AMERICAN LITERATURE 2013 

ENGAGING ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE HIGHER LEVEL THINKING SKILLS 

The class of American Literature   offers the students several benefits in developing reading habits and study skills. During the introductory class, I inform the students that importance of this subject and the responsibility they need to have with their daily readings.
One of theengaging  keys to motivate students to travel  in this new learning is supplementing the activities   using audios, videos, films, all kind of resources to enhance even further the richness of the sensory input.

According to Clandfield, L, There are many good reasons for using literature in the classroom. Here are a few:

"Literature is authentic material. It is good to expose learners to this source of unmodified language in the           classroom because the skills they acquire in dealing with difficult or unknown language can be used outside the class.

• Literature encourages interaction. Literary texts are often rich is multiple layers of meaning, and can be effectively mined for discussions and sharing feelings or opinions.
• Literature expands language awareness. Asking learners to examine sophisticated or non standard examples of language (which can occur in literary texts) makes them more aware of the norms of language use (Widdowson, 1975 quoted by Lazar 1993).
• Literature educates the whole person. By examining values in literary texts, teachers encourage learners to develop attitudes towards them. These values and attitudes relate to the world outside the classroom.
• Literature is motivating. 
• Literature holds high status in many cultures and countries. For this reason, students can feel a real sense of achievement at understanding a piece of highly respected literature. Also, literature is often more interesting than the texts found in coursebooks.

Nathaniel Hawthorne -The Scarlet Letter, "sin, passion and lust" .Relevant information told by Teresa Zamabrano.

The Witch Trials of Salem, mentioned by Maribel Hernandez

Emily Dickinson and her Dark romantic poetry.

Abraham Lincold and his famous speech at The Gettysburg Address, 

Students during a lesson. They proved themselves that reviewing and being attentive in class presentations, help their individual learning. 

Francias S. Fitgerald and "The Great Gatsby"