Need an extra challenge for your best readers? Check out a unit that uses Hannah Webster Foster’s epistolary novel, The Coquette, published in 1797, as the anchor text. The resource is packed with project ideas; each with its...

“The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” is famous, in part, because it established a uniquely American form of humor. For this famous story, Mark Twain combines the tall-tale, the dialect story, and satire. Here is a resource...

Learners read and analyze William Faulkner's novel, 'As I Lay Dying.' They define Faulkner's place in American literary history, describe Faulkner's "South" in the context of the historical South and examine the Bundren family through...

Students explore the use of voice and title in William Faulkner's, "As I Lay Dying". They identify and discuss the use of image, symbols and narrative voice in the story.

Here is a complex lesson plan that interweaves the history of the Jim Crow South and the Great Migration with the study of poetry, art, and blues music from the Harlem Renaissance. The plan helps young historians develop a deep...

The Great Gatsby has become one of the most iconic novels in American literature. An eBook allows readers to access the full text of the novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald. With the original words and paragraph breaks intact, new...

Is Steve Harmon innocent or guilty? Examine the evidence with a worksheet based on Monster by Walter Dean Myers. As kids read the book, they note particular passages that they believe indicate whether or not Steve committed the crime.

To begin this lesson, the instructor will present a PowerPoint detailing the genres of Romanticism, Realism, and Naturalism. Learners will follow along with an instructional sheet that will aid in the identification of setting, tone,...

Tenth graders read "Beloved" by Toni Morrison. In groups, they research the life and works of Morrison and read a speech by Sojouner Truth. Using the novel, they discuss the experiences of slaves and the effect of slavery on their...

Young scholars examine Nathaniel Hawthorne's style of humor and compare it to other humorists. They discuss the purpose of literary humor and determine how it develops characters and plots in stories. They analyze the use of different...

Data from the 1880 and the 1900 Censuses, and how these relate to the lives of Almanzo and Laura Ingalls Wilder, are presented here. There are also ideas for teaching using primary sources.

This resource from the Circle Association at the University of Buffalo gives background on the origins of the Harlem Renaissance and highlights its most famous authors.

This site from Bibliomania contains the full and complete text to Francis Bret Harte's story, The Outcasts of Poker Flat.

This site from the Arlington National Cemetery has information about Dashiell Hammett and his service as a sergeant in the Army. Includes great biographical information along with several helpful pictures of this sergeant and author.

In this lesson plan, students will consider "Jack London's The Call of the Wild: "Nature Faker"?." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.

In this lesson plan, students will consider "John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath": The Inner Chapters." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.

The textbook entitled Teaching Literature to Adolescents, 2nd Edition contains activities links for American Literature. Intended for teachers and students, this site contains web links that provide many ways to assist and assess...

This site provides a concise biography of Haley, the video [12:28] "Alex Haley Interview Roots (Merv Griffin Show 1977)" and links to six of his books.

This site features lesson plans for several of John Steinbeck's books. Not surprisingly, most resources relate to "The Grapes of Wrath."

Discover more about the life and work of Amy Tan. This site features links to lesson plans and activities for the book "The Joy Luck Club."

Discover writer James Thurber through this comprehensive site. This resource features links to lesson plans and activities for "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" and some of his other stories.

Discover a world beyond "The Glass Menagerie," when you visit this site featuring links to lesson plans for this work. This site also features links to information on the life and work of Tennessee Williams.

Discover more about the life and work of the author Edith Wharton when you visit this resource. This site features several links to lesson plans, biographical information, teaching guides, reviews, and more.

This is the complete text of the novel Devil's Ford by Bret Harte.