Writing Assignment Design
Context
The writing assignment is called American Identity. Through this assignment, you will explore the changing views of the American people during the 19th century, around the time of the Civil War. Specifically, you will look at one poem by Walt Whitman called "I Hear America Singing." It was during this time that writers began to focus on the simple lives of the working class rather than the "intellectuals" (ex. Emerson's writings included references to works that middle and upper class citizens would understand, but not the working class). This transition from Trascendentalism and Romanticism to Realism was the result of the need to understand reality. Reality during this time was the Civil War where many were trying to come to terms with religion, science, politics, etc. The people did not want idealized versions of life that Romantic authors provided, or the reliance on the idea of the individual and self-realization from Transcendentalism.
Freewrite:
· Read “I Hear America Singing” by Walt Whitman
I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,
Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong,
The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,
The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck,
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he stands,
The wood-cutter's song, the ploughboy's on his way in the morning, or at noon intermission or at sundown,
The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work, or of the girl sewing or washing,
Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else,
The day what belongs to the day--at night the party of young fellows, robust, friendly,
Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.
· Respond in your daybook to the poem using one of the following:
o Write a letter to the author about what you have read concerning his ideas about what it means to be an American
o Compare the ideas you have learned from the reading that you have done to the ideas expressed by a person who would
disagree.
o Write your own poem mimicking the style of the author about the American people today.
o Write a dialogue between you and Whitman discussing the American people today.
o Make a small collage that represents the poem and your ideas of what it means to be American. Write 1 paragraph
explanation of the collage.
Assignment: American Identity
Whitman once said, “The genius of the United States is not best or most in its executives or legislatures, nor in its ambassadors or authors or colleges, or churches, or parlors, nor even in its newspapers or inventors, but always most in the common people.” He believed the simple life of the working class was a true representation of the American people and the American Dream. In the 21st century, do we have a different idea about what makes us American or is it the same as Whitman’s? Your assignment is to compare and contrast Whitman’s American and the 21st century American.
Week 1
Daybook Thinking: Concentrate on the following questions as they apply to the poem and to your personal views about the American people. Write down any other ideas or questions you may have as you are thinking about the poem and your personal views.
· Are there people who are excluded from or misrepresented in Whitman’s poem?
· Does Whitman’s poem accurately describe the American people today? Explain
· How would you describe the people living in the United States and how does your description compare to or counter Whitman’s ideas?
· How would you want to be represented if Whitman was alive today to rewrite the poem?
Week 2
Using the ideas from your daybook thinking, begin drafting your essay. Compare and contrast Whitman’s poem to your personal views about being an American in the 21st century. This final essay will be a minimum of 2-3 pages. You will also write a short reflection letter explaining any problems you had completing the assignment, what you feel confident about, and what you learned from this process.
Due Date
Discussion with the teacher about your process work and final product. Your final grade will be based on the following assessment:
· Read “I Hear America Singing” by Walt Whitman
I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,
Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong,
The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,
The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck,
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he stands,
The wood-cutter's song, the ploughboy's on his way in the morning, or at noon intermission or at sundown,
The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work, or of the girl sewing or washing,
Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else,
The day what belongs to the day--at night the party of young fellows, robust, friendly,
Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.
· Respond in your daybook to the poem using one of the following:
o Write a letter to the author about what you have read concerning his ideas about what it means to be an American
o Compare the ideas you have learned from the reading that you have done to the ideas expressed by a person who would
disagree.
o Write your own poem mimicking the style of the author about the American people today.
o Write a dialogue between you and Whitman discussing the American people today.
o Make a small collage that represents the poem and your ideas of what it means to be American. Write 1 paragraph
explanation of the collage.
Assignment: American Identity
Whitman once said, “The genius of the United States is not best or most in its executives or legislatures, nor in its ambassadors or authors or colleges, or churches, or parlors, nor even in its newspapers or inventors, but always most in the common people.” He believed the simple life of the working class was a true representation of the American people and the American Dream. In the 21st century, do we have a different idea about what makes us American or is it the same as Whitman’s? Your assignment is to compare and contrast Whitman’s American and the 21st century American.
Week 1
Daybook Thinking: Concentrate on the following questions as they apply to the poem and to your personal views about the American people. Write down any other ideas or questions you may have as you are thinking about the poem and your personal views.
· Are there people who are excluded from or misrepresented in Whitman’s poem?
· Does Whitman’s poem accurately describe the American people today? Explain
· How would you describe the people living in the United States and how does your description compare to or counter Whitman’s ideas?
· How would you want to be represented if Whitman was alive today to rewrite the poem?
Week 2
Using the ideas from your daybook thinking, begin drafting your essay. Compare and contrast Whitman’s poem to your personal views about being an American in the 21st century. This final essay will be a minimum of 2-3 pages. You will also write a short reflection letter explaining any problems you had completing the assignment, what you feel confident about, and what you learned from this process.
Due Date
Discussion with the teacher about your process work and final product. Your final grade will be based on the following assessment: