American Novels
This course combines a general survey of major works of the last two centuries with writing skill development needed by the college-bound student. The literature of the course emphasizes, but is not limited to, representative novels by significant American writers - Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Vonnegut, and others. There is also significant opportunity for student voice and choice in selection of material and assessment type for at least two units. Students will become more sophisticated in their essay-writing skills through logical and coherent development of ideas, as well as the incorporation of multiple sources and depth of analysis.
**Please note that our curricula are under constant review and may be adjusted to suit the needs of our students. These changes may take place more quickly than can be reflected on this site at a given moment in time. We will update periodically.
Course Enduring Understandings:
Course Enduring Understandings:
1. Modernism is a movement spanning the first half of the twentieth century that focused on man's feelings of alienation and isolation, mechanization and dehumanization, the inability to communicate effectively, and the shattering of old rules of language and life.
1. Modernism is a movement spanning the first half of the twentieth century that focused on man's feelings of alienation and isolation, mechanization and dehumanization, the inability to communicate effectively, and the shattering of old rules of language and life.
2. Achievement of the American Dream seems to require external success, but hinges on an internal understanding of identity.
2. Achievement of the American Dream seems to require external success, but hinges on an internal understanding of identity.
3. 20th century Americans dealt with the tumultuous world in which they lived in various ways. In the novels studied in this course, some reexamine, some run away, some do nothing but wallow in their own despair, some create alternate universes and realities.
3. 20th century Americans dealt with the tumultuous world in which they lived in various ways. In the novels studied in this course, some reexamine, some run away, some do nothing but wallow in their own despair, some create alternate universes and realities.
Unit 1: A Farewell to Arms/The Old Man and the Sea/Ethan Frome/The Things They Carried
Unit 1: A Farewell to Arms/The Old Man and the Sea/Ethan Frome/The Things They Carried
Unit 2: As I Lay Dying/ The Grapes of Wrath
Unit 2: As I Lay Dying/ The Grapes of Wrath
Unit 3: Cat's Cradle/Slaughterhouse Five/Fahrenheit 451
Unit 3: Cat's Cradle/Slaughterhouse Five/Fahrenheit 451
Unit 4: The Bell Jar/One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Unit 4: The Bell Jar/One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Unit 5: Tortilla Curtain
Unit 5: Tortilla Curtain
Unit 6: The Road
Unit 6: The Road
Unit 7: The Glass Castle
Unit 7: The Glass Castle
Unit 8: The Color Purple/The Invisible Man
Unit 8: The Color Purple/The Invisible Man
Unit 9: The Circle
Student Choice Unit(s): one or two as time allows
Student Choice Unit(s): one or two as time allows
*minor adjustments/substitutions are occasionally made
Grading Weights:
Grading Weights:
Unit Assessments (essays, projects) 50%
Written Responses (journals, etc.) 30%
Homework, Classwork, Quizzes 20%
Scroll down for a sample of the prioritized writing skills for grade 12
Scroll down for a sample of the prioritized writing skills for grade 12
And please feel free to scroll down and take our parent survey
And please feel free to scroll down and take our parent survey