6/15: I wanted to share some tops about the exam based on emails I have received. I hope these help:
For the Allit principles essay, you have to develop a thesis that chooses three principles for which you can find evidence to argue that Cather's novel (not Cather herself, but the book -this is a lens you are placing over the book) either critiques the principles OR supports them. Do NOT choose two that support and one that critiques.
For each principle, make sure that you understand what Allit was saying (for example, desire to live up to our ideals is about the founding ideals - not the American dream. He means freedom, "all men are created equal," "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness")
Use specific evidence from the novel then analyze that evidence in terms of how it supports or critiques the principle. You'll need at least two pieces of strong, clear, accurate evidence for each ideal
The prompt requires that you write about at least three characters in the essay. You can use the same character(s) to argue more than one principle, but please make sure that you are using different evidence from different sections of the book.
Be careful with Jim - he is a Romantic hero, not an anti-hero. He is nostalgic for the past, that is clear. Nostalgia often means that we color the past in a way that isn't true, but is memory. I think it is fair to say that he loves the idea of Antonia, but I am not sure that you can argue that she is the love of his life (he says that weird thing about wishing he could love her like a mother, or a wife or a sister - that's just confused). She represents all that he admires - her strength, her resilience, her connection to the land.
For the optional essay: First - you do not need an introduction because the prompt gives you a thesis. That thesis is to assume that Mr O'Sullivan is right, that we have chosen Franklin's path, not Thoreau's. You can absolutely write this in an "I" voice, and that might be a good idea (it might give you the right tone).
So...go back to Franklin and find two of his principles that we have followed (NOT Allit's principles, although it might be true that the ideas intersect. Look in your notes and in the excerpts we read for what Franklin believes).
For each of Franklin's ideas, lay out the idea, show me how we have definitely followed that path (use evidence from what you know about history - broad strokes - AND/OR from contemporary situations, the America you've grown up in, etc.) and tell me what we have gained (an example here would be that Franklin believed that science and invention (technology) could improve the lives of people. Show me that we have believed that as a nation and that it has improved our lives).
Then, look to Thoreau's principles and find one that we have not followed as a culture, prove to me that we haven't (same advice as above) and tell me what we have lost as a result.
Finally, in the conclusion (this should definitely be in an "I' voice) explore whether or not you personally think we made the right choice and why.
6/9: I have posted the final exam review sheet below (Am Lit H Review 2016). Please email me if you have questions.
starting 5/3: We are working on the Transcendentalism+ page. TSL project materials, grading criteria and deadlines are on The Scarlet Letter page
starting 3/31: We are working on The Scarlet Letter page starting today. The extra grade option is attached below. It's due on Tuesday 4/5.
starting 3/2: We are working on the "Puritans and the founding" page. Gatsby projects due by Friday March 11.
1/28: starting now, we are working on The Great Gatsby page. You will find the link below.
Welcome to American Lit. Please join remind by texting @gcc37 to 81010, then read the syllabus (attached below). Write down any questions that you have and bring those to class. Go back to the "Important Class Documents" page and read those, then go to the Home page and complete the survey.
1/26: in class work and homework see "Am Lit day 2" attached below. The poems are also attached ("Blanco and Alexander") in case you left those in school.
1/25: In class work - see "American Lit first day work" attached below.
HOMEWORK: Here's the American Dream piece in The Atlantic ( you can also find it by searching for "Who Still Believes in the American Dream?" by Chris Arnade). Please read the opening and then through the profiles and choose 4 of the people who are featured to write about (at least one of these should be a person whose views are different from yours or who makes you see America from a different perspective). On a piece of notebook paper that you can hand in tomorrow (not in your journal), write down the person’s name, summarize his/her view and tell me why you chose it (the WHY part should be reflective and probing and each should be about a paragraph long). Do this in addition to the “website homework.”