The American Sampler Unit

A Sampler of American Literature

Agenda

•1. What is the American Sampler?•2. Your Definition of an American•3. Review the tenets of the Majors –Isms•4. Skills for Success•5. Formative/Summative Assessments•6. Think on Your Feet and/or Questions

What is the American Sampler?

• When you are at a buffet, you get a sampler of different types of food.

• We are going to do a similar thing for this unit.

• To give you an overview of the important Literary Movements of American Literature we will cover this year, we will have a sampler of American Literature.

What is an American?

• Talk to an elbow partner…

•Who is an American?•What does it mean to be American?•What makes someone or something American?

How does the following video meet/challenge your definition of an American?

The –ISMs of American Literature

What are the –ISMs?

• The ISMs are the major periods,

• of American Literature.

• In the American Sampler Unit, we will be doing an overview of each –Ism that we will covering this year in 11th grade English.

• By the end of the unit…

• You will comprehend the core beliefs of each ISM

• And be exposed to works and writers that represent each -Ism.

Puritanism (1620 – 1720)

Puritan Core Beliefs

1. Belief all people are born from original sin.

2. Emphasis on a Wrathful, or angry, god.

3. Didactic, or preachy, instruction

4. Emphasis on the group over the individual

5. Strong work ethic leads to salvation

Rationalism (1720 – 1820)

Rationalist Beliefs

• God is found through discovery and science.

• Writing is used to debate controversial issues

• Government is designed to represent the people

• In support of individual rights.

Romanticism/Transcendentalism – 1820 -1865

Romantic/Transcendental Beliefs

• God is found within nature• Believes human

potential is limitless• Values the individual

over the group• Urges action against

injustice

Realism – 1865 - 1900

Realism Beliefs

• Debated Human Rights vs. Personal Property

• Authentic accounts by people who experienced real hardships.

• Emphasis on emotions vs. facts.

• Destiny is controlled by environment, NOT fate or divine force.

Modernism – 1900 - 1945

Modernist Beliefs

• Encouraged bold experimentation and creativity

• Rejection of traditional beliefs about religion/society

• Emphasis on social economic disparity

• A transition from rural life to urban city life.

Skills for Success

• Know how to effectively Annotate a Text•Decode Vocabulary using Context Clues• Comprehend and Analyze the tenets of the –Isms.• Applying the 3As everyday

Formative/Summative Assessments

Formative• 1. Nacerima WKSHT

• 2. Nacerima Sun-K Squares

• 3. Pre-Test

• 4. Annotation

• 5. Close Reading

• 6. Various other assignments that will supplement our reading

Summative• 1. Nacerima Vocab Quiz

• 2. End of Unit Exam

Please Stand for Think on Your Feet