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American Literature & Rhetoric
Robin Dissin Aufses, Renée H. Shea,
Lawrence Scanlon, Katherine E. Cordes
You told us & we listened
A unique combination of chronological and Giving students the tools to understand connections
thematic approaches to American literature. between American history and American literature.
Revolutionizing how American Highlighting voices and
literature is taught. ideas that matter.
The first readings chapter of the book is The diverse readings and innovative
Chapter 5—Redefining America: 2001 to the structure of American Literature
Present. Beginning with contemporary texts & Rhetoric show students how the
immediately engages students with timeless voices of the past connect to
themes and enduring issues—and also helps the present, inviting them to think
teachers solve the age old problem of how to critically about why those
prevent American literature from being stuck connections matter.
in the past. These readings are both urgently • Talkbacks threaded throughout
related to students’ lives, and provide solid the book pair classic and
ground to grapple with the literature of the past. challenging pieces with modern
and thought-provoking responses.
Chapter Readings Chapter Readings
5 Redefining America: 2001 to the present 8 Reconstructing America: 1865-1913
6 A Meeting of Old & New Worlds: Beginnings to 1830 9 America in the Modern World: 1913-1945
7 America in Conflict: 1830-1865 10 The Rise of a Superpower: 1945-2000
Key Context notes accompanying
most texts help young readers
navigate unfamiliar contexts that
A focus on the themes that define America. come with literature from other
All of the readings in the book connect to at least one of eight fundamental themes in American literature: time periods and provide a sense
of the bigger picture. This support
• American Ideals: Is America the Land of the Free? • The Immigrant Experience: What Is the American Dream? is key for developing readers
• American Identity: What Does It Mean to Be • Church and State: What Is the Role of Religion in and English Language Learners.
American? American Life?
• America at War: How Has Conflict Shaped America? • Nature and the Environment: Is America the Land of Plenty?
• Civil Rights in America: Liberty and Justice for All? • Prosperity and Inequality: Is America the Land of Opportunity?
