John's+fantastic+summative+unit+proposal

This is quite a range of topics and genres, which works for and against you. "Counter-culture" is a sweeping discourse of those who write in protest of most anything. It might be considered a style or genre of writing, but the wide variation in genres you choose make them undefinable. Some are satirical, some diatribe, some lyrical, some dystopian. You need more focus for a unit. Beginning with Taylor Mali, you might consider genres with lyrical or expressive voice, such as poets, songwriters, slam poets, bloggers and media pundits. This would at least begin to define a genre, and it would not matter that they ranted on different subjects. It also helps students identify genres they could write in. They could also perform one of their pieces. Great concept, if you can narro w it. 18/20

John Lanphear ENGL 409 Summative Unit Proposal

**Course:** English Literature (11th / 12th grade)

**Unit:** Counter Culture and American Society:

**Texts:** (Not all of these will be used in their entirety, or even at all, they are just tentative ideas) //Farenheit 451, Animal Farm, Four arguments for the Elimination of Television Fight Club, Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail, The Night is Dark and I am Far from Home,//select writings from Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Lawrence Ferlinghetti

(Absolutely to be used) Selected works from Taylor Mali.

**Form:** Thematic

**Purpose:**
 * To expose students to writing and writers that they would not be exposed to in other classes
 * To bring light to writers that have been pushed down by society as being 'too controversial'
 * To bring light to other styles of writing

**Essential Questions:** What makes the writing we are looking at 'counter culture?' What is counter culture? What would cause some of these books, poems, etc. to be banned in schools? Should they be censored? Does schools banning these works for being 'subversive' and 'controversial' go against our First Amendment rights?

**Unit Questions:** How are all of the writing selections related? How are they different? What makes them counter culture?

**Assessments:** Several short essays 2 long essays Several short answer formative assessments