English 3: American Literature (Non-Native Speakers)
Notre Dame High School
English 3: American Literature (Non-Native Speakers)
Teacher: Mrs. Walli Weitz
Term: Fall 2000
Meeting Times: Tuesday/Thursday; 7:45-9:15 a.m.
Tutoring: During x period or by appointment
I. Overview
In this course we will study American literature (poems,
essays, short stories, and novels) from the early days of
the Native Americans to the present time. We will read
selections from the text, outside materials, and novels.
We will try to see how literature affects and is affected
by political, religious, and social influences.
II. Course Format
The classroom will be a place of learning. This means that
both I, as the teacher, and you, as the student, will
participate in the learning process. I have several
expectations for this class. I expect each student to check
the board for each day's activities and books required for
the next class. Each day you must have your English notebook
with you. Each day you will come to class with pen and paper.
The pens will either have blue or black in. Please avoid felt
tip pens. I expect you to hand in your work on time.
I DO NOT accept late work. I expect you to be mindful of
others and conduct yourself accordingly. You will treat your
classmates and me with respect and will be treated in the same
fashion. You will make this classroom a place of learning by
following rules and by coming to class ready to learn and
participate in our learning process.
III. Class Schedule
This class will meet every Tuesday and Thursday for one semester.
You will follow the guidelines for attendance as laid out in the
student handbook.
IV. General Course Objectives
Students will become informed about the different time periods
in American Literature. They will be able to read a piece of
literature and be able to understand its main idea. The student
should be able to analyze a given piece of literature and place
it within a time period. The student will become an active
reader of this literature through various activities.
V. Required Text Books
McDougal Littell, THE LANGUAGE OF LITERATURE
Building Vocabulary for College
THE SCARLET LETTER
SNOW FALLING ON THE CEDARS
A Modern Novel of your choice
VI. Additional Readings
These readings will be assigned and handed out to you in class.
VII. Evaluation Methods
Your grades will be based on the following:
a. Homework/Pop quizzes- 5% of grade
b. Weekly Vocabulary Quizzes 5% of grade
c. Tests on novels and literature units 15% of grade
d. Essays 10% of grade
e. Individual and group projects 10% of grade
f. Creative writing assignments 5% of grade
g. Final 20% of grade
h. Term paper 25% of grade
i. English Notebook 5% of grade
I will not assign a letter grade. I will show your grade in numbers
over points possible. (Ex. If you get a 90 out of a 100-point possibility,
your grade will be written 90/100)
These points will be added for one total after each six-week grading
period. Each succeeding grading period will be a running total of the
grade you have earned so far for the semester.
I will take the points possible for each grading period and use the
following scale:
100-90 A
89-80 B
79-70 C
69-60 D
59-below F
I will provide you with a sheet that will allow you to tally your points
as you receive them. Please do not ask me to total your points from
my book. If you have a question about a grade, feel free to clarify
the situation with me.
English Notebook
You are to keep an English Notebook as described to you in
class. This will be collected, without prior announcement,
throughout the semester. It is to contain all the materials
given to you in this class. It must be in order and complete
at all times.
COURSE SCHEDULES AND READINGS
Session I: Introducing ourselves
Hand out Course Expectation Sheets
Introduce Native American Literature/Creation Stories
Homework: Read: "In Harmony with Nature" page 18
"The World on the Turtle's Back" page 23
Write: Write down your thoughts about this creation myth.
Be prepared to share this with your classmates.
Session II: Discuss Homework
Work in pairs to create your own myth.
Discuss Puritan-religious and historical background
Introduce THE SCARLET LETTER-book check
Read chapters 1-3 in class aloud.
Homework: Read: "Between Heaven and Hell" page 144
"from Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" page 161.
Do: Vocabulary Chapter 1-use context clues
Session III: Correct vocabulary homework
Read: We Aren't Superstitious" page 169
In a few sentences tell what the citizens of Salem
Village were like.
Homework: Read Chapters 4-6 in THE SCARLET LETTER
Read: "The Examination of Sarah Good" page 155
Session IV: Discuss chapters 4-6 in novel and show Hallmark video
for same. Discuss "We Aren't Superstitious" and
compare and contrast on Venn Diagram with "The
Examination of Sarah Good"
Homework: Read chapters 7-10 in novel Vocabulary chapter 2
Session V: Factual Reporting/Primary and Secondary Sources
Correct Vocabulary chapter 2
Video on THE SCARLET LETTER (chapters 7-10)
Homework: Study for vocabulary quiz on chapters 1-2
Read: "Miss Temptation" page 185. Make left margin
notations.
Session VI: Vocabulary Quiz on chapters 1-2
Partners: Summarize "Miss Temptation"
Connect with SCARLET LETTER
Homework: Study for test on chapters 1-10 of novel.
Session VII: Test on SCARLET LETTER (chapters 1-10)
Review for test on Native American/Puritan Periods
Introduction to American Revolution
Homework: Study for objective test on literature
Read: Chapters 11-14 in novel
Session VIII: Test on Native American Periods
Discuss elements of speech and oratory
Read: "Speech in the Virginia Convention"
Allusion; repetition
Write a newspaper report or rebuttal to this
speech in class.
Session IX: Video in class on novel chapters 11-14
Group work on chapters 11-14 (character analysis)
Homework: Vocabulary chapter 3
Venn Diagram on 1st and 2nd scaffold scenes
Session X: Discuss Venn Diagrams
Collect vocabulary for chapter 3
Write rough draft for persuasive speech/peer response
Homework: Vocabulary chapter 4
Read chapters 15-19 in novel
Session XI: Correct vocabulary chapter 4
Discuss novel and view video
Homework: Study for final test on novel.
Session XII: Test on chapters 11-19 of novel
Discussion: What is an American?
Read: article on pages 224-225
Paraphrase: "by being received to the broad lap of
our great alma mater."
Introduction to SNOW FALLING ON THE CEDARS : Case study
Homework: Do case study. What does this tell about
body language? Study for vocabulary quiz on chapters 3-4
Session XIII: Introduce Spirit of Individualism: fears, hopes, concerns,
ideals Literature: inner feelings/emotions over reason,
logic, scientific observation.
Read: "A Psalm of Life" aloud in class. Have students
create a bumper sticker text that expresses the philosophy
suggested by the poem.
Discuss rhyme and rhythm (stanza and rhyme scheme) of
poetry. Homework: Continue reading in SFC
Session XIV: Field Trip to Japanese Culture Museum
Session XV: Discuss field trip.
Share oragami projects
Close reading of SFC
Homework: Find newspaper articles dealing with prejudice
Vocabulary: chapters 5-6
Session XVI: Correct vocabulary homework
Video clips from SFC-movie
Introduction of Transcendentalism-Emerson/Thoreau
Egg Project-individual and group after reading articles
"Walden" Why is money not important?
"Self-Reliance"-What is main idea?
Explain: "Poverty gives man a certain independence"
Homework: Study for quiz on vocabulary 5-6
Session XVII: Quiz on Vocabulary 5-6
Discuss Transcendentalists
Introduce Edgar Allen Poe-show A&E video (clips)
"Cask of Amontillado"
"The Raven"-alliteration, assonance, consonance
(work in groups and chart rhyme scheme)
Homework: "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment"
Session XVIII: Vocabulary chapter 7
Dr. Heidegger's Experiment-act out scene encompassing
lines 173-198.
Review SFC Introduction to Civil War Period
Homework: "Frederick Douglass" page 456
Session XIX: Assign Vocabulary chapter 8
Video clip of Douglass autobiograpy
Cds on Negro Spirituals-purpose/origin
Stephen Foster Folk Songs
Homework: Study for Novel Test SFC
Read: "Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge"
Session: XX Test on SFC
"Owl Creek Bridge" video
Introduce Realism, Regionalism, Naturalism
Group Read: "A Wagner Matinee" page 542 (music in
background)
Discuss sensory details-students write paragraph
appealing to one of the senses.
Homework: Study for quiz on chapters 7-8 vocabulary
Session XXI: Vocabulary quiz (7-8)
Introduce project for final novel; handout permission
slips.
Homework: Read: "Chicago" "Richard Cory" "We Wear
the Mask"
Session XXII: Discuss homework
Design Masks
Introduction and instructions for term paper
Homework: Vocabulary chapter 9
"English as a Second Language"
Session XXIII: Discuss homework; do story fragment
Correct vocabulary; Assign chapter 10
Modern Age Introduction: African-American Writers
Homework: Read: "How it Feels to Be Colored Me" p. 777
"My Dungeon Shook: Letter to My Nephew" p. 791
"I, Too" and "The Weary Blues" page 766-68
Session: XXIV: Correct vocabulary chapter 10
Discuss homework
Play blues on CD player
Introduce Frost and Eliot
Group work: choose a poem and explicate it.
Homework: Finalize poem explication
Vocabulary chapter 11
Session XXV: Discuss homework
Student group presentations of poem explications
Papers for plates due!!!
Homework: Vocabulary chapter 12
Session XXVI: Vocabulary 9-12 quiz
Poem explications continued
Session X XVII: Novel Project Review/discussion/monologues
Modern Authors/selected pieces
Vocabulary chapter 13
Session XXVIII: Correct chapter 13 in vocabulary
Novel Project due/monologues.
Peer Response on Term Paper: provide 4 copies of
your paper for peer response. I will provide rubric
for this. If done correctly, this will take the
entire period. This is worth 80 points-if you don't
participate, you will receive no points.
Session: X XIX: Vocabulary chapter 15 in class-create own quiz for
a classmate.
Term Paper due.
Review for final exam
Session XXX: Final Exam
Luncheon/author project