Intro to American Literature:

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What Does it Mean to be American?

Part 1

ELAGSE11-12RL1: Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including determining where the text leaves matters uncertain.

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ELAGSE11-12RL2: Determine two or more themes or central ideas of text and analyze their development over the course of the text, including how they interact and build on one another to produce a complex account; provide an objective summary of the text.

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ELAGSE11-12RL4: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including words with multiple meanings or language that is particularly fresh, engaging, or beautiful. (Include Shakespeare as well as other authors.)

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Standards: 11th-12th Grade English Language Arts Georgia Standards of Excellence (ELA GSE)

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What Does It Mean to be American?

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This is Freedom Work: Tugging at the Seams of American Literature

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1. What is one hope you have for American Literature? What do you wish to experience/learn from this course?

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• What is one comment or question you have after reading the article.

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• Take a look at the American Literary Timeline; which time period are you most interested in studying?

Intro to American Literature

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Part 2

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What Does It Mean to be American?

Analyzing lyrical viewpoints...

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America Song Lyrics Analysis

Directions

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• Work in groups to discuss the songs and the questions on the right.

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• Type your responses into a Word or Google Doc.

1. How is the central idea and themes of the song presented through the lyrics? (RL2, RL1)
2. How is the tone expressed through the lyrics? Is there ever a shift in tone within each individual song? How does the tone impact the message? (RL4, RL1)
3. How do the messages compare or contrast to your own views about America?
4. Identify any rhetorical/poetic devices. What is the impact of the devices? (RL4)

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American Song Lyrics Analysis

Each group should choose TWO songs to analyze. Choose one from the list of songs in black font and one from the list of songs in green font. Many of the songs are edited to a clean version. If you choose to listen to the songs, please search for a clean version.

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Intro to American Literature

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Part 3

Write 2-3 open ended deep discussion questions to ask during the Socratic Seminar.

40 min-Socratic Seminar

1. Talk to each other, not just to the discussion leader or teacher.
2. Refer to evidence from the text to support your ideas.
3. Ask questions if you do not understand what someone has said, or you can paraphrase what another student has said for clarification (“I think you said this; is that right?”).
4. You do not need to raise your hand to speak, but please pay attention to your “airtime”—how much you have spoken in relation to other students.
5. Don’t interrupt. Also try to stay on topic.
6. Don’t “put down” the ideas of another student. Without judging the student you disagree with, state your alternate interpretation or ask a follow-up question to help probe or clarify an idea.

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