American Literature

US History & American Literature are stand-alone courses that operate independently.  However, the courses have been designed with a common guiding question (How does America strive for justice throughout the nation’s history?) and common vocabulary relating to the five American ideals (Liberty Democracy Opportunity Equality Rights) that help students understand both history and literature, and ultimately, American society, more fully.  In American Literature, we examine contemporary and historical texts side by side to make connections across social, historical, and political issues throughout the nation's history.  Both courses intentionally highlight perspectives that are often sidelined in U.S. History and American Lit classes, giving students opportunities to encounter a variety of perspectives and see the true diversity of our nation. Through these courses students are exposed to the ways America strives for justice, helping them to become open-minded citizens capable of seeing the complexity of issues in American society.

This course explores what it means to be an American and how literature reflects a complex intersection of social, historical, economic, and cultural forces that shape the United States. As we consider diverse American communities and experiences, we interrogate the meaning of “America” itself: What are the American ideals, and how have American writers commented on the quest to meet these ideals? Our work together covers a core group of literary texts — fiction, poetry, drama, and literary nonfiction — and focuses on improving students’ skills in writing, reading, critical thinking, and speaking.  The course offers rigorous classroom engagement with a minimal workload outside of class.  Instruction is structured and differentiated to support diverse learners.