AMERICAN STUDIES
You and your partners will be presenting your novel and film in an oral report that will run minimally 5 minutes per person. I expect that you will prepare carefully and will present your material clearly to the class. Each of the four members of your group should choose one of the following points to explore with regard to your book:
1. Conflict - Point out protagonist and antagonist(s) and discuss how these conflicts contribute to the effectiveness or lack of effectiveness of the plot as a whole. Choose a brief passage that illustrates one of the points that you have made regarding conflict or plot to read to the class. Please provide a one page plot synopsis (typed) of the book for Mrs. Maffetone to read to the class.
2. Relevance to Time and Place - Discuss the time and place in which your work is set. Is it historically and geographically accurate? Does it truly convey the time period? What, specifically, does the author do that transports you to this setting? What should the author have done? Choose a passage that illustrates the setting well and read it to the class.
3. Theme or Character Development - Choosing either theme or character development, explain to the class what the writer has done to make his/her character come to life, or what the writer has done to illuminate his/her view on an issue. Be very specific in your analysis of character or theme, illustrating your point with a passage or passages from the book. Please provide a brief (no more than one page) typed biography of the author for Mrs. Maffetone to read to the class.
4. Literary Elements Unique to Your Book - Discuss what makes your book unique. Is it point of view? Razor sharp characterization? Great dialogue? Overall organization? Analyze what works, illustrating your discussion with examples/passages from the book. What might be your recommendations regarding the devices the author has chosen? Does the book "work" as it is written?
You may include any type of audio-visual aids, pictures, maps, diagrams, etc., but this is not required.
Romanticism
The House of the Seven Gables - Nathaniel Hawthorne - Week of November 8 and the film The Scarlet Letter - PBS version (see Mrs. Maffetone)
Slavery
Middle Passage - Charles Johnson - Week of November
29 and the film Amistad
The Civil War
The Red Badge of Courage -
Stephen Crane - Week of January 10 and the film Glory
Regionalism
Ethan Frome - Edith Wharton - Week of January 31 and the film version
The New Century
Ragtime - E. L. Doctorow - Week of February 14 and the
film version
World War I
Johnny Got His Gun - Dalton Trumbo - Week of
February 28 and the film version
Civil Rights
Having Our Say - Sarah L. and A. Elizabeth Delany - Week of May 8 and the film The Long Walk Home
Vietnam
In Country - Bobbie Ann Mason - Week of May 1 5 and the film
version