American Lit

Themes, Materials & Purpose of Course

Themes:

• Transcendentalism & Individuality

• Conflict, War & Justice

• National Identity

• Understanding Non-Fiction Texts

• Writing as Expression & Self-Authoring

Materials:

Macbeth by William Shakespeare

The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Short stories and poetry from Mark Twain, Edgar Allan Poe, Flannery O'Connor, William Faulkner, Ernest Hemmingway and others

The Crucible by Arthur Miller

Excerpts from the Works of R.W. Emerson, H.D. Thoreau

Other assorted short stories and various news articles, feature films and documentaries

Purpose:

This course is designed to expose students to a number of ideas, styles of writing, and different types of media. They will be challenged to develop their skills as writers as well as to utilize new forms of media & communication to interface with the world in which we live. Most texts will be from American authors and we will make an effort to make connections between the literature we study and historical events, attitudes and icons that are uniquely American. The incorporation of non-fiction texts will also help deepen that understanding for students as they progress through the course.