MODERN AMERICAN LITERATURE
Welcome to Modern American Literature. In this course we cover literature from Mark Twain to present day. On this page I will periodically post information or documents (assignments, rubrics, assigned readings) as they become relevant for this course.
Units of Study
Mark Twain and humor literature
Jack London
Ernest Hemingway
The Harlem Renaissance
The Color Purple (Alice Walker)
The Crucible (Arthur Miller)
Vietnam War Literature
Until They Bring the Streetcars Back (Stanley Gordon West)
spring_2013_semester_exam_study_guide.docx | |
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RESPONSE TO LITERATURE ASSIGNMENTS
Crucible character guide
Crucible Background Reading ?'s
Crucible Act I Writing
Crucible Act II Writing
Crucible Act III Writing
Crucible Act IV Writing
Streetcars 1-10 Writing
Streetcars 11-15 Writing
Streetcars 16-30 Writing
Streetcar Final Writing
Vietnam 5/14 Response
Sweetheart Response
Crucible Background Reading ?'s
Crucible Act I Writing
Crucible Act II Writing
Crucible Act III Writing
Crucible Act IV Writing
Streetcars 1-10 Writing
Streetcars 11-15 Writing
Streetcars 16-30 Writing
Streetcar Final Writing
Vietnam 5/14 Response
Sweetheart Response
TWAIN-LONDON-HEMINGWAY UNIT INFO
Invalid's Story Text
Twain "Superstar" Article
Humor Examples Assignment
LA Response Writing
Hemingway and Modernism Notes
Twain "Superstar" Article
Humor Examples Assignment
LA Response Writing
Hemingway and Modernism Notes
twain_internet_research.pdf | |
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twain_test_prep.doc | |
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sh_and_hills_homework.doc | |
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snows_questions_and_hemingway_writing.docx | |
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hemingway_essay_prep.doc | |
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exam_1_study_guide_2013.docx | |
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Hemingway Writing Response: Write 3 paragraphs responding to Hemingway on our Google Groups discussion board. For the first two paragraphs, pick 2 of the quotes from the quote sheet that stand out to you. For each, write a good paragraph explaining why it stands out to you. For your 3rd paragraph, answer this question: what is the most important or most accurate depiction of "life at it is" in the Hemingway short stories we read?
Your post should be 300 - 500 words total. Title it with your name and Hemingway Response. (Mine would be titled "Mr. Dykstra Hemingway Response.") Your post is due by noon on Wednesday. By the end of the school day on Thursday, you need to have responded to the posts of two other students in 100-200 words for each. Comment on what they've said. You need to do more than simply agree with them - add to the discussion in some way.
Your post should be 300 - 500 words total. Title it with your name and Hemingway Response. (Mine would be titled "Mr. Dykstra Hemingway Response.") Your post is due by noon on Wednesday. By the end of the school day on Thursday, you need to have responded to the posts of two other students in 100-200 words for each. Comment on what they've said. You need to do more than simply agree with them - add to the discussion in some way.
HARLEM RENAISSANCE UNIT INFO
HR & Zora Neale Hurston Work
Background Reading: Harlem Renaissance
Langston Hughes biography
Langston Hughes Poetry Questions
"Magical Negro" Time article
Harlem Renaissance Response Questions
Great Debaters ?'s
Everyday Use ?'s
Background Reading: Harlem Renaissance
Langston Hughes biography
Langston Hughes Poetry Questions
"Magical Negro" Time article
Harlem Renaissance Response Questions
Great Debaters ?'s
Everyday Use ?'s
COLOR PURPLE UNIT
CRUCIBLE UNIT
background_reading_and_questions.pdf | |
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pilate_text.pdf | |
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ACT I WRITING: Describe how one character in Act I reminds you of a real person in a position of power. (approx. 1/2-3/4 pg of writing)
ACT II WRITING: Write one strong paragraph for each questions.
ACT III WRITING:
ACT IV WRITING:
Directions for Questions 1-4:
Choose 2 - 4 of these to respond to in approximately 2 pgs. total. Pick one of your writings to post on the discussion board in approximately 200-300 words (Due Wed. 8 AM). Respond to two students from class in approximately 100 words each on the discussion board as well (Due Thurs. class time).
- Parris
- Proctor
- Hale
Exam:
Write an essay describing ________________. In this essay, describe his/her role in the text, what actions this character took, and what motivates them throughout the text. Discuss whether or not they were static or dynamic (with proof) and if they were a foil for any other character. Include who/what they were battling. What is their great sin (if any)? What "goodness" is in them (if any)?
