Contemporary Novels

Contemporary Novels is an English course where high school students will examine novels and novellas written during the twentieth century. Through creative projects and writing assignments, students will identify and analyze each novel’s themes as well as compare and contrast the novels’ treatment of common themes.

Grade:

9-12

Duration:

1 Semester

Prerequisites:

Language Arts 9


Credit:

0.5

Materials:

See in the Materials tab below

Description

For this course, students will read a set of novels and novellas that were written during the 20th Century and reflect themes common to contemporary literature, such as the ability of the human spirit to rise above seemingly-impossible circumstances. Through creative projects and writing assignments, students will identify and analyze each novel’s themes and also compare and contrast the novels’ treatment of common themes. Please note that, like most contemporary literature, the novels assigned for this course contain realistic situations and language. In addition to the novels listed, each student will read another contemporary novel of his or her choosing that the instructor must approve. MLA (Modern Language Association) documentation is required on all papers submitted.

Outline

An Introduction to the Contemporary Novel
Picture Bride, by Yoshiko Uchida
Night, by Elie Weisel
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers
The Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway
Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, by Stephen King
The Novel of Your Choice

 

Modules 1-6
Course Syllabus