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African American Literature
.5 Carnegie Unit
Instructor: Leteria McDonald |
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Instructor Information: I have been teaching African American Literature since 2009. I have a Masterís degree in Secondary English Education and and Masterís degree in Literacy Education from the University of Mississippi |
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Contact Information: If you have questions concerning the content of the course, you may contact the instructor directly using the email link in the "Communications & Tools" tab. NOTE: Whenever sending an email, please be sure to indicate your Course title and number in the subject line (ie, AP Art History).
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Course Description: Welcome to African American Literature! This course is designed to foster appreciation for African American Literature and its contributions to the world of literature. The content on this class will include speeches, slave narratives, poetry, plays, and stories that have contributed in establishing this genre. In this course, you will study various aspects of Africa American Literature. We will discuss several major themes that are common throughout African American Literature: The Vernacular Tradition; Literature of Slavery and Freedom; Literature from Reconstruction to the New Negro Renaissance; Realism, Naturalism, and Modernism; The Black Arts Era; and Literature since 1975. This is a reading intensive course. Along with the readings, you will be responsible for viewing any slides and listening to speeches and any music that is presented within each lesson. You will have tests, quizzes, projects, and journals. |
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Required Textbook: Gates, Henry Louis, Jr. and Smith, Valerie editors. The Norton Anthology of African American Literature. (Volume 1 & 2) Two Volume Set Norton & Company, 2014. ISBN-13: 978-0393923698 ISBN-10: 039392369X It is your responsibility as a student to order your textbook. Online textbook retailers such as Amazon.com, ABEbooks.com, or Half.com usually provide used textbooks at economical prices. You must make sure you are ordering the exact book required in this syllabus. |
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Course Objectives:
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Course Outline:This course consists of 7 units. NOTE: you must pass the Syllabus and Orientation Quiz for the course materials to appear on the Lessons page. |
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| Units | LESSON | Reading Assignments | Due for Grades | |||||||
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| Start Here | Syllabus and Orientation folder. NOTE: Once you complete the syllabus and orientation quiz, the rest of the lessons will become available to you. | Quiz | ||||||||
| 1: The Vernacular Tradition | Lesson 1 | Textbook Vol. 1: Spirituals and Gospel Songs | Journal | |||||||
| Lesson 2 | Textbook Vol. 2: Sermons and Prayers | Assignment & Quiz | ||||||||
| Lesson 3 | Textbook Vol. 1: Folktales | Journal | ||||||||
| Unit 1 quiz | Quiz | |||||||||
| 2: Slavery & Freedom | Lesson 4 | Textbook Vol. 1: Poetry | Journal & Quiz | |||||||
| Lesson 5 | Textbook Vol. 1: Autobiographies | Quizzes | ||||||||
| Unit 2 quiz and journal. | Journal & Quiz | |||||||||
| Major Project 1 | Book Report | Choose from the subjects provided and follow the required guidelines | Assignment | |||||||
| Exam 1 | Units 1 and 2
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Proctored test | ||||||||
| 3: Reconstruction to the New Negro Renaissance | Lesson 6 | Textbook Vol. 1: Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. De Bois | Quizzes & Journal | |||||||
| Unit 3 quiz | Quiz | |||||||||
| Major Project 2 | Diary or Journal | Write a diary or journal for the book you selected for the book report. | Assignment | |||||||
| 4: The Harlem Renaissance | Lesson 7 | Textbook Vol. 1: Claude McKay, Marita Bonner, Gwendolyn B. Bennett, Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, and Helene Johnson | Quizzes & Journal | |||||||
| Lesson 8 | Textbook Vol. 1: Zora Neal Hurston | Quiz & Journal | ||||||||
| Unit 4 quiz | Quiz | |||||||||
| Major Project 3 | Conversation Activity | Choose from the list of people and write a possible conversation | Assignment | |||||||
| Exam 2 | Units 3 and 4
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Proctored test | ||||||||
| 5: Realism, Naturalism, Modernism | Lesson 9 | Textbook Vol. 2: Richard Wright, Margaret Walker, and James Baldwin | Journal & Quiz | |||||||
| Unit 5 quiz | Quiz | |||||||||
| 6: The Black Arts Era | Lesson 10 | Textbook Vol. 2: Malcolm X (El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz) and Nikki Giovanni | Quiz & Journal | |||||||
| Unit 6 quiz | Quiz | |||||||||
| 7: The Contemporary Period | Lesson 11 | Textbook Vol. 2: Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, and Barack Obama | Quiz | |||||||
| Lesson 12 | Notes on Barack Obama | |||||||||
| Unit 7 quiz | Quiz | |||||||||
| Exam 3 | Units 5-7
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Proctored test | ||||||||
| Major Project 4 | Essay | Choose from one of the topics and write a 3-4 page paper. | Assignment | |||||||
| Post-test, Exit Survey | The 10-minute Post-test is in the Final Exam folder and must be completed before the final exam will appear. | To be completed before scheduling your final exam. | ||||||||
| Final Exam | Units 1 though 7. NOTE: Be sure to complete ALL unfinished assignments before you take this test! Any assignments not completed before the final is taken will receive a grade of zero. | Proctored test | ||||||||
Grading Scale: 93 - 100% = A The grading format is as follows: Journals 15% |
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