English III

English III Course Curriculum

English III offers a comprehensive exploration of American literature, from colonial times to contemporary works. This course aims to deepen students’ appreciation and understanding of American cultural heritage through literary examination.

Students will explore a wide range of genres including novels, short stories, poems, essays, and plays written by American authors. They will learn to analyze the rhetorical and literary devices used by these authors, and to understand their works in historical and cultural context. Themes studied will include identity, freedom, equality, and the American Dream, among others.

In addition to in-depth literary study, students will continue to develop advanced writing skills. They will learn to write effective analytical essays, research papers, and responses to literature. The course will emphasize refining students’ written and verbal communication skills, including grammar, vocabulary, clarity, coherence, and persuasive rhetoric.

English III will build upon the critical thinking and analytical skills developed in previous English courses and apply them to the unique body of American literature. Students will finish the course with a deep understanding of the way literature reflects and shapes American culture.

Semester 1 (0.5 Credits )

  • Explore a variety of texts from early American literature, including Native American oral stories and Puritan writings.
  • Understand the historical and cultural contexts that influenced early American literature.
  • Analyze literary devices and themes in early American literature.
  • Discuss how early American literature reflects the values and experiences of its time.
  • Write analytical responses to texts, using evidence from the text to support arguments.
  • Understand the key characteristics and authors of American Romanticism and Transcendentalism.
  • Analyze the themes of individualism, nature, and freedom in Romantic and Transcendentalist works.
  • Interpret the use of symbolism, metaphor, and other literary devices in texts from this period.
  • Explore the historical and cultural contexts that shaped Romantic and Transcendentalist literature.
  • Develop written responses that critically analyze texts from these movements.
  • Understand the key features and major authors of Realism and Naturalism in American literature.
  • Analyze how these literary works reflect societal changes and issues during the post-Civil War era.
  • Explore themes such as industrialization, urbanization, and the human condition in a rapidly changing society.
  • Interpret the use of elements like character development, setting, and plot in the context of Realist and Naturalist works.
  • Compose written responses that evaluate and interpret texts from these literary movements.

Semester 2 (0.5 Credits )

  • Define and understand the key traits, themes, and authors of Modernism in American literature.
  • Analyze how Modernist literature reflected the societal shifts, cultural innovations, and multiple perspectives of the early to mid-20th century.
  • Examine particular sub-movements such as the Harlem Renaissance and emerging postmodernist trends.
  • Explore the use of fragmented narrative, stream of consciousness, and other distinct Modernist techniques in literature.
  • Create written responses to texts that critically analyze and interpret Modernist themes and techniques.
  • Explore significant works and authors of late 20th-century and early 21st-century American literature.
  • Analyze prominent themes in contemporary literature, such as identity, diversity, and societal change.
  • Examine the emergence of new narratives, forms, and genres in recent decades.
  • Study how contemporary literature reflects current societal attitudes, challenges, and technological shifts.
  • Improve on writing analytical responses to texts, using evidence to support interpretation and critique of contemporary works.
  • Refine writing skills with a focus on literary analysis, argumentative essays, and research compositions.
  • Understand the techniques for developing a clear thesis, structuring arguments, and providing effective evidence in writing.
  • Implement comprehensive revision and editing processes to improve the clarity, coherence, and sophistication of written work.
  • Observe proper citation and referencing in academic writing to uphold academic integrity.
  • Create a final written project or portfolio that showcases competence and growth in writing skills throughout the course.