English III

UNIT OVERVIEWS

 

Unit 1 The American Dream

Students read literary and informational texts about the American Dream to understand how foundational American literature treats the topic. Students express their understanding by extracting and connecting the central ideas of various texts and by arguing whether the American Dream is attainable.

 

Unit 2 The Scarlet Letter

Students read various foundational literary and informational texts to understand the role and impact religion had on the establishment of the American colonies and its continued influence throughout the formation of the American identity. Students express their understanding by evaluating the impact of symbolism, including religious symbolism, on the development of multiple themes in The Scarlet Letter. Students also research the challenges to and limits of the First Amendment.

 

Unit 3 Our Town

Students read a combination of drama, poetry, short stories, and essays to understand how authors portray the ongoing conflict between society and self. Students express their understanding of the concepts of societal expectations and individualism to evaluate whether Wilder presents a true community in Our Town.

 

Unit 4 District Designed Unit for Testing Phases

As this unit falls during the time of year that testing begins (EOC and ACT), this unit is designed to use fiction and nonfiction texts that function as a review of primary skills, while allowing time for focused test prep activities.