United States · Common Core State Standards
11th Grade English Language Arts
This course explores the evolution of American identity through a rigorous analysis of foundational documents, classic literature, and contemporary media. Students develop advanced skills in rhetorical analysis, argumentative writing, and synthesis to prepare for college level communication.
Foundations of American Rhetoric
Students analyze how early American writers used persuasive techniques to define a new national identity and political philosophy.
An examination of ethos, pathos, and logos in the speeches and pamphlets that sparked the American Revolution.
Analyzing the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution as living documents with enduring literary merit.
Developing the ability to summarize complex arguments and synthesize multiple perspectives into a coherent claim.
Romanticism and the Individual
This unit focuses on the shift from reason to intuition and the exploration of the dark and light sides of the human psyche.
Exploring the works of Emerson and Thoreau to understand the philosophical roots of American individualism.
Analyzing how Poe and Hawthorne use symbolism and mood to explore themes of guilt, sin, and madness.
Comparing the styles of Whitman and Dickinson to see how they revolutionized American poetry.
Realism and the Changing Nation
Students examine how writers responded to the Civil War and industrialization by moving toward grit and social commentary.
Reading slave narratives and abolitionist texts to understand the power of personal testimony.
Analyzing how writers used dialect and local customs to preserve regional identities during a time of national expansion.
Studying the influence of Darwinism and sociology on writers who portrayed life as a struggle against indifferent forces.
Modernism and the Lost Generation
An investigation into the fragmentation of traditional forms and the search for meaning in a post war world.
A deep dive into Fitzgerald's masterpiece to explore themes of class, wealth, and the corruption of ideals.
Celebrating the explosion of African American art and literature and its impact on the American canon.
Examining stream of consciousness and non linear narratives in the works of Faulkner and Hemingway.
The Power of Argument
Students master the art of debate and argumentative writing by analyzing contemporary issues and historical speeches.
Evaluating the credibility and bias of various media sources in the digital age.
Learning to build a logical case using claims, evidence, and counterarguments.
Practicing the vocal and physical techniques required for effective oral communication.
Contemporary Voices and the Future
Exploring diverse perspectives in modern literature and conducting a major independent research project.
Analyzing how contemporary writers use irony, metafiction, and pastiche to challenge the nature of truth.
Examining how modern authors explore intersections of race, gender, and culture in a globalized world.
Students conduct an in depth inquiry into a literary or linguistic topic of their choice.