ENGLISH 11

AMERICAN LITERATURE & COMPOSITION

COURSE DESCRIPTION

English 11 combines Composition with American Literature to develop extensive reading
comprehension and critical thinking using the works of many American authors. As students,
you will read a variety of genres including Poetry, Nonfiction, Drama and Short Story.
Composition portion of the course will further advance grammar usage with emphasis on parts of
speech, mechanics, sentence structure and writing style used during literary analysis and essays.
To enhance oral communication, you will study and accomplish several oral assignments.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate their ability to:
use word origins to aid in the understanding of new vocabulary,
read and understand a wide variety of literary genres,
analyze and critique literature, both orally and in writing, with regard to such topics as theme,
irony, style, poetic device and historical context
make connections, both orally and in writing, between major works of literature from major
periods, various cultures and various socio-political origins in history,
evaluate how history has influenced the construction as well as the message of selected works
of literature,
write and revise coherent and focused text which demonstrates understanding of organization,
purpose, audience and form for academic, business and personal use,
integrate technology into research and presentation of information,
write in a number of forms, such as narrative, response to literature, reflective essay,
comparison and research report,
demonstrate a command of grammar, spelling, structure and mechanics of the English
language,
analyze oral communication such as speeches, media output and visual image, and
deliver effective oral presentations.


GENERAL COURSE OF STUDY

1
ST
Trimester:


Early America (Beginnings1800)
American Romanticism (18001860)


2
nd
Trimester:
The Civil War Era (18501880)
Regionalism and Realism (18801910)
Beginnings of the Modern Age (19101930s)


3
rd
Trimester:
From Depression to Cold War (1930s1960s)
Into the 21st Century (1960sPresent)




BOOKS:

Required hard copy texts:
Glencoe Literature Grade 11 American Literature: The Reader's Choice
ISBN: 978-0078251108


Other texts needed throughout this course can be accessed online via the corresponding links. I
suggest students visit each link right away to bookmark for easy access.

Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Author: Benjamin Franklin.
Link: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/20203/20203-h/20203-h.htm#V

The Declaration of Independence of The United States of America by Thomas Jefferson
Link: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16780/16780-h/16780-h.html

The Writings of Thomas Paine, Volume 1. Author: Thomas Paine.
Link: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/3741/3741-h/3741-h.htm#link2H_4_0005

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, The African.
Author: Himself.
Link: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/15399/15399-h/15399-h.htm

The Raven. Author: Edgar Allen Poe.
Link: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/17192/17192-h/17192-h.htm



Essays of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Author: Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Link: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16643/16643-h/16643-h.htm
Selections:
Publishers Note (section 4)
Life of Emerson (section 5-10)
The American Scholar (Section 19-48)
Self-Reliance (Section 79-116)
Manners (Section 156-186)

Excursions and Poems. Author: Henry David Thoreau
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/42553/42553-h/42553-h.htm

Religious & Moral Poems by Phyllis Wheatley
Link: http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/409/pg409.html




VIDEO:
The Ben Franklin Story (Part 1 & Part 2)
Link: http://www.earlyamerica.com/ben-movie.htm/


Declaring Independence: The Movie
Link: http://www.earlyamerica.com/independence.htm



SCHOOL SUPPLIES:
(Yes, virtual doesnt mean youll never use a pen & paper again!)
(1) Writing Journal or Composition Notebook
(1) Spiral Notebook (at least 100 pages)
(1) Pack copy paper any color
Black pens
Index Cards (5 x 3)


COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Students are expected to:
attend scheduled class and BE ON TIME.
be prepared for each class session, including having completed reading as well as assignments.
turn in all assignments and take all exams on/by the assigned dates.