Contemporary Literature

Unit 1: Building The Base For Contemporary Literature

• Draw conclusions, infer and analyze by citing relevant and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including where the text leaves matters uncertain. (11-12.RL.1.A & 11-12.RI.1.A)
• Analyze a case in which recognizing point of view requires distinguishing what is directly stated in a text from what is implied. (11-12.RL.2.B)
• Work with peers to promote civil, democratic discussions and decision-making, set clear goals and deadlines, and establish individual roles as needed. (11-12.SL.1.A)
• Follow a writing process to produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, style, and voice are appropriate to the task, purpose and audience; self-select and blend (when appropriate) previously learned narrative, expository, and argumentative writing techniques. (11-12.W.2.A)
• Evaluate how an author’s work reflects his or her historical/cultural perspective. (11-12.RL.3.C)
• Read and comprehend informational text independently and proficiently. (11-12.RI.3.C)

Unit 2: Working With Literature Circle Elements

• Using appropriate text, determine two or more themes in a text, analyze their development throughout the text, and relate the themes to human nature and the world; provide an objective and concise summary of the text. (11-12.RL.1.D)
• Draw conclusions, infer and analyze by citing relevant and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including where the text leaves matters uncertain. (11-12.RL.1.A) & (11-12.RI.1.A)
• Evaluate the impact of the author’s choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of a text. (11-12.RL.2..D)
• Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings using context, affixes, or reference materials. (11-12.RL.1.B) & (11-12.RI.1.B)
• Evaluate how the author’s word choices and use of syntax contribute to a text’s overall meaning, tone and aesthetic impact. (11-12.RL.2.C)
• Evaluate how the author’s word choice and use of syntax contribute to a text’s overall meaning and tone. (11-12.RI.2.C)
• Read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas and poems, independently and proficiently. (11-12.RL.3.D)
• Read and comprehend informational text independently and proficiently. (11-12.RI.3..D)
• Conduct research to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; gather multiple relevant, credible sources, print and digital; integrate information using a standard citation system. (11-12.W.1..A.A)
• Follow a writing process to produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, style, and voice are appropriate to the task, purpose and audience; self-select and blend (when appropriate) previously learned narrative, expository, and argumentative writing techniques. (11-12.W.2.A)
• Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products in response to ongoing feedback, including new arguments or information. (11-12.W.3.A.E)
• Work with peers to promote civil, democratic discussions and decision-making, set clear goals and deadlines, and establish individual roles as needed. (11-12.SL.1.A)
• Respond thoughtfully to diverse perspectives including those presented in diverse media: synthesize claims made on all sides of an issue, and, when warranted, qualify or justify their own views and understanding and make new connections in light of the evidence and reasoning presented. (11-12.SL.1.C)
• Make consistent eye contact with a range of listeners when speaking, using a range of gestures or movement to emphasize aspects of speech while avoiding body language or mannerisms that might be distracting to the audience. (11-12.SL.2.B)
• Plan and deliver appropriate presentations based on the task, audience and purpose making strategic use of multimedia in presentations to enhance understanding of findings, reasoning, and evidence and to add interest conveying a clear and distinct perspective. (11-12.SL.2.C)
• Speak audibly, and to the point, using conventions of language as appropriate to task, purpose and audience when presenting including fluent and clear articulation, strategically varying volume, pitch, and pace to consistently engage listeners. (11-12.SL.2.A)

Unit 3: Genre Project

• Using appropriate text, determine two or more themes in a text, analyze their development throughout the text, and relate the themes to human nature and the world; provide an objective and concise summary of the text. (11-12.RL.1.D)
• Evaluate the impact of the author’s choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of a text. (11-12.RL.2..D)
• Evaluate how the author’s word choices and use of syntax contribute to a text’s overall meaning, tone and aesthetic impact. (11-12.RL.2.C)
• Analyze the representation of a subject in two different artistic mediums, including what is emphasized or absent in each treatment. (11-12.RL.3.A) & (11-12.RI.3.A)
• Read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas and poems, independently and proficiently. (11-12.RL.3.D)
• Follow a writing process to produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, style, and voice are appropriate to the task, purpose and audience; self-select and blend (when appropriate) previously learned narrative, expository, and argumentative writing techniques. (11-12.W.2.A)
• Organization and Content: Introduce the topic, maintain a clear focus throughout the text,and provide a conclusion that follows from the text. Achieve the writer’s purpose and enhance the reader’s understanding of and experience with the text by making choices regarding organization and content. (11-12.W.3.A.A)
• Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products in response to ongoing feedback, including new arguments or information. (11-12.W.3.A.E)
• Conduct research to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; gather multiple relevant, credible sources, print and digital; integrate information using a standard citation system. (11-12.W.1..A.A)
• Gather relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources, using advanced searches effectively; assess the strengths and limitations of each source in terms of the task, purpose, and audience; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and overreliance on any one source and following a standard format for citation. (11-12.W.1.A.B)
• Respond thoughtfully to diverse perspectives including those presented in diverse media: synthesize claims made on all sides of an issue, and, when warranted, qualify or justify their own views and understanding and make new connections in light of the evidence and reasoning presented. (11-12.SL.1.C)
• Speak audibly, and to the point, using conventions of language as appropriate to task, purpose and audience when presenting including fluent and clear articulation, strategically varying volume, pitch, and pace to consistently engage listeners. (11-12.SL.2.A)

