This unit looks at the historical events and social issues of the 1940s through the literature of the decade, including novels, short stories, poetry, essays, letters, and newspapers. Numerous opportunities for reading, writing, listening, linguistic competency, and speaking are incorporated into the unit. Each student is required to pose a hypothesis and conduct research concerning some issue of significance that arises from the literature that is studied. Students make both a written and an oral presentation of their research. Each of the five isms has its own literature box containing appropriate documents to serve as a resource for teams of students.
Students produce both written and oral presentations of their findings and ideas.
Literary works studied in the unit include Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Melville's Billy Budd, Sailor, Hawthorne's, Dr. Heidegger's Experiment, and selected Poe short stories. Vocabulary, grammar, persuasive writing, and research are integrated into unit activities. While all four language arts strands of literature, writing, language study, and oral communication are integrated into this unit, the core of the unit involves students interacting with literature while enhancing reading comprehension and textual analysis skills. By reading the literature and engaging in shared inquiry, students should develop an awareness about the nature and importance of change, particularly as it affects people in various circumstances, times, and cultures. The literature selections, including The Secret Garden and world-class short stories by such authors as Tolstoy and Singer, serve as a basis for discussion.