From Then to Now

Exploring American Literature of the 1900s

Summary: For this project, you will be exploring one of the many literary genres that took place
in the United States from 1900 to present day. You will be required to read one example text
from the literary genre/period which you choose, make regular discussion posts to our literature
review platform, and team up with other students to create a final project about your literary
genre/period. Below are the due dates for your submissions and a brief summary of what each
submission entails:

Assignments By Date:

Submission Description Point Total Due Date

Choose a literary genre/

period from the Choice
Options Bank and write
Discussion Post:
a 150-200 word 10 May 5, 2017
Choosing a Topic
reflection about why you
chose this literary
period/genre

Choose a book from

your chosen literary
Discussion Post: period and write a
10 May 8, 2017
Choosing a Book 150-200 word reflection
about why you chose
this book.

Write a 300 word

reflection on one
resource that is about
your chosen period/
Reading Reflection: genre. This resources
10
Time, Place, and must inform you about May 10/11, 2017
Meaning the time, place, and
cultural significance of
your literary period/
genre.

Write a 300 word

reflection summarizing
what has happened in
Reading Reflection: your book so far. Please
20 May 15, 2017
Update #1 make connections
between your book and
its genre/period of
literature.
 Submission Description Point Total Due Date

Write a 150-200 word

Reading Reflection: reflection about your
10 May 17/18, 2017
POV, Mood, and Tone books Point of View,
Mood and Tone.

Write a 300 word

reflection summarizing
what has happened in
Reading Reflection: your book so far. Please
20 May 22, 2017
Update #2 incorporate information
from at least one other
resource about your
literary period/genre.

Write a 150-200 word

Reading Reflection: reflection about your
10 May 24/25, 2017
Conflict and Plot understanding of conflict
and plot in your book.

Write a 300 word

reflection summarizing
what has happened in
Reading Reflection: your book so far. Please
20 May 29, 2017
Update #3 incorporate information
from at least one other
resource about your
literary period/genre.

See guidelines for final

Final Presentation 60 May 31-June 2, 2017
presentation.
 Choosing A Topic
Read the following introductions to the literary periods that we will be exploring throughout this
unit. Let these snippets of information develop your interests and guide your research into one
of the following literary periods. Remember, this will be your final choice, so feel free to
communicate with the instructor should you have any questions or need help deciding. You will
be grouped with other students whom have chosen the same topic.

Modernism (1914-1945)
Modernism began as an extension of realism, but made efforts to break with literary and poetic
traditions. Authors of this era were bold and experimental in style; an example of this being the
stream of consciousness. Commonly dealing with the struggles of individuals, modernist
literature can seem bleak, but is characterized by the optimistic belief that people can change
the world around them.

Lost Generation, Jazz Age, Roaring 20s & The Harlem Renaissance (1917-1937)
Alongside modernism, African American culture in Harlem, New York was flourishing. Much of
the style derived from poetry rhythms based on spirituals, jazz lyrics on the blues, and the use
of slang in everyday diction. These influences intersected with prohibition, reactions to WWI,
and the sultry nightlife of the big city to produce an energetic progressive culture.

Contemporary/Postmodernism (1950-Present)
Literature since WWII has been heavily influenced by studies of media, language, and
information technology. It rejects the idea that anything is truly unique, proposing that culture
endlessly duplicates itself. Postmodern literature especially is marked by irony in the form of
parody, unreliable narrators, absurdity, self-awareness, and deconstruction. Postmodernist
literature frequently reminds the audience that they are reading a work of fiction or supply other
meta commentary. New literary forms and techniques focused on intense dialogue, blending
fiction with nonfiction, and the overall appearance of the work.

Beat Generation (1950-1965)

The Beat Generation was a small group of authors whose literature explored and influenced
American culture in the post-World War II era. The Beats were against the prudery of their
parents generation and promoted sex and sexuality as healthy topics of discussion. Beat
hipsters defied modest America with their hedonistic bohemianism and celebration of
nonconforming creativity.

Into the 21st Century: Protest and Justice

Everyone is troubled by injustices great and small. When injustice or unfairness is part of the
basic fabric of a society, however, it may take a social revolution to change things. This unit
explores issues such as Segregation, Integration, Black Power, Women and other marginalized
groups within American society.

Into the 21st Century: Nature and Technology

Americans today are living through events that have the potential to fundamentally change the
way we will live for years to come. Among the most basic of these are long-range changes to
the natural environment as a result of industrialization and the revolution in communications
created by modern technology, including computers. This unit will explore subtopics such as the
Environmental Movement, Responding to Nature, and The Information Age.
 Your Final Product

Summary: Your final project for English 11 will be in the form of a group presentation of
information. This presentation should provide your classmates with an in-depth investigation of
this literary period, its key authors, and the impact that it made on society. Throughout the
research process for this project, you have been reading about, analyzing, and interpreting the
impacts made by one period within America Literature. It is now your time to display your
knowledge. You may chose any of the platforms listed below to present your information;
however, you must answer all the big questions within this presentation.

Choice of Presentation:

Prezi Create a prezi about your literary period that includes a voice-over narrative of your
presentation. This prezi should include your answers to the Big Questions, as well as any
information that you feel is applicable.

YouTube Film your own presentation of information. Hold a readers theater conference,
put on an improvisational news show, or present your information in a new and creative way.
This video is open to your complete creative capacity, so long as it includes answers to the Big
Questions.

Class Lecture (PowerPoint) Put together a lesson plan for how to teach your classmates
about the literary period of your choice. This lesson plan must include a visual aide (powerpoint)
that conveys the major elements of your lesson plan.

Website Design (Weebly) Build a website (Weebly) that conveys the information youve
acquired about your literary period. This website must answer the Big Questions and include
visual elements that are both stimulating to the viewer and relative to the content that you are
presenting.

The Big Questions:

When did this literary period take place?

Who were the leading authors that contributed to this literary period?
What common settings, themes, conflicts, and other literary characteristics glue the authors from
this literary period together?
How is your choice reading book an example of this literary period?
What impact did this literary period have on society and the world?