Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
This Unit will introduce students to the American Realism movement of the mid to late
19th Century. Students will read texts from the era and discuss historical context so that
they fully understand the literature of the time. Not only is Realism a culturally important
era in American Literature, it also parallels many types of writing today and can provide
tools to students for making sense of their own world. Students will also write a narrative
essay mimicking elements of the effective writing style used by Frederick Douglass.
This unit will begin with a pre-test over concepts of Realism, authors within the
movement, and some literary devices that will be covered in their works. In addition,
there will be a choice project where the students will delve further into a specific work or
topic within the movement; these projects will be presented in order that the entire class
will be exposed to the full breadth of the movement. Finally, there will be narrative essay
assigned that will synthesize knowledge of effective stylistic elements demonstrated
primarily by Douglass.
Lesson One: This lesson will introduce Realism and provide a connection between
slavery in America during the Civil War and slavery in today’s world.
Lesson Two: This lesson will be a discussion of Frederick Douglass’s narrative of his
own bondage in slavery. A focus will be put on the key aspects of a narrative piece (e.g.
the optimal style of a narrative, etc.). This will be the serious introduction for the
assigned Narrative Essay.
Lesson Three: This lesson will put in context Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation and
Gettysburg Address. The history of the works will be covered, as well as the elements
that make them so profound.
Lesson Four: This lesson will be a discussion of Bierce’s “An Occurrence at Owl Creek
Bridge,” emphasizing his use of point of view to make his work effective. The key
question will be asked: “What literary aspects, common in Realism, make the works so
hard-hitting?”
Lesson Five: This lesson will introduce the subcategory of Regionalism. An excerpt from
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn will be used, and the aspects of Regionalism, such
as dialect and an emphasis on culture at a small-scale, will be explained.
Lesson Six: This lesson will be a discussion of “The Outcasts of Poker Flat” by Bret
Harte, a key work of American Regionalism. Aspects discussed in the last lesson will be
applied to this work.
Lesson Seven: This lesson will elaborate upon the subcategory of Naturalism using
Stephen Crane’s “Open Boat.” Students will ask the key questions of Naturalism,
exploring the perceived cruelty and removedness of the actions of Nature as
understood by the writers involved in the Naturalism movement.
Lesson Eight: This lesson will be a culmination of Realism and its two subcategories,
Regionalism and Naturalism. It will provide as a review for the test.
Unit Test.
11.2.1 Analyze both the features and the rhetorical (persuasive) devices of different
types of public documents, such as policy statements, speeches, or debates, and the
way in which authors use those features and devices.
11.2.2 Analyze the way in which clarity of meaning is affected by the patterns of
organization, repetition of the main ideas, organization of language, and word choice in
the text.
11.2.5 Analyze an author’s implicit and explicit assumptions and beliefs about a subject.
11.2.6 Critique the power, validity, and truthfulness of arguments set forth in public
documents, speeches, or essays; their appeal to both friendly and hostile audiences;
and the extent to which the arguments anticipate and address reader concerns and
counterclaims.
11.3.2 Analyze the way in which the theme or meaning of a selection represents a view
or comment on life, using textual evidence to support the claim.
11.5.6 Use varied and extended vocabulary, appropriate for specific forms and topics.
11.6.1 Demonstrate control of grammar, diction, paragraph and sentence structure, and
an understanding of English usage
11.6.2 Produce writing that shows accurate spelling and correct punctuation and
capitalization
Objectives
Summative Assessment
Proficiency on the above objectives will be proven using the following methods:
• a narrative essay
• projects that will be presented during class time
• a notes portfolio showing evidence of participation
• a unit exam, which will be in multiple choice, short answer, and timed essay
format
Accommodating Differentiated Learning