SOCIAL LITERATURE CURRICULUM FOR PIUS X HIGH SCHOOL

RATIONALE

The Social Literature curriculum is designed to help students become aware of and sensitive to a wide variety of social issues in today's society. These issues include racism, prejudice, sexism, mental illness, women's issues, the effects of war and brutality, and use and misuse of current technology. We stress the individual's moral and Christian obligations to society.

GOALS

1. Further develop a mature understanding and appreciation of specific literature involving sensitive and controversial topics.

2. Apply the values found in literature to basic Christian values.

3. To appreciate, value, and respect the differences and struggles facing the diverse peoples of the world.

4. Analysis of the selected literature, faith and morality will be discussed as it relates to the individual reader.

OBJECTIVES

1. Students explore the literature through discussion that emphasizes the growth of their personal perceptions.

2. Students explore the literature and their own ideas through various written assignments and projects.

3. Students apply the teachings of the Church to the literature they read for a deeper understanding of their Catholic faith and their obligations to humanity.

SEMESTER ONE

Students read novels dealing with current social issues. The novels selected are:

Black Boy by Richard Wright.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Night by Elie Wiesel

A Separate Peace by John Knowles

Wise Blood by Flannery O'Connor

Various activities and assignments are completed with the reading of each novel. These include:

SEMESTER TWO

Students read novels dealing with current social issues. The novels selected are:

1. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

2. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

3. The Thanatos Syndrome by Walker Percy

4. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

5. Winds of War by Herman Wouk

Various activities and assignments are completed with the reading of each novel. These include:

ASSESSMENT

1. READING QUIZZES- Reading quizzes are used to evaluate students' understanding and completion of the assignments.

2. UNIT TESTS- Tests are used to evaluate students' comprehension of material. Both objective and subjective qualities will be used.

3. REACTION PAPERS- Evaluation is based on evidence of connecting the events of the novel and class discussion to events which affect the individual reader personally.

4. RESEARCH PROJECT- Cooperative learning groups are utilized for this project. Evaluation is based on the written report submitted, the classroom presentation , and group cooperation .

5. CLIPPING NOTEBOOK- Current articles and clippings on a designated topic are collected and organized in notebook form. This notebook also contains student thoughts and reactions to the discoveries, events, controversies presented in these articles.

6. FINAL EXAM- This exam is administered at the end of each semester. Total points are determined by the teacher.