CommonLit
Common Lit: Can We Cultivate Our Own Happiness
Martin Seligman coined the term "positive psychology" to describe his exploration of how people can improve their own happiness. In this report from 2002, ABC News explains Seligman's research and findings in the field of positive...
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Common Lit: Close Calls in u.s. Election History (2016)
Democracy and power to the people are celebrated as key American values, but sometimes democracy is more complicated than one might think. This informational text investigates some close calls in U.S. elections and what caused their...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Compliance by Saul Mc Leod
Compliance is a type of social influence where an individual conforms to a rule. Unlike obedience, there is only a request rather than an order. As you read, take notes on each of the three compliance techniques and why they work. It...
CommonLit
Common Lit: "At the Head of Her Class, and Homeless" by Npr Staff
In June 2014, NPR published this story about Rashema Melson. At the time, Melson was a homeless high school senior at Anacostia High School in Washington, D.C. She is now a student at Georgetown University. As you read, identify what...
CommonLit
Common Lit: "Can Television Be Considered Literature in English Classes?"
Movie days in the classroom are infrequent and far between, but what if teachers used television as a means of teaching? Shelby Ