AMERICAN LITERATURE 112B

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is designed for college-bound students and will survey American works and authors from realism through contemporary society. The course will prepare the student for specific writing experiences such as exposition, analysis of literature, and literary criticism as well as provide speaking and listening opportunities, vocabulary development, research skills, and test-taking strategies.

  1. WRITING
    1. Multi paragraph essays (Minimum four)
      1. Opening paragraph
      2. Thesis statement
      3. Topic sentence
      4. Paragraph development
      5. Transitional devices
      6. Conclusion

    2. Types of essays
      1. Persuasion/argumentation
      2. Analysis/literary analysis
      3. Definition
      4. Comparison/contrast
      5. Research paper (mandatory)

    3. Timed writings

    4. Suggested additional writings
      1. Critical review
      2. Reader response
      3. Impromptu writing
      4. Creative writing

    5. Internal documentation
    6. Writing styles

  2. READING/LITERATURE
    1. Literary movements
      1. Realism
      2. Regionalism
      3. Naturalism
      4. Modernism
      5. Imagism
      6. Harlem Renaissance
      7. Post-modernism

    2. Background
      1. Chronology, characteristics, evolution of literary movements
      2. Authors’ backgrounds

    3. Literary selections (concentration on quality rather than quantity)

    4. Literary terms

    5. Comprehension
      1. PSAT, SAT, ACT preparation
      2. Literary techniques

    6. Parallel reading

  3. USAGE/GRAMMAR
    1. Standard English
    2. Sentence structure
    3. Proofreading
    4. Capitalization, punctuation, spelling
    5. Voice
    6. Tense
    7. Pronoun usage
    8. Parallel structure

  4. LANGUAGE/VOCABULARY
    1. Words from literary selections
    2. PSAT and SAT/ACT preparation
    3. Etymology
    4. Analogies

  5. RESEARCH/TECHNOLOGY
    1. Technological and informational resources
    2. Computer software and technology to write, revise, and correct writing (where available)
    3. MLA style

  6. SPEAKING/LISTENING
    1. Oral presentations/reading/recitation
    2. Class discussion
    3. Group discussion/cooperative learning
    4. Notetaking
    5. Listening actively and courteously