Course: English 10 (Honors, College Prep, General)
In addition to a study of skills in composition, vocabulary, and grammar, this course offers students a broad understanding of American
literature periods arranged chronologically, the material ranging from traditional to contemporary.
Big Ideas and Enduring Understandings
American Literature:






Speaks to the human condition
Examines the values, beliefs, history, and culture of a society
Explores the conflicts that shape our nation
Depicts the willingness of Americans to face challenges and explore the unknown
Chronicles the optimism of the American spirit
Showcases the diversity of the American landscape
Unit 1: Romanticism and Transcendentalism (1800 – 1849)
Standards
Essential Questions
RL
 What themes are particularly
RL.9-10.1, RL.9-10.2,
American?
RL.9-10.3, RL.9-10.4,
 How does the geography of the
RL.9-10.5, RL.9-10.6,
United States affect American
RL.9-10.7, RL.9-10.9,
RL.9-10.10
literature?
 How does early American
W
literature reflect the beliefs and
W.9-10.1, W.9-10.2,
culture of a time period?
W.9-10.3, W.9-10.4,
W.9-10.5, W.9-10.8,
W.9-10.9, W.9-10.10
SL
SL.9-10.1, SL.9-10.2,
SL.9-10.3, SL.9-10.4
L
L.9-10.1, L.9-10.2, L.910.3, L.9-10.4, L.9-10.5,
L.9-10.6
Skills
Students will determine a
theme or central idea of a
text and analyze in details its
development over the
course of a text. Students
will also identify and analyze
literary devices, elements of
author’s craft, structure, and
characteristics of
Romanticism and
Transcendentalism as
presented in short stories,
poetry, and nonfiction
through class discussions,
informal and formal written
responses, and other
assessments such as tests,
essays, or projects.
Approximate Time Frame: 8-9 Weeks
Content
Vocabulary
Fiction
 Literary elements:
“The Devil and Tom Walker”
Character, dialogue,
“The Monkey’s Paw”
plot, conflict, setting,
“Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment”
theme, point of view
“Saint Agnes Sends the Golden
 Structure:
Boy”
Exposition, rising
selected poetry by Henry
action, climax, falling
Wadsworth Longfellow and
action, resolution
Edgar Allan Poe
(denouement)
 Elements of author’s
Nonfiction
craft: Irony,
“The Story of the Times”
foreshadowing,
Excerpts from Pilgrim at Tinker
flashback,
Creek, Nature, Self-Reliance, and
symbolism, voice,
Walden
style
Selected images from print and
 Vocabulary may be
addressed in context
excerpts from documentaries
and/or the
Vocabulary
Workshop text
Unit 2: Realism, Naturalism, Regionalism (1850 – 1914)
Standards
Essential Questions
RL
 What themes are particularly
RL.9-10.1, RL.9-10.2, RL.9American?
10.3, RL.9-10.4, RL.9-10.5,
RL.9-10.6, RL.9-10.10
 How does the geography of the
United States affect American
RI
literature?
RI.9-10.1, RI.9-10.2, RI.910.3, RI.9-10.4, RI.9-10.5,
 How does literature express the
RI.9-10.6, RI.9-10.10
shared qualities of the beliefs
and cultures of a time period?
W
W.9-10.1, W.9-10.2, W.9 How did the Civil War,
10-4, W.9-10.10
Westward Expansion, and the
S
Industrial Revolution impact
SL.9-10.1., SL9-10.4, SL.9nineteenth century literature?
10.6
 How did the use of dialect and
regional speech patterns affect
L
L.9-10.1, L.9-10.2, L.9-10.4,
American literature?
L.9-10.6
Unit 3: Modernism (1914 – 1946)
Standards
Essential Questions
RL
 What themes are particularly
RL.9-10.1, RL.9-10.2, RL.9American?
10.3, RL.9-10.4, RL.9-10.5,
 How does literature express the
RL.9-10.6, RL.9-10.10
shared qualities of the beliefs and
RI
cultures of a time period?
RI.9-10.1, RI.9-10.2, RI.9
What
does the American Dream
10.3, RI.9-10.4, RI.9-10.5,
RI.9-10.6, RI.9-10.10
encompass?
