English III Semester 2

 English III Semester 2
  • Recommended Grade Level: 11
  • Course Credits: 0.5
  • Course Price: $299.00

Course Overview:

English III American Literature is designed to support students in developing proficiency in key reading, writing, and language skills. The instruction supports students’ mastery of the Common Core ELA Standards and prepares students for success in future courses, college, and the workplace. 

This course emphasizes skills and strategies for independent close reading, analysis, and writing about a wide range of American literature texts. The second semester of the course covers literary periods of Transcendentalism, Realism and Naturalism, Modernism, and wraps up with a section on Contemporary American Literature. Each period is thoughtfully presented with key authors such as Mark Twain, Emily Dickinson, Henry David Thoreau, Fitzgerald, Faulkner, and many more. 

Students are exposed to a wide range of literature including poems, short stories, and novels that capture the characteristics of American literature. Throughout the semester, students receive engaging instruction that integrates reading, writing, and language study while highlighting what makes American literature uniquely American. 

Multiple opportunities to showcase what students learn throughout the semester are provided so that they can articulate their own original ideas and also question, interpret, analyze, extend, and evaluate others’ ideas. Semester two continues to support the goal of supporting students in acquiring critical knowledge while learning to become independent, strategic, and critical readers, effective writers, and skilled communicators.

Prerequisites:

Syllabus:

Section 1 – Transcendentalism

In this section, you will learn about the following objectives:

  • Cite evidence to support analysis of explicit information, draw inferences, and determine where the text leaves matters uncertain.
  • Identify themes.
  • Understand word relationships, figurative language, and nuances in word meaning.
  • Analyze authors’ choices regarding structure and development of story elements.
  • Understand how language functions in different contexts.
  • Provide you with the fundamental beliefs of Transcendentalism.
  • Highlight key authors and works from the period.
  • Teach you how to use context clues to determine meaning.
  • Explain how figurative language enhances a text.
  • Show you how language is creatively used to convey meaning.
  • Underscore the importance of figurative language to convey meaning.
  • Understand the use of multiple meaning words.
  • Explore how the tenets of Transcendentalism are reflected in literature from the period.
  • Learn about explicit versus implicit information in a text.
  • Compare poems with different topics by the same author.
  • Expand your knowledge of figurative language and literary devices authors use to convey meaning.
  • Explore imagery and symbolism as poetic devices.
  • Understand how the fundamental beliefs of Transcendentalism are highlighted in literature from the period.
  • Understand the importance of personal experience and storytelling in literature.
  • Understand plot, characters, conflict, and theme.
  • Learn the key elements of literature.
  • Understand the difference between theme and moral.
  • Delve further into figurative language.
  • Analyze a fable.
  • Write an objective summary.
  • Explore Thoreau’s famous work, Walden.
  • Analyze Civil Disobedience.
  • Consider explicit, implicit, and missing information in a text.
  • Consider the meaning of words and phrases in a text and their impact.
  • Use context to extract meaning.
  • Examine themes and how they are developed and intertwine.

Lessons:

  • Introduction to Transcendentalism
  • Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
  • Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. Poetry Comparison
  • American Fables
  • Thoreau

Section 2 - Realism and Naturalism in American Literature

In this section, you will learn about the following objectives:

  • Understand these related movements.
  • Acquire a better understanding of how literary movements overlap but maintain distinction.
  • Read and analyze poetry, prose, short stories, and informational texts.
  • Understand rhetorical analysis.
  • Learn how this literary movement began and the societal influences and circumstances that led to a literary shift in our changing nation.
  • Understand the focus of Realism.
  • Explore important authors and writings from this period.
  • Understand the role of social criticism in Realist literature.
  • Continue to explore figurative language as a way authors convey meaning.
  • Interpret figurative language and symbols in poetry.
  • Consider themes of the Realist Period in American Literature.
  • Understand how your personal style can be used to write poetry.
  • Learn about creating poetry of your own.
  • Understand the common themes of Naturalism.
  • Consider how vivid descriptions, imagery, and dialogue develop a text.
  • Learn how to detect themes and determine how they are developed and how they interact in a text.
  • Explore narrative techniques and literary devices used in Naturalism.
  • Learn the importance of rhetorical analysis and its goals.
  • How to conduct a rhetorical analysis of a text.
  • Understand rhetorical appeals.
  • Understand arguments, claims, supports, and warrants.
  • Explore and analyze nonfiction texts.

Lessons:

  • Realism in American Literature
  • Walt Whitman, Robert Frost, Emily Dickinson
  • Naturalism
  • Rhetorical Analysis

Section 3 – Modernism

In this section, you will learn about the following objectives:

  • Determine the meaning of words and phrases in a text.
  • Interpret figurative language used in a text.
  • Analyze an author’s choices for how to structure a text and relate story elements.
  • Conduct research and write effectively.
  • Understand the societal factors that influenced Modernism.
  • Learn about the characteristics of Modernist literature.
  • Explore free verse poetry and analyze the impact of structure on meaning.
  • Continue to learn how figurative language impacts meaning in literature.
  • Consider the impact of word choices and dialogue on a literary work.
  • Understand the importance of women in Modernist literature.
  • Consider works by female authors in societal context.
  • Learn more about how authors use figurative language to convey meaning.
  • Learn about stream of consciousness writing and its key features.
  • Fine tune your writing skills.
  • The impact point of view has on a narrative.
  • Symbolism and how authors use this literary technique to enhance a story.
  • Setting and how it is developed through figurative language and imagery.
  • Characterization.
  • Learn the primary themes in Southern literature
  • Explore the Southern Gothic genre
  • Consider setting and structure of a narrative
  • Understand how an author uses various voices in narration
  • Learn how word choice impacts a story

Lesson:

  • Introduction to Modernism
  • Women in Modernism
  • The Great Gatsby
  • Southern Literature – Faulkner

Section 4 - Contemporary American Literature

In this section, you will learn about the following objectives:

  • Cite textual evidence that is explicitly stated and that which is implied.
  • Determine themes in a text.
  • Understand how language works in different contexts.
  • Understand and interpret figurative language.
  • Develop your presentation skills.
  • Understand literary techniques, like symbolism, that authors use to impart meaning into a text.
  • Explore figurative language and literary devices.
  • Learn how to read a text to extract meaning.
  • Determine theme in a text.
  • Summarize a text.
  • Respond to diverse perspectives and present information clearly.
  • Cite textual evidence to support your analysis of a text.
  • Analyze the impact of an author’s choices regarding how to structure a text.
  • Understand how language functions in different contexts.
  • Write effective arguments.
  • Analyze informational texts.
  • Determine an author’s point of view or purpose.
  • Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of rhetoric.
  • Write informative texts effectively.
  • Understand the impact an author’s choices have on a text.
  • Determine multiple themes in a text.
  • Consider how words and phrases are used in a text.
  • Write explanatory essays effectively.
  • Use a formal and objective writing style.

Lessons:

  • Introduction to Contemporary American Literature
  • Novels Set in Historical Context
  • Literature and Civil Rights
  • Social Issues and Literature

Awards, Approvals, and Accreditation