Am Lit. Eng. 11 Elements of Lit. 5th Course Book 1st semester – 5 of 10 credits - 5/28/16pp. #
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1. Complete the Reading and Writing Assignments from the book.
2. Complete the Research Project.
3. Complete the Oral Presentation.
READ
6-18
20-21
22-24
28-33
34
37
40-46
47
48
56-66
65
75
76
84-85
95-96
102-105
108-112
129
130-132
139-150
154-166
175-179
187
190-192
195-197
206-214
224-225
ASSIGNMENT
Write a two page summary of the material you have read.
Write a 2-4 paragraph description of an oral tradition that is carried on in your family. Example,
your family has served in the military since the Revolutionary War.
Write a 1 page explanation of why you think natural symbols (water, trees) and characters (turtle,
coyote) are so important in Native American Literature. Use examples from the readings and what
you know about Native American culture.
You are a teenager traveling with your parents to the New World. Write a journal of your
experiences on the voyage and during your first week in a new land. Describe the details of the
voyage, AND your feelings about what you’re going through and your hopes and dreams for the
new land. Approximately 10 entries for your journal, a paragraph each.
Write a 1 page comparison of the experiences of the Plymouth people and the Vietnamese boat
people. How are their stories similar? How are they different?
Try It Out 1-3.
Reviewing the Text a-c, Challenging the Text 6
Critical Writing
Write an outline of the material presented.
First Thoughts 1, Extending the Text 6
Write a poem (any style) that is based on your heritage. Then frame your poem with an assortment
of images that display the ‘feel’ of your poem to the audience. For example the poem ‘Africa’
might be surrounded by crowns and music notes.
Describe how Juana’s early life shaped her writing style. Write one or two paragraphs.
Carefully examine the English and Spanish versions of the poem, “World, in Hounding Me …”
Then select at least five of the English words and write their Spanish counterpart from the poem.
Write a 1-page description of why you think Benjamin Franklin’s ‘rags-to-riches’ life story appeals
to so many Americans, including yourself.
Compare Robert Fulghum’s list of things learned in kindergarten to Franklin’s list of virtues. Which
list do you think is more appealing for modern day Americans? Why?
Shaping Interpretations 2 & 3
Creative Writing – Crisis Zone 3
Try It Out 1 & 3
Write a 2 pages narrative about a significant incident in your life that helped you to learn more about
yourself. Have another person proofread you autobiography and offer suggestions. Turn in your
draft with at least five proofreader’s notations and your final copy.
Write a 1 page comparison of Romanticism versus Rationalism. Support your statements with
examples from the text.
Connecting with the Text 6, Challenging the Text 8
First Thoughts 1, Challenging the Text 5
Holmes is described as an aristocrat with the common touch. Write a paragraph describing what
you think this means and why it is considered so unusual.
Old Ironsides – First Thoughts 1
Try It Out 1-3
Quickwrite How Do You See Yourself
Describe in your own words what you think Emerson means by, “To be great is to be
misunderstood…” Approximately 1 page.
Am Lit. Eng. 11 Elements of Lit. 5th Course Book 1st semester – 5 of 10 credits - 5/28/16pp. #
237-239
245-246
256
282-288
321-328
342-346
352
360-361
376-377
381, 384
398-400
401-403
408-409
410-422
424-430
437-443
448
450-451
458-459
465
475
476-483
486-493
495-509
510
512-514
520
1189-1203
1204
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Read from Where I Lived, and What I Lived For. Write a 1 page description of the ‘deliberateness’
of your life. Try to write in style similar to Thoreau’s. Then write a paragraph describing how well
you wrote in Thoreau’s style. Use examples from both Thoreau’s and your own writing.
Extending the Text 7
Describe the historical significance of King’s letter. What does it say about American society and
values? Why do you think he wrote his views in the form of a letter? Approximately 1 page.
Shaping Interpretations 2, 4 & 5. Elements of Literature 1 & 3
Extending the Text 6
Quickwrite
First Thoughts 1. Write a poem in the style of “I Hear America Singing,” however select workers
from our time period and use modern ideas and language.
