Name:
English III
Date:
#_____
Group Members:
English III: Unit 0—Introduction to American Literature Timeline
When I say “American Literature,” what do you think of? Brainstorm of ideas what of kind
of writing us Americans will write throughout the years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7BjZLNaov0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIXkVPHwN1E
History. Sometimes it may sound stuffy and boring. However, it’s important. The world we
live in has been shaped by events and people who came before us. The world we live in is
still being shaped, as we speak, by the events occurring as we speak and the people
currently living.
We understand this but often forget how our history has shaped our culture. Culture is
embodied through many different mediums, such as art, music, and literature. So, how
exactly has history shaped our culture? How has American literature developed? How have
world events influenced people? Their beliefs? Their values? How has history shaped our
literature? How have the politics and religion shaped our literature?
In order to better understand the literature and informational texts with which we will
work throughout this course, you will investigate the “periods” of American Literature
from the first settlers (and natives) through today.
American Literature Timeline Project
Your groups should be between 2-4 students each. While you may work together in
groups, each student will be held accountable for the information learned—you must take
notes in your chart from the other groups’ research
Your project must cover all of the important periods in American literature (for
example Romanticism , Realism, etc.). Your project should be colorful and insightful
including major authors of the time period with their birth and death dates, major works of
the time period, important historical occurrences of the time period, and anything else you
find relevant. Your project should be neat and full of all the important information about
American literature. This project is worth 100 points. Be as creative as possible with this
project, and be prepared to know the information on it.
Synthesize and paraphrase the information you’ve found to create a visual aide. Use clean,
easily readable, and LARGE fonts for presentation.
What to consider including:
 Dates of the time periods
 Major authors
 Major works and literary pieces
 The outlook(s) on God and nature in each time period
 The attitude(s) toward man in each time period
 Key themes, topics, and concerns in literature from each time period
 Key genres and literary forms during each time period
 Historic events of each time period that influenced the literature
Period Name
Period Dates and
Historic events of each
time period that
influenced the literature
Beginnings-1800
1800-1860
1850-1880
Major Authors
and Works
Characteristics
Outlooks and
Attitudes
Key themes, topics,
and concerns in
literature from each
time period
Key Genres and Literary
forms
1880-1910
1910-1930
1930-1960
1960-Present
4
3
2
1
Content/Facts
Facts were accurate for all events
reported on the timeline.
Facts were accurate for almost all
events reported on the timeline.
Facts were accurate for most
(~75%) of the events reported on
the timeline.
Facts were often inaccurate for
events reported on the timeline.
Fonts and
Colors/Neatness
The use of font and colors is
consistent and shows a logical
pattern. It helps organize the
material.
The use of font and colors is
consistent and shows a logical
pattern for the most part. It helps
organize the material somewhat.
The use of font and colors is
consistent , but is not used
effectively to organize.
The use of font and colors is
not consistent OR detracts
from the organization.
Dates/Historic events
An accurate, complete date has been An accurate, complete date has
included for each period and the list
been included for almost every
of historical events was thorough.
period and the list of historical
events was good.
An accurate date has been included Dates are inaccurate for the
for almost every period and the list period and/or missing for
of historical events was lacking.
several events and the list of
historical events was severely
lacking
Time Use
Classroom time was used to work on
the project. Conversations were not
disruptive and focused on the work.
Classroom time was used to work
on the project the majority of the
time, but conversations often were
disruptive or did not focus on the
work.
Student did not use classroom
time to work on the project
and/or was highly disruptive.
CATEGORY
Classroom time was used to work
on the project the majority of the
time. Conversations were not
disruptive and focused on the work.
Key authors and works An accurate, complete list of authors An accurate, complete list of
and works has been included for
each event.
authors and works has been
included for almost every event.
An accurate list of authors and
works has been included for each
event.
Authors and works are
inaccurate and/or missing for
several events.
Key themes, topics, and
concerns in literature from
each time period
An accurate, complete list of
themes/topics/concerns has been
included for each event.
An accurate, complete list of
themes/topics/concerns has been
included for almost every event.
An accurate list of
themes/topics/concerns has been
included for each event.
Themes/topics/concerns are
inaccurate and/or missing for
several events.
Key Genres and Literary
forms
An accurate, complete list of genres
and literary forms has been included
for each event.
An accurate, complete list of
genres and literary forms has been
included for almost every event.
An accurate list of genres and
literary forms has been included for
each event.
Genres and literary forms are
inaccurate and/or missing for
several events.