dreams: The Society (Quarter 1: September 5 - November 10)
Students will gain an understanding of foundational literature and its connection to a society rooted in the desire for religious, democratic, and financial freedom. Students focus on rhetoric as a means of evoking individual and collective responses to social and political issues. English 11 students build an understanding of how literary and informational texts reflect beliefs, values, and personal expression. Students build an understanding of characteristics of texts from the Colonial and Revolutionary periods.
American Visions: The Individual (Quarter 2: November 13 - January 26)
Students explore the shift in focus from societal visions to the individual’s personal transformation. Students are introduced to literature that reflects the ideas of America’s first professional career writers. Juniors will develop an understanding of and appreciation for literature that is characterized as Romantic, Realistic, and Regional. In addition, students respond to texts that develop the concept of the individualized American Dream, defined as both financial and personal success achieved through hard, earnest work, and its impact on the individual’s struggle to acclimate personal desires with that of society’s larger ideals.
American Perspectives: The Challenge (Quarter 3: January 29 - April 13)
Students examine the social and personal obstacles individuals face in pursuit of happiness and success. Students continue to build knowledge of literary periods and their characteristics, focusing on Realism and Transcendentalism. Juniors will gain an understanding of how various groups within society grapple with flaws in the American Dream and its need to evolve to embrace new citizens and their pursuit of the dream. Additionally this unit will examine how the individual pursuit of the dream clashes with the foundational vision through works such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, "Letter from Birmingham Jail", and Civil Disobedience. These works involve an active response to achieving the American Dream and barrier to accessing it.
American Destinies: Realities and Hope (Quarter 4: April 16 - June 14)
Students explore the realities of those in pursuit of the American dream, the fate of those individuals trying to navigate the dream, and the lessons learned. Students develop an understanding of how the literature reflected an age of disillusionment and confusion as writers raised questions about life and factors over which they had little control. Text supports such as The Great Gatsby, Death of a Salesman, and Of Mice and Men demonstrate how the human spirit allows individuals to navigate obstacles and struggles and embrace the realities and hope that define American Dream.
Students will gain an understanding of foundational literature and its connection to a society rooted in the desire for religious, democratic, and financial freedom. Students focus on rhetoric as a means of evoking individual and collective responses to social and political issues. English 11 students build an understanding of how literary and informational texts reflect beliefs, values, and personal expression. Students build an understanding of characteristics of texts from the Colonial and Revolutionary periods.
American Visions: The Individual (Quarter 2: November 13 - January 26)
Students explore the shift in focus from societal visions to the individual’s personal transformation. Students are introduced to literature that reflects the ideas of America’s first professional career writers. Juniors will develop an understanding of and appreciation for literature that is characterized as Romantic, Realistic, and Regional. In addition, students respond to texts that develop the concept of the individualized American Dream, defined as both financial and personal success achieved through hard, earnest work, and its impact on the individual’s struggle to acclimate personal desires with that of society’s larger ideals.
American Perspectives: The Challenge (Quarter 3: January 29 - April 13)
Students examine the social and personal obstacles individuals face in pursuit of happiness and success. Students continue to build knowledge of literary periods and their characteristics, focusing on Realism and Transcendentalism. Juniors will gain an understanding of how various groups within society grapple with flaws in the American Dream and its need to evolve to embrace new citizens and their pursuit of the dream. Additionally this unit will examine how the individual pursuit of the dream clashes with the foundational vision through works such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, "Letter from Birmingham Jail", and Civil Disobedience. These works involve an active response to achieving the American Dream and barrier to accessing it.
American Destinies: Realities and Hope (Quarter 4: April 16 - June 14)
Students explore the realities of those in pursuit of the American dream, the fate of those individuals trying to navigate the dream, and the lessons learned. Students develop an understanding of how the literature reflected an age of disillusionment and confusion as writers raised questions about life and factors over which they had little control. Text supports such as The Great Gatsby, Death of a Salesman, and Of Mice and Men demonstrate how the human spirit allows individuals to navigate obstacles and struggles and embrace the realities and hope that define American Dream.