[aisle] Help with American lit contemporary pairings

Tera Hafermann hafermat at unit5.org
Thu Oct 17 16:10:47 CDT 2019


Good afternoon!

Our English department is considering revamping their English 3 level
curriculum that focuses on American literature and I would love to get your
ideas. They don't want to get rid of American lit as the foundation, but
would like to pair more current reading material that students can connect
with. Much of the literature in the current curriculum features
marginalized groups with minorities as the victims. They would like to pair
American literature with current material where marginalized groups are not
represented this way. This is much needed and I'm super excited about it!

I would love to hear what your American lit classes are doing! Are any
pairing classic American lit with more current reading material? If so,
what are they pairing?

Here is the *current *American lit course overview:

This course is a journey across and through America via selected American
authors representing the major periods, schools, and traditions in American
literary history. Our texts will span the pre-colonial eras (before
European colonization in the 1600s) to our contemporary era; include
multiple genres (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama); and attempt to
examine the diversity that has shaped America over time.  In thinking of
the uniquely American journey, three central questions will guide our
exploration:

   1.

   In what ways has America been shaped or impacted by the journeys of
   individuals?
   2.

   In what ways have individual journeys been shaped or impacted by America?
   3.

   In what ways is one’s own identity shaped by these journeys?


This is the *current* required reading and unit sequence:

   -

      Unit 1: *Native American - Way to Rainy Mountain*
      -

         Required Writing Component: Point of View Creative Narrative
         -

         Required Speaking & Listening Component: Oral Recitation of POV
         Narrative
         -

      Unit 2: *The Crucible*
      -

         Required Writing Component: Persuasive Researched Paper
         -

         Required Speaking & Listening Component: Analysis of Scene
         -

      Unit 3: *Of Mice and Men*
      -

         Required Writing Component: Art Analysis
         -

         Required Speaking & Listening Component: Presentation
         -

      Unit 4: *A Raisin in the Sun*
      -

         Required Writing Component: Argumentative Response Letter
         -

         Required Speaking & Listening Component: Group Research
         Presentation
         -

      Unit 5: *The Great Gatsby*
      -

         Required Writing Component: Researched Paper
         -

         Required Speaking & Listening Component: Socratic Discussion
         -

      Unit 6: *The House on Mango Street*
      -

         Required Writing Component: Creative Personal Narrative
         -

         Required Speaking & Listening Component: Dramatic Reading


Sorry for the lengthy email! Your ideas are greatly appreciated!
-- 

*Tera Hafermann*

*School Library Media Specialist*

*Normal Community West High School*

*NCWHS Book Club Sponsor*

*hafermat at unit5.org <hafermat at unit5.org>*

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