New Unit-American Literature: The Effect of Time, History, and the "Isms"

Welcome to the New Unit- American Literature:  The Effect of Time, History, and the "Isms"

In this unit our class will explore the literary time-line and genres of American literature from a historical context.  Please download the document below for our unit and assessment expectations!  Here is a brief synopsis of it:

Unit Assessments 
Unit Multiple Choice Examination
This unit will feature a 40 question multiple choice section that asks 5 basic questions about genre, theme, style, historical context, and major writers. 

Unit Defense Analytical Essay
Essay Prompt:  Defend, analyze, and answer the following essential question in a well developed essay (minimum requirement must feature MLA): How does the presentation of the “isms” and other literary genres in American Literature shape our perspective of American Literature? (4) Evaluate each genre, comparing the impact and influence of each.

How am I going to be assessed?
Your essay will be graded on the state scoring rubric.  You have been given a packet outlining in detail the expectation of each strand (ideas and content, fluency, conventions, voice, word choice, and citing sources).  In your packet, you also have the scoring sheet that will be attached to each draft (rough and final).

Unit Journal
Description:  This is a formative assessment.  Unit journals will include your quote entries and responses, journal responses, cornell notes, inquiry questions, and summaries.

How am I going to assessed? 
Unit Journals are collected every Friday.  At that time the expectation is that you will have three quotes per week and a response for each (six per two week submission).  The expectation is that the journals are also in cornell note format and include summaries and inquiry questions for each day we take notes (which is each time we meet!).  You must also prove through your writing that you are engaged in the class by connecting ideas from the text with your own personal opinions.  But now you ask, how will my writing be graded?  The above is a checklist of things that will affect your grade because these are expectations, but your writing as always will be graded on the state scoring rubric!

What happens if I miss the mark, or as you say, “am not proficient?”As you all well know by now any work in this class that receives a 70 percent or below (or in terms of the scoring rubric 3 or below) does not prove proficiency.  You have the opportunity to retake these assignments.

Unit Outline

eng11.coursedevelopmenttemplate.whatisamericanlitunit