Writing about US History Through Literature with IEW: Part 1 of 2 (16 Weeks)

Course Overview:
This course integrates advanced writing skills with the study of US history through literature, covering topics from pre-colonial times to the Civil Rights Movement. Students will develop skills in writing thesis statements, using MLA format, crafting persuasive essays, researching, and more, while reading books by authors of the culture or experts on the topics.

Disclaimer:
We will deal with sensitive history topics such as The Trail of Tears, Indian Removal Act, genocide, land theft, Nazi Concentration Camps, Japanese Internment Camps, and the Tulsa Race Massacre. Discussions will touch on racism and violence related to racism, enslavement, civil rights, and the Chinese Exclusion Act. We will learn to think critically about these events and, after reading about them from carefully selected literature, use them as a jumping-off point for essay writing of various types. If questions arise regarding any of these items, including Indigenous People, I will share what I do know and research from reliable sources what I do not know.

Required Textbooks:

See Behind Trees by Michael Dorris
Game of Silence by Louise Erdrich
Baby Rattlesnake by Lynn Moroney (Chikasaw Tribe)
How Chipmunk Got His Stripes by Joseph Bruchac (Eastern Tribe)
When Turtle Grew Feathers: A Folktale from the Choctaw Nation by Tim Tingle (Choctaw Tribe)
A Man Called Raven by Richard Van Camp (Alaskan Dena'ina Tribe)
Never Caught, the Story of Ona Judge: Young Reader's Edition by Erica Armstrong Dunbar
How I Became a Ghost by Tim Tingle
I Thought My Soul Would Rise & Fly by Joyce Hansen

Recommended Materials:

3-ring binder
File folders

Class Structure:

Weekly thematic video
Reading assignments
Vocabulary review and practice
Writing assignments based on IEW units
Clear writing assignment checklists
Homework submission via Google Classroom
Syllabus:

Week 1 - Unit 1

Topic: Writing an Outline - Corn/Maize
Book: See Behind Trees by Michael Dorris
Activities: Watch theme video, read assigned chapters, create an outline, review vocabulary.
Week 2 - Unit 2

Topic: Writing from Outline - Natives and Fire
Book: Game of Silence by Louise Erdrich
Activities: Watch theme video, read assigned chapters, write from outline, review vocabulary.
Week 3 - Unit 2

Topic: Indigenous People's Day
Book: Game of Silence by Louise Erdrich
Activities: Discuss Indigenous People's Day, write from outline, review vocabulary.
Week 4 - Unit 2

Topic: The Not So "New World"
Book: Game of Silence by Louise Erdrich
Activities: Discuss the concept of the "New World," write from outline, review vocabulary.
Week 5 - Unit 3

Topic: Story Sequence Chart
Book: Baby Rattlesnake by Lynn Moroney (Pawnee Tribe)
Activities: Watch theme video, read assigned chapters, create a story sequence chart, review vocabulary.
Week 6 - Unit 3

Topic: Story Sequence Chart
Book: How Chipmunk Got His Stripes by Joseph Bruchac (Abenaki Tribe)
Activities: Watch theme video, read assigned chapters, create a story sequence chart, review vocabulary.
Week 7 - Unit 3

Topic: Story Sequence Chart
Book: When Turtle Grew Feathers: A Folktale from the Choctaw Nation by Tim Tingle (Choctaw Tribe)
Activities: Watch theme video, read assigned chapters, create a story sequence chart, review vocabulary.
Week 8 - Unit 3

Topic: Story Sequence Chart
Book: A Man Called Raven by Richard Van Camp (Alaskan Dena'ina Tribe)
Activities: Watch theme video, read assigned chapters, create a story sequence chart, review vocabulary.
Week 9 - Unit 4

Topic: Summarizing a Reference - Crispus Attucks
Book: Never Caught, the Story of Ona Judge: Young Reader's Edition by Erica Armstrong Dunbar
Activities: Watch theme video, read assigned chapters, summarize a reference, review vocabulary.
Week 10 - Unit 4

Topic: Summarizing a Reference - Phillis Wheatley
Book: Never Caught, the Story of Ona Judge: Young Reader's Edition by Erica Armstrong Dunbar
Activities: Summarize a reference, review vocabulary.
Week 11 - Unit 4

Topic: Summarizing a Reference - Indian Removal Act
Book: Never Caught, the Story of Ona Judge: Young Reader's Edition by Erica Armstrong Dunbar
Activities: Summarize a reference, review vocabulary.
Week 12 - Unit 4

Topic: Trail of Tears
Book: How I Became a Ghost by Tim Tingle
Activities: Watch theme video, read assigned chapters, summarize a reference, review vocabulary.
Week 13 - Unit 5

Topic: Writing from Pictures - Trail of Tears
Book: How I Became a Ghost by Tim Tingle
Activities: Create a narrative from pictures, review vocabulary.
Week 14 - Unit 5

Topic: Underground Railroad
Book: How I Became a Ghost by Tim Tingle
Activities: Watch theme video, read assigned chapters, create a narrative from pictures, review vocabulary.
Week 15 - Unit 5

Topic: Fighting for Freedom
Book: I Thought My Soul Would Rise & Fly by Joyce Hansen
Activities: Watch theme video, read assigned chapters, create a narrative from pictures, review vocabulary.
Week 16 - Unit 6

Topic: Summarizing Multiple References - Harriet Tubman
Book: I Thought My Soul Would Rise & Fly by Joyce Hansen
Activities: Watch theme video, read assigned chapters, summarize multiple references, review vocabulary.
Homework:
Homework assignments will vary each week and will come from the student book. Assignments should be uploaded to Google Classroom before the next class for review.

Additional Notes:

This course works through units 1-9 of the structural models of the IEW syllabus.
Each lesson provides a clear writing assignment with a detailed checklist of Structure and Style requirements.
The selected books provide diverse perspectives on historical events, helping students gain a deeper understanding of US history.

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