American Studies (English 11)
American Studies is a cross-curricular program (American Literature and Modern U.S. History) that encourages students' understanding of the American character and culture, and fosters an understanding of the development of social, political, and economic institutions of the United States. It recognizes that a basic foundation in literature and history is fundamental to understanding the uniqueness of American culture, and appreciating of evolution of the American character and American society.
In this American Literature course, students will read, analyze, and interpret various works of literature from a diverse group of American writers, while students simultaneously study the time period and culture in their Modern U.S. History course. By studying a time period and reading works produced during that time, students will gain a greater understanding of the historical context of the work, will better connect to characters and their experiences, and will develop an appreciation for the authors' life situation and motivation for writing the piece.