Unit 4: Do Something

• Analyze a text in which the author’s point of view is not obvious and requires distinguishing what is directly stated from what is implied. (11-12.RI.2.B)
• Interpret visual elements of a text and draw conclusions from them (when applicable). (11-12.RL.1.C) & (11-12.RI.1.C)
• Evaluate how an author’s choices to structure specific parts of a text contribute to a text’s overall meaning and its aesthetic impact. (11-12.RL2.A) & (11-12.RI.2.A)
• Analyze a case in which recognizing point of view requires distinguishing what is directly stated in a text from what is implied. (11-12.RL.2.B)
• Analyze a text in which the author’s point of view is not obvious and requires distinguishing what is directly stated from what is implied. (11-12.RI.2.B)
• Evaluate the impact of the author’s choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of a text. (11-12.RL.2.D)
• Evaluate an author’s argument and reasoning for effectiveness, validity, logic, credibility and relevance of the evidence. (11-12.RI.2.D)
• Synthesize ideas from two or more texts about similar themes or topics to articulate the complexity of the theme. (11-12.RL.3.B)
• Synthesize information from two or more texts about similar ideas/topics to articulate the complexity of the issue. (11-12.RI.3.B)
• Word choice, syntax, and style: Choose precise language and make syntactical choices to reflect an understanding of how language functions in different contexts and enhance the reader’s understanding of the text. (11-12.W.A.B)
• Conventions of standard English and usage: Demonstrate a command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage including spelling and punctuation. (11-12.W.3.A.C)
• Use a variety of appropriate transitions to clarify relationships and connect ideas, claims and signal time shifts. (11-12.W.A.D)
• Make consistent eye contact with a range of listeners when speaking, using a range of gestures or movement to emphasize aspects of speech while avoiding body language or mannerisms that might be distracting to the audience. (11-12.SL.B)

Unit 5: A Hero’s Journey

• Draw conclusions, infer and analyze by citing relevant and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including where the text leaves matters uncertain. (11-12.RL.1.A) & (11-12.RI.1.A)
• Using appropriate text, determine two or more themes in a text, analyze their development throughout the text, and relate the themes to human nature and the world; provide an objective and concise summary of the text. (11-12.RL.1.D)
• Explain two or more central/main ideas in a text, analyze their development throughout the text, and relate the central ideas to human nature and the world; provide an objective and concise summary of the text. (11-12.RI.1.D)
• Read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas and poems, independently and proficiently. (11-12.RL.3.D)
• Speak audibly, and to the point, using conventions of language as appropriate to task, purpose and audience when presenting including fluent and clear articulation, strategically varying volume, pitch, and pace to consistently engage listeners. (11-12.SL.2.A)

Unit 6: Restricted: The Kite Runner

• Draw conclusions, infer and analyze by citing relevant and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including where the text leaves matters uncertain. (11-12.RL.1.A) & (11-12.RI.1.A)
• Using appropriate text, determine two or more themes in a text, analyze their development throughout the text, and relate the themes to human nature and the world; provide an objective and concise summary of the text. (11-12.RL.D)
• Evaluate the impact of the author’s choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of a text. (11-12.RL.2.D)
• Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings using context, affixes, or reference materials. (11-12.RL.1.B) & (11-12.RI.1.B)
• Evaluate how the author’s word choices and use of syntax contribute to a text’s overall meaning, tone and aesthetic impact. (11-12.RL.2.C)
• Read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas and poems, independently and proficiently. (11-12.RL.3.D)
• Conduct research to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; gather multiple relevant, credible sources, print and digital; integrate information using a standard citation system. (11-12.W.1.A.A)
• Follow a writing process to produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, style, and voice are appropriate to the task, purpose and audience; self-select and blend (when appropriate) previously learned narrative, expository, and argumentative writing techniques. (11-12.W.2.A)
• Work with peers to promote civil, democratic discussions and decision-making, set clear goals and deadlines, and establish individual roles as needed. (11-12.SL.1.A)
• Plan and deliver appropriate presentations based on the task, audience and purpose making strategic use of multimedia in presentations to enhance understanding of findings, reasoning, and evidence and to add interest conveying a clear and distinct perspective. (11-12.SL.2.C)

This course is offered as dual credit through University of Missouri: St. Louis.^*

* Course offerings are dependent on enrollment and instructor availability.

Download the Contemporary Literature - Dual Credit Information Sheet | Download the Contemporary Literature - Dual Credit Syllabus

Find out more information about dual credit or email [email protected] if you have questions.