Thursday

American Literature: TEST 1 (Texts from the Colonial Era): 70 Points

1)   What type of myth is “The World Upon the Turtle’s Back”? or “Coyote and the Buffalo”. What Iroquois beliefs does it reinforce?  Briefly summarize the myth.

2)   Outline the three sections of the Declaration of Independence.  Briefly discuss what is happening in each section (give examples).

3-5)       In the following texts, what is the author’s purpose?  Give specific examples from the texts to back up your position.

a)    “From the General History of Virginia”

b)   “Of Plymouth Plantation”

c)    “The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin”

6) What is the author’s purpose for the following texts?  What types of appeals does each author use to achieve his purpose?  Give examples.

 

a)    “Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God”

7) Briefly discuss what “The Speech in the Virginia Convention” was about.  What are some of Patrick Henry’s arguments (or claims). 

Early American Writing 1491-1800

(Native American Literature, Literature of Explorations and Early Settlement, Literature of the Puritan Experience, Literature of the American Revolution).

Unit Learning goal: Students will demonstrate knowledge of sixteenth-nineteenth century foundation works of American Literature by choosing one of the four subsections of this Unit (Native American Experience, Early Explorers and Settlers, The Puritan Experience, and Writers of the Revolution) researching and reading an additional story, essay or speech of their choice and creating a video discussing the theme and how the work fits its particular period. 

Scale/Rubric relating to learning goal:

4 – The student can create a video that explores two or more of the subsections of this unit and relate it to a theme and time period.

3 – The student can create a video that explores one of the subsections of this unit and relate it to a theme and time period.

2 – With some direction/help from the teacher the student can create a video that explores one of the subsections of this unit and relate it to a theme and time period.

1 – Even with help from the teacher the student is unable to can create a video that explores one of the subsections of this unit and relate it to a theme and time period.

Boston Tea Party - Eye Witness 

Ethan Allen and Ticonderoga 

The Iroquois Constitution

from "The Crisis" on page 248.

"Letter to John Adams" on page 262

"Letter to the Reverend Samson Occom" by Phyllis Wheatley on page 260

"from the Defense of the Constitutions" by John Adams on page 292


Remember - you will need to do the following:

1) Give An OVERVIEW of the TEXT
2) LIST a Major THEME
3) And discuss how it fits the period

It should be a video.