Write a newspaper article about the Jimmy Baca ‘success’ story. Use the experiences and culture
that he describes in his poem as evidential support for your article.
Primary Sources
Quickwrite. Shaping Interpretations 4, Extending the Text 5.
Try It Out 1 & 2
Write a 1-page essay in which you begin with a specific occasion (an incident, observation, or
quotation) and explore your thought and reflections about it, arriving at a general truth about life.
The photograph and painting could be said to illustrate the environment of America during the Civil
War. In poem or prose form, describe the United States during the 1850’s as you would describe a
person. Use the illustrations to help form ideas about your portrait the country.
Write an outline of the material covered in the reading. Use proper outline format and style.
Create a chart based on the story. On one side list the dehumanizing incidents that Douglass
experiences. On the other side list his empowering experiences. Decorate your chart to emphasize
each set of experiences.
Create a chart based on the story. On one side list all the things Mrs. Sommers intends to by with
the money. On the other side list all the things she ended up buying with the money.
After fighting so hard to remain free, Chief Joseph finally surrendered. Using examples from his
own words, write a paragraph explaining why you think he finally gave in.
Write a short magazine article explaining why Mark Twain is considered one of the foremost
American writers. Name the magazine you are writing for at the top of the article.
Like the Mississippi, the Rocky Mountains are filled with legends and lore. Write 2 – 3 pages about
some of the legends of the Rockies. You may want to explore some historic spots to gather ideas.
Write a list of six of your favorite proverbs from people. You may want to look at a book of quotes
from the library, or explore quotation websites on-line. Next to each quote, write a brief description
of what you think the quote means, or why it appeals to you.
Try It Out 1 - 10
Read each of the experiences. Select one of the experiences. Write a follow-up to the piece as
though it was written on the next day. Pay careful attention to the style and wording of the original
author.
First Thoughts 1, Challenging the Text 7
Shaping Interpretations 3
Survival Manual
Try It Out 2
Try It Our 1 – 5
Select two terms that you did not previously understand clearly. Write a few sentences about each
explaining how they will help your writing style in the future.
Write a brief description of the difference between a Request Letter and a Letter of Application.
Describe a situation for each letter that you would be likely to use each style.
Am Lit. Eng. 11 Elements of Lit. 5th Course Book 1st semester – 5 of 10 credits - 5/28/16pp. #
The stories of the United States are typically the stories of immigrants. People that came to the United States
formed our culture, values, language, government and religion.
RESEARCH PROJECT
Write a 4-5 pages research paper on one immigrant group to the United States.
1. Select one of the following groups to research, Africans, Irish, Jews, Cubans, Chinese, Vietnamese,
Mexicans, or Russians. You may select another group with approval from the teacher.
2. Include the following information
a. Where they came from
b. Why they came to America
c. What they experienced on their way to America
d. What they experienced when they first arrived in America
e. How they adjusted to American life
f. What important contributions did they made to the American way of life
3. Have another person proofread your rough draft and make written comments. The proofreader should be
honest and make a minimum of 10 grammatical and content suggestions.
4. Prepare a 2-4 minutes oral presentation based your paper. (Use the guidelines from pages 1214-1215 in
your textbook to help you prepare.)
5. Prepare visuals (posters, memorabilia, etc.) to make your presentation more interesting.
6. Make an appointment to present your material at the Outside Independent Study program.
7. You will hand in:
a. A rough draft of your paper with your proofreader’s comments
b. A final typed copy of you paper including a properly prepared bibliography
c. Any visual material that you prepared for your presentation
ORAL READING
Prepare an oral reading 2-4 minutes long
1. You may select any reading or readings from the textbook between pages 1-521.
a. You will give a brief explanation of why you chose your selection. Why did it appeal to you? What
did it mean to you?
b. You will make your presentation with feeling. Your goal is to draw in and interest the audience with
your voice, inflection, and tone. Make the audience feel why you like this particular piece so much.
2. Make an appointment to present your material at the Outside Independent Study program.
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