American Literature

High School Course

Analyze American satire, essays, song lyrics, films, speeches, books, sermons and artistic movements in intellectual, historical and philosophical contexts. Fascinating readings present various perspectives on the American dream, the frontier civil rights and more. Assignments focus on literary analysis, comprehension and creative interpretations.

This High School Course is also offered as part of the College Prep Online Diploma program.

Credits: 1 Unit

Course ID: ENV11

Course Area: English

Course Type: College Prep

Study Method: Online

Course Outline:

Module 1: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness: The American Dream

Unit 1: Propaganda: The New Frontier: Lesson 1: Short early American narratives; Lesson 2: Religion in narrative; Lesson 3: Puritanism and predestination; Lesson 4: The Day of Doom; Lesson 5: The Protestant work ethic; Lesson 6: Culminating essay: reflective writing
Unit 2: Individualism in American Society: Lesson 1: Introduction to Transcendentalism; Lesson 2: Defining self-reliance: a writing process; Lesson 3: To conform or not to conform; Lesson 4: Defining non-conformist: reflective writing; Lesson 5: The great awakening; Lesson 6: Divergent paths; Lesson 7: Evaluating collectivism vs. individualism: a writing process

Module 2: Varying Perspectives of the American Dream

Unit 1: The Native Americans, Slavery and Forced Relocations: Lesson 1: Reading film, part 1: Dances With Wolves; Lesson 2: Contrasting immigrant perspectives; Lesson 3: An immigrant story; Lesson 4: Contrasting indigenous peoples' perspectives; Lesson 5: Historical analysis of speech; Lesson 6: Voices of common sense; Lesson 7: Culminating essay: persuasive writing
Unit 2: Call to a New Frontier: Lesson 1: Reading film, part 2: The Searchers; Lesson 2: From satire to irony; Lesson 3: Pop culture analysis

Module 3: Dissolution of the American Dream

Unit 1: Writing the Research Paper: Lesson 1: The definition paper; Lesson 2: Classification/division paper; Lesson 3: The comparison/contrast paper; Lesson 4: The process paper; Lesson 5: The cause and effect paper
Unit 2: The Jazz Age: America During the Roaring Twenties: Lesson 1: Re-reading The Great Gatsby; Lesson 2: The Great Gatsby, Chapter 1; Lesson 3: The Great Gatsby, Chapter 2; Lesson 4: The Great Gatsby, Chapter 3; Lesson 5: The Great Gatsby, Chapter 4; Lesson 6: The Great Gatsby, Chapter 5; Lesson 7: The Great Gatsby, Chapter 6; Lesson 8: The Great Gatsby, Chapter 7; Lesson 9: The Great Gatsby, Chapter 8; Lesson 10: The Great Gatsby, Chapter 9
Unit 3: Westward Expansion, Boom and Bust and the American Dream Deffered: Lesson 1: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck; Lesson 2: Of Mice and Men, Chapter 1; Lesson 3: Of Mice and Men, Chapter 2; Lesson 4: Of Mice and Men, Chapter 3; Lesson 5: Of Mice and Men, Chapter 4; Lesson 6: Of Mice and Men, Chapter 5; Lesson 7: Of Mice and Men, Chapter 6

Module 4: Alienation, Displacement and Disappointment

Unit 1: The Importance of Place: Lesson 1: Sound of place; Lesson 2: Writing Assignment: reflective writing
Unit 2: The Power of People: Lesson 1: Reading film, part 3: Matewan; Lesson 2: Civil rights: a play; Lesson 3: Civil rights: a song; Lesson 4: Culminating essay