 How are people transformed
W
through their relationships with
W.9-10.1, W.9-10.2, W.910-4, W.9-10.10
others?
 How has the concept of the
S
American dream changed over
SL.9-10.1., SL9-10.4, SL.9time?
10.6
 What limitations and
L
opportunities exist for individuals
L.9-10.1, L.9-10.2, L.9-10.4,
striving to succeed?
L.9-10
Skills
Students analyze how
complex characters develop
over the course of a text,
interact with other
characters, and advance the
plot or develop the theme.
Students also identify and
analyze literary devices,
elements of author’s craft,
and structure as presented
in a novel, short stories, and
nonfiction through class
discussions, informal and
formal written responses,
and other assessments such
as tests, essays, or projects.
Skills
Students analyze how an
author’s choices concerning
how to structure a text,
order events within it, and
manipulate time create such
effects as mystery, tension,
or surprise. Students also
analyze a particular point of
view or cultural experience
reflected in a work.
Approximate Time Frame: 8-9 Weeks
Content
Vocabulary
Fiction
 Literary elements:
The Adventures of Huckleberry
Character, dialogue,
Finn (H and CP)
plot, conflict, setting,
Of Mice and Men (CP)
theme, point of view
The Old Man and the Sea (G)
 Structure:
“An Episode of War” (CP)
Exposition, rising
“An Occurrence at Owl Creek
action, climax, falling
Bridge” (CP)
action, resolution
(denouement)
Nonfiction
 Elements of author’s
“The Story of the Times”
craft: Irony,
The Boys’ Ambition from Life on
foreshadowing,
the Mississippi
flashback,
Selected images from print and
symbolism, satire,
voice, style
excerpts from documentaries
 Vocabulary may be
addressed in context
and/or the
Vocabulary
Workshop text
Approximate Time Frame: 8-9 Weeks
Content
Vocabulary
Fiction
 Literary elements:
The Great Gatsby (H and CP)
Character, dialogue,
Of Mice and Men (G)
plot, conflict, setting,
theme, point of view
Nonfiction
 Elements of author’s
“The Story of the Times”
craft: Irony,
Selected images from print and
foreshadowing,
excerpts from documentaries
flashback,
symbolism, voice,
style
 Vocabulary may be
addressed in context
and/or the
Vocabulary
Workshop text
Unit 4: Post-Modernism (1946 – Present)
Standards
Essential Questions
RL
 How does a playwright develop
RL.9-10.1, RL.9-10.2, RL.9ideas differently than an author
10.3, RL.9-10.4, RL.9-10.5,
RL.9-10.6, RL.9-10.10
of prose?
 How does literature express the
RI
shared qualities of the beliefs
RI.9-10.1, RI.9-10.2, RI.910.3, RI.9-10.4, RI.9-10.5,
and cultures of a time period?
RI.9-10.6, RI.9-10.10
 How are people transformed
through their relationships with
W
W.9-10.1, W.9-10.2, W.9others?
10-4, W.9-10.10
 How do individuals develop
S
values and beliefs?
SL.9-10.1., SL9-10.4, SL.9 When is it appropriate to
10.6
challenge the beliefs or values
of society?
L
L.910.1, L.9-10.2, L.9-10.4, L.9- 
What happens when belief
10.6
systems of societies and
individuals come into conflict?
* Independent Reading – One per Semester
Skills
Students will identify and
analyze elements of drama
and author’s craft, while
analyzing the representation
of a subject or a key scene in
different artistic mediums,
including what is
emphasized or absent in the
varying treatments.
Approximate Time Frame: 8-9 Weeks
Content
Vocabulary
Fiction
 Dramatic elements:
The Crucible (CP and G)
Character, dialogue,
A Streetcar Named Desire (CP)
plot, conflict, setting,
theme, point of view
Nonfiction
monologue, aside,
“The Story of the Times”
dramatic plot
Selected images from print and
structure, stage
excerpts from documentaries
directions,
 Elements of author’s
craft: Irony,
foreshadowing,
flashback,
symbolism, voice,
style, allusion
 Vocabulary may be
addressed in context
and/or the
Vocabulary
Workshop text