Assigned Characters: Click here
Crucible Final Exam "Study Guide":
The document below is a test I've given in the past. Questions from it are on the course final exam. If you want to use it to study for the final, here it is.
ACT II WRITING: Write one strong paragraph for each questions.
- Describe the relationship between John and Elizabeth Proctor, specifically addressing how they see each other and themselves.
- Describe Mary Warren's character and what affect the trials have had on her.
- Describe Proctor's internal conflict.
ACT III WRITING:
- Provide two examples of foil characters (2 pairs). Your examples should include 3-4 ways that the characters you've chosen are opposites.
- At this point, which character do you dislike the most? (approx. 1/2 pg)
- If you were a community member, what would you do? (approx. 1/2 pg)
ACT IV WRITING:
Directions for Questions 1-4:
Choose 2 - 4 of these to respond to in approximately 2 pgs. total. Pick one of your writings to post on the discussion board in approximately 200-300 words (Due Wed. 8 AM). Respond to two students from class in approximately 100 words each on the discussion board as well (Due Thurs. class time).
- Is Proctor a hypocrite for dying "like a saint" next to Rebecca Nurse and Martha Corey?
- Is The Crucible an important enough text to warrant time in Modern American Lit class? Evaluate the quality and importance of this text and provide support for your answer.
- Hale says that, "Life is God's most precious gift; no principle, however glorious, may justify the taking of it." Is he right? Which is worse - lying to save yourself or making a decision that leads to your own death? In other words, did Proctor do the right thing morally?
- Compare a character from The Crucible with a character from another text we've read. Describe their similarities.
- REQUIRED: What irony exists in this text? (one paragraph)
- REQUIRED: Describe the following characters' motivation in Act IV (couple of sentences):
- Parris
- Proctor
- Hale
Exam:
Write an essay describing ________________. In this essay, describe his/her role in the text, what actions this character took, and what motivates them throughout the text. Discuss whether or not they were static or dynamic (with proof) and if they were a foil for any other character. Include who/what they were battling. What is their great sin (if any)? What "goodness" is in them (if any)?
Assigned Characters: Click here
Crucible Final Exam "Study Guide":
The document below is a test I've given in the past. Questions from it are on the course final exam. If you want to use it to study for the final, here it is.
the_crucible_exam.doc | |
File Size: | 30 kb |
File Type: | doc |
UNTIL THEY BRING THE STREETCARS BACK
Ch. 1-10 ?'s:
What is your early opinion of Cal? (1/2 pg)
Describe what your reaction would be to someone like Gretchen talking to you. Cal at first was worried about his image – would your reaction be similar? Is it your responsibility (or anyone else’s) to make yourself available e to everyone who wants to talk with you? (1/2 pg)
Choose two quotes/passages that stand out to you. Explain why. Include pg. #’s. (1/2 pg each)
Chapters 11-15 ?'s:
1. Choose 1-2 quotes/passages from this section that stand out to you to respond to in one page total. Include the page numbers.
2. Through 15 chapters, does this text present more similarities or more differences between teenage life in 1949 as compared to now? Discuss in approximately one pg.
Chapter 16-30 ?'s: Click here.
Chapter 31-end: Pick 5 quotes/passages that stand out and list them.
Streetcar Term Paper
What is your early opinion of Cal? (1/2 pg)
Describe what your reaction would be to someone like Gretchen talking to you. Cal at first was worried about his image – would your reaction be similar? Is it your responsibility (or anyone else’s) to make yourself available e to everyone who wants to talk with you? (1/2 pg)
Choose two quotes/passages that stand out to you. Explain why. Include pg. #’s. (1/2 pg each)
Chapters 11-15 ?'s:
1. Choose 1-2 quotes/passages from this section that stand out to you to respond to in one page total. Include the page numbers.
2. Through 15 chapters, does this text present more similarities or more differences between teenage life in 1949 as compared to now? Discuss in approximately one pg.
Chapter 16-30 ?'s: Click here.
Chapter 31-end: Pick 5 quotes/passages that stand out and list them.
Streetcar Term Paper
in-text_citation_notes.docx | |
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tips_for_writing_about_literature.docx | |
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word_choice_guide.doc | |
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VIETNAM UNIT
2013_the_things_they_carried_work.docx | |
File Size: | 15 kb |
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home_before_morning.pdf | |
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Course Documents
amii_overview.doc | |
File Size: | 29 kb |
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syllabus_info.doc | |
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reading_quiz_makeup.doc | |
File Size: | 20 kb |
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ACCESS TO ONLINE TEXTBOOK:
http://my.hrw.com