Honors American Literature Course Guide Ms. Haskins Course Description: Honors American Literature is a full year course designed for talented English students. The first semester surveys American literature from the colonial period through 1865; it includes selections from the anthology and a minimum of three complete works of literature. The second semester continues to survey American literature from 1865 through the present, including selections from the anthology and a minimum of three complete works of literature. Writing experiences are linked to the literature read and focus on literary analysis and development of compositions skills. Research is required for this course and will be completed first semester. The second semester includes ACT review. Classroom Expectations: 1. Treat your classmates, classroom, teacher, and yourself with RESPECT. Take pride in your school and your work. 2. Arrive to class on time. If you are not, you will be counted tardy. In accordance with EHS policy, three tardies will result in an after-school detention. 3. Use the restroom during passing periods. 4. Complete all assignments and readings on time and bring all materials to class each day. 5. Academic Integrity Late Work: You are expected to turn in homework when it is due. I will accept late work for 50% credit up to 2 days late. After 2 days, no credit will be awarded. Absences: If you are excused absent, you have 2 days for each day absent to turn in work for full credit. If you are unexcused, you will receive 50% credit if the work is turned in the day you return.
Materials needed each day: Pen or pencil Textbook and/or novel 5 subject notebook. This is ESSENTIAL for this class. Post-It Notes Student ID and Password. Many activities in this class will be completed using the computer, so you will need to have this everyday just in case we go to the computer lab. If you do not have an ID or a password, it is your responsibility to get one as soon as possible. Grading Scale: Numerical Average Letter Grade 98-100 A+ 95-97 A 92-94 A- 90-91 B+ 86-89 B 84-85 B- 82-83 C+ 78-81 C 76-77 C- 74-75 D+ 70-73 D 68-69 D- 0-67 F I am looking forward to a fun and exciting semester with each of you. If you need to contact me during the day, here s when I can be reached: Before or after school in A238 (English Office) I am in the Writing Center 1st Hour You may also e-mail me at hhaskins@ecusd7.org. I check my e-mail several times a day. You may also leave a message on my voicemail at 656-7100 ext. 20238.
Textbook: Adventures in American Literature, Pegasus Edition, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Publishers. Supplemental Resources: Simon and Schuster s Handbook for Writers. Various Novels---The Scarlet Letter Web Blog Topics (1 st Semester) I. Colonial Literature A. Native Americans B. Explorers C. Puritans/Pilgrims 1. Puritan Beliefs a. Grace b. Plainness c. Divine mission 2. Great Awakening D. Literary Terms 1. Spiritual autobiography 2. Conceit 3. Symbolism 4. Metaphor 5. Persuasive techniques a. Speaking b. Writing E. Significant Authors 1. John Smith 2. William Bradford 3. Anne Bradstreet 4. Edward Taylor 5. Jonathan Edwards II. Revolutionary Literature A. Historical Significance 1. Age of Reason 2. Natural rights 3. Political literature
III. B. Literary Terms 1. Autobiography 2. Aphorism 3. Almanac 4. Proverb 5. Epitaph 6. Allusion 7. Devices of persuasion 8. Rhetorical questions 9. Literary letter (epistle) C. Additional Readings 1. Benjamin Franklin 2. Patrick Henry 3. Thomas Paine 4. Thomas Jefferson 5. Michel-Guillaume Jean De Crevecouer Romantic Literature A. Historical significance 1. Westward expansion 2. Spirit of Nationalism 3. Major cultural and intellectual change B. Literary Terms 1. Romanticism a. Nature b. Past c. The inner world of human nature 2. Stock characters 3. Mood 4. Allegory 5. Evocative style 6. Alliteration 7. Internal rhyme 8. Refrain 9. Onomatopoeia 10. Assonance 11. Consonance C. Significant Authors 1. Washington Irving
2. William Cullen Bryant 3. James Fenimore Cooper 4. Poe IV. New England Renaissance A. Historical significance 1. Expansion and growth 2. New technology 3. Reform/Optimism B. Transcendentalism 1. Over-soul 2. Ralph Waldo Emerson 3. Henry David Thoreau C. Anti-transcendentalism 1. Nathaniel Hawthorne 2. Herman Melville D. Walt Whitman E. Literary Terms 1. Symbolism 2. Tone 3. Parable F. Poetry 1. Longfellow 2. Holmes 3. Dickinson 4. Lowell 5. Whittier V. Civil War A. Historical Significance B. Slave narratives C. Significant authors 1. Chief Joseph 2. Harriet Jacobs 3. Harriet Beecher Stowe 4. Abraham Lincoln 5. Fredrick Douglas VI. Research Unit (Literary Analysis) A. The Writing Center B. Library Skills
1. Athena and Databases 2. Electronic Café: Internet 3. Reference books C. Research Process 1. Prewriting a. Graphic Organizer b. Outlining (topic or sentence) 2. Rough Draft a. Typed, double-spaced b. Audience c. Purpose d. Sentence variety e. Long and short quotes f. In-text citations 3. Revision/Revisiting a. Introduction b. Conclusion/closure c. Transition d. Peer revision e. Detail support f. Balance g. Leads/hooks h. Voice i. Words choice j. Conventions (grammar) k. Clarity 4. Proofreading a. Conventions b. Publishing