Title: The Rise of Realism
Grade Levels:
9-12
Subject:
Language Arts
Learner
Outcomes: The student will
demonstrate questioning and critical thinking skills in a structured
class discussion of literary topics and/or cultural connections;
research, analyze and evaluate the influences of historical, cultural
and biographical (author) factors in shaping styles and voice of literary
works (e.g., analysis of historical documents, periodicals, and appropriate
resources;
infer implicit ideas and draw conclusions during the act of reading
(e.g., using historical journal articles or speeches).
Duration
of Lesson:
One hundred eighty minutes of class time
Materials:
Literature textbook, class notebook, pencil
Technology
Tools/ Courseware:
Internet accessible computer lab with Power
Point, or similar presentation software, Microsoft
Word or similar word processing programs, LCD panel
Teacher
Notes:
Special requirements - reserve computer lab and/or library for research;
Students should already have studied the romanticism literature of ante-bellum
America;
Procedures:
Discuss prior knowledge of the American Civil War
Have students read a brief biography of Frederick
Douglass and then his account of his
encounter with a "slave breaker."
Have students read a brief biography of Walt
Whitman and then the first fifteen pages of his Memoranda
During the War; At this site CLICK "The entire work."
Have students read a brief biography of Julia
Ward Howe and her song The
Battle Hymn of the Republic
Discuss with students the characteristics
of American realism. This file is also available in PDF
format.
Student
Activities
Handout in MS Word format or in
PDF format.
Assignment:
Readings Handout in MS Word format
or in PDF format.
Modifications:
For students with limited ability, bring attention to descriptive details
that are essential to the reading material. Make a tape recording of the
reading excerpts for the students to follow along and/or replay to aid
in comprehension. They may also benefit from a Civil War time line, outline
or chart that lists each writer and title along with a brief summary of
the content.
Students who have recently arrived from other countries will need a
brief review of the basic facts about the American Civil War. They may
be able to tell stories about civil war in countries from which they have
emigrated.
Other works of Civil War realism include Alexander Hunter's "Johnny
Reb and Billy Yank," and Stephen Crane's "A Mystery of Heroism."
Enrichment
Activities:
Students will look at the photographs and text in The Civil War,
a book based on the documentary film by Geoffrey C. Ware, Ric Burns, and
Ken Burns (Knopf, 1990).
Select reinforcement films to view.
Students will look at the photographs of Matthew
Brady who chronicled the Civil War with his camera.
Evaluation/Assessment:
Teacher observation of students' participation in discussions, sharing
of impressions and interpretations. Students' answers must reflect knowledge
and interpretation of excerpts.
State Standards:
WV IGOs
Language Arts
-
9.3, 9.6, 9.11, 9.16, 9.20, 9.29, 9.30, 9.35, 9.44, 9.51, 9.55, 9.63,
9.70, 9.75, 9.90, 9.93
-
10.12, 10.13, 10.14, 10.32, 10.35, 10.39, 10.51, 10.52, 10.55, 10.62,
10.77, 10.83, 10.88
-
11.9, 11.16, 11.27, 11.28, 11.39, 11.45, 11.49, 11.54, 11.65, 11.82,
11.94, 11.95, 11.97
-
12.8, 12.13, 12.20, 12.30, 12.37, 12.42, 12.44, 12.47, 12.53, 12.55,
12.69, 12.77, 12.82, 12.90, 12.93
West
Virginia Process/Workplace Objectives
PW.8, PW.9, PW.10, PW.13, PW.27, PW.30, PW.31
National
Standards:
National Council of Teachers
of English
Job/Career
Cluster
Humanities
References
Microsoft Encarta
TeacherLink
Resources
World Wide School
University of Virginia Electronic
Text Center
John Marshall
High School Rochester, Minnesota
The Atlantic Monthly
National Archives
and Records Administration
Date Created:
June 16, 1999
