African American Literature (English 4)
Semester 1

Weeks 1 - 5:

I. Discuss the history of slavery in America.

A. Go over the timeline to see what previous knowledge students have.

1. Read the assigned pages in your text and complete the assigned questions in your notebook (pages 33 - 37) or click here to see the questions:

2. Read the selection by Olaudah Equiano in your text (beginning on p. 37)

B. Read various slave narratives printed from books and from various websites. (Some suggestions are: Frederick Douglass' autobiography; Venture Smith, Josiah Henson, Olaudah Equiano, Sojourner Truth's narrative, Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington, Our Nig by Harriet Wilson, Francis Henderson, Lewis Clarke, Charles Ball, Solomon Northrup). Click here to check out the websites:

C. Work in groups to chart the commonalities and the differences in the narratives chosen.

Click here to see the information you should cover:

1. Create a group poster with the information gathered.

2. Discuss our findings and conclusions.

3. Read a letter written by a slave to her master and discuss (click here):

D. Read and discuss Angelina Grimke Weld's speech at Pennsylvania Hall.

E. Take 50 Question Electronic Quiz on this unit.

Weeks 6 - 8:

II. Read Beloved by Toni Morrison (click here to see what other books we will read this year)

Click here to see notebook assignment for this novel.

A. Compare fiction with nonfiction sources.

B. Discuss techniques of backflashes, diverse narrators, etc.

C. Group final exam on the novel will involve choosing a theme and drawing a Venn diagram listing the images as they appear in the novel and then presenting this to the class.

Weeks 9 - 10:

III. Reconstruction to the Renaissance

A. Compare Booker T. Washington’s philosophy with that of W.E.B. DuBois (links to come later)

B. Read and discuss two short stories by Charles Chesnutt.

1. “The Bouquet” p. 228

2. “The Wife of His Youth” (handout)* or click here

3. “The Sheriff’s Children” (handout)* or click here

C. Read and discuss Ida B. Wells’ impact on era (link to come later)

D. Read selected poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar

Weeks 11 - 15:

IV. The Harlem Renaissance

A. Poets

1. Claude McKay

2. Jean Toomer

3. Langston Hughes

4. Countee Cullen

B. Short Story Writers

1. Rudolph Fisher

a. “Miss Cynthie”

b. “The South Lingers On” (handout)*

2. Zora Neale Hurston

a. “Sweat” (handout)*

b. “Gilded Six-Bits” (handout)*

3. Langston Hughes

a. “Cora Unashamed” (handout)*

b. “Thank You, Ma’am” (handout)*

c. Jesse B. Semple stories

C. Novelists

1. Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God

2. Nella Larsen’s Quicksand and/or Passing

Weeks 16 - 20:

V. Research Writing

A. Complete paper

B. Essays sythesizing information acquired this semester in literature.

* All can be found in digital libraries (link to come)

****Obviously, there will be written assignments as we go through this unit. Some essays will cover the reading assignments whereas others will be independent of the unit. Students are responsible for all writing assignments.

****Discussions and other group projects will also be assigned as we cover this unit. Students are responsible for their participation in these.