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Honors American Literature: Summer Units & Assignments 

Welcome to Honors American Literature! I hope that you will find this class both 
intellectually challenging and engaging.  
 
You are expected to complete the following assignments throughout the weeks of 
summer vacation. Do not wait until the last minute! A little each week will go a long 
way. Please take your time, be creative, and ask any questions that may arise. ​You 
will find all​ n
​ ecessary materials on our class website ​(M
​ sKosinski.weebly.com​).  
 
 
Directions:​ Follow the steps for each unit. All materials are available on our class 
website. Upon completion, you will email your t​ yped assignments​ to me. I am 
expecting o​ ne email for each unit​. Your subject lines should look like the 
following:  
 
● LastnameFirstname_NativeAmericanUnit 
● LastnameFirstname_PuritanUnit 
 
Assignments should be attached as a Microsoft Word document or Google Doc. 
Please ​organize the assignments using the provided steps as labels​.  
● Example: “Native American Unit - Step 2 Assignments” 
● Example: “Puritan Literature Unit - Step 3 Assignments” 
 
Due Dates & Warnings​: 
★ Both units and their assignments are due F ​ riday, August 10, 2018​.  
★ I expect you to ask questions if you are unsure or confused. 
★ Each unit is worth 15 points. Late, incomplete, and missing assignments will 
be graded accordingly. (Don’t start off the year with a “0” in the gradebook!)   
★ Please send both emails to m​ kosinski@cardinalmooney.org​. 
 
 
Enjoy your summer. May God bless and keep you. 
 
Sincerely, 
Ms. Kosinski 
 
 
 
 
 
Unit 1: Native American Literature 
Step One: Watch & Learn 
● Access the class website (mskosinski.weebly.com)  
● Watch the ​“Introduction to Native American Narratives”​ lecture video, ​“The 
Black Legend, Native Americans, and Spaniards”​ Crash Course video, and the 
Reel Injun​ (2009)​ ​trailer​. 
○ Take notes on the “Introduction to Native American Narratives” and “The Black 
Legend, Native Americans, and Spaniards” videos. You will need to apply this 
information. 
○ There will be an open-note assessment when class resumes! 
 

Step Two: Read & Write  


● Read the “​ Characteristics of Oral Narratives” handout​, and let me know if you have 
any questions. 
 
● Read the following texts: 
○ Thought.Co Article: “​ 5 Common Native American Stereotypes in Film 
and Television”​ (Available on website)  
○ “The World on the Turtle’s Back” (pages 36-45)  
○ Silko’s “Lullaby” (PDF on website)  
○ Alexie’s “Superman and Me” (PDF on website)  
 
1. Consider the R ​ eel Injun​ (2009)​ ​trailer and the ​Thought.Co article​ as you answer 
the following questions in a written reflection (​150-250 words​): 
○ Media representation refers to the ways in which the media portray 
particular groups, communities, experiences, ideas, or topics from a 
particular ideological or value perspective. In your own words, explain the 
significance of media representation. Why does it matter how people and 
topics are portrayed to the public? 
○ What did you know about Native American media representation before this 
unit? Identify at least one n ​ on-unit ​text (e.g. a book, movie, video game, etc.) 
that features Native American characters. How are these characters 
represented? What does this representation suggest or imply about Native 
Americans in general? 
○ Did the documentary trailer and the Thought.Co article influence your 
understanding of Native American media representation? Explain. 
○ Considering the different unit texts and their respective lessons, explain why 
it is important for students to read and study narratives authored by Native 
Americans. 
 
 
 
2. Provide textual evidence (i.e. quotes and specific details from the texts)​ as you 
complete the following tasks.  
a. Refer to the following unit texts: “The World on the Turtle’s Back,” 
Silko’s “Lullaby,” and Alexie’s “Superman and Me.” Explain how these 
unit texts illustrate the different “​ characteristics of oral narratives​.”  
■ Ms. Kosinski’s recommendation: Explain how at least one of the unit texts illustrates 
archetypes (archetypal characters, plots, and/or themes). Then explain how one or 
more texts use repetition. Continue this pattern until you have accounted for all of 
the characteristics (archetypes, repetition, alliteration, parallelism).  
 
b. Select ​one​ of the following unit texts: “The World on the Turtle’s Back,” 
Silko’s “Lullaby,” and Alexie’s “Superman and Me.” How does this text 
portray Native Americans and/or Native American culture? (Consider: 
Are the characters portrayed as complex individuals or as shallow 
stereotypes? Are the characters humanized or dehumanized?) Explain. 
 

Step Three: Creative Application 


➢ First, choose a favorite story!  
○ Reflect on the texts you love. You can choose a novel, a movie, a television 
show, a comic book series, a video game, etc.  
○ Identify t​ he​ ​title​ of your selected text.  
 
➢ Archetype Analysis: Explain how your selected story illustrates at least t​ wo 
different archetypes. 
○ Remember: Archetypes are recurring character types, themes, images, and 
situations.​ ​Review the list of archetypes on the “Characteristics of Oral 
Narratives” handout. (Don’t forget to r​ ead the back​ as well.) 
○ Note: There are ​numerous archetypes​. Feel free to conduct your own 
research and add to the provided list.  
○ If you have questions about archetypes, please email me for clarification.  
 
➢ Modernizing the Oral Tradition: Transform your selected story into a set of 
song lyrics or a poem. 
○ For instance, how could you turn ​Star Wars​ or T​ he Fault in Our Stars​ into a 
song/poem?  
○ Your thoughtful, well-written lyrics/poem should contain a ​ t least twelve (12) 
poetic lines​.  
○ Your poem must contain r​ epetition, alliteration, ​and​ parallelism​. 
Highlight and label​ these techniques. Please make sure these devices and 
their labels are accurate. As always, you should revise your work.  
 
 
 
Unit 2: Puritanism 
Step One: Watch & Learn 
● Access the class website (mskosinski.weebly.com)  
● Watch the following videos: “​ Introduction to Puritan Literature,”​ ​“When is 
Thanksgiving? Colonizing America,” ​and ​“Introduction to Imagery.”  
○ Take notes on each of the videos. You will need to apply this information. 
○ There will be an open-note assessment when class resumes! 
 

Step Two: Read & Write  


● Read the “​ Characteristics of Puritan Literature” handout​, and let me know if you 
have any questions. 
 
● Read the following texts: 
○ William Bradford’s O ​ f Plymouth Plantation​ ​(pages 102-110)  
○ Anne Bradstreet’s “To My Dear and Loving Husband” a ​ nd ​“Upon the 
Burning of Our House” (pages 114-119)  
○ Edward Taylor’s “Huswifery” (page 120)  
○ Jonathan Edwards’s "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" (pages 
122-129) 
 
1. Of Plymouth Plantation​ is a h
​ istorical narrative​, and these narratives are often 
shaped by the author's beliefs, values, and personal experiences. Moreover, these 
subjective influences can lead to a biased account.  
a. Define the following terms: “bias,” “subjective,” and “objective.” What does it 
mean to say an author is “biased”? What does an “objective account” mean? 
In what ways does this reading show Bradford’s bias as an author? 
b. Provide and label examples of at least​ ​three different types of imagery 
throughout the excerpt.  
 
2. Provide textual evidence (i.e. quotes and specific details from the texts)​ as you 
complete the following tasks. 
a. Explain how the unit texts illustrate each of the ​“characteristics of 
Puritan literature.”  
■ Ms. Kosinski’s recommendation: Explain how one or more texts emphasize inward 
reflection. Then explain how one or more texts focus on God and the Bible. Continue 
this pattern until you have accounted for all of the characteristics.  
 
b. Explain how​ ​faith in God influences and shapes Puritan texts. 
 
 
 
 

 
 
Step Three: Creative Application 
➢ Puritan Journal: Write a journal or diary entry that reflects the Puritan style 
and manner. 
○ Apply at least ​three​ different characteristics ​(from the “Characteristics of 
Puritan Literature” handout). 1
​ 50-250 words. 
○ At the end of your entry, write a short paragraph (2-4 sentences) explaining 
how you applied at least three characteristics of Puritan literature in your 
writing.  
 
➢ Poetic Prayer: Write a thoughtful, original prayer that incorporates the 
different types of imagery.  
○ Consider the following b​ efore writing your prayer​: 
■ What does your faith look like? What does it sound like? What does it 
smell like? What does it taste like? What does it feel like? How does it 
move? What emotions does it evoke? 
■ What do you want to tell God? What are you thankful for? What are 
you struggling with right now? Why do you need Him?  
 
○ Your well-written prayer should contain a
​ t least twelve (12) poetic lines​.  
■ Prayer: “a spiritual communion with God, as in supplication, 
thanksgiving, adoration, or confession.” 
 
■ The prayer must include t​ he ​seven​ different types of imagery​.  
● Seven Types of Imagery: Visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, 
tactile, kinesthetic, organic 
 
■ Highlight and label​ the seven different types of imagery​. 
● Please make sure these devices and their labels are accurate. 
As always, you should revise your work.  
 

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