Grading will emphasize form as well as content. Review of usage skills and grammar will be taught as needed to each individual class. This one semester class will include the major American authors who have contributed to short stories, poetry, prose, and drama. Full-length novels by American authors will be studied as class projects. The literature will be presented in the chronological order of our nation's history, an approach which allows the student to understand how historical events are reflected in literature.
Much emphasis is placed on class discussion.
Short essays and objective questions will be used on chapter exams. Research projects are required. This full year course intertwines a study of American Literature and the enhancement of writing skills in the areas of description, narration, exposition, and persuasion. The course structure consists of a thematic development of literature within the American nation and a connection of history and literature throughout the time periods. The composition segment works with the literary focus in that the compositions reflect a variety of ideas developed in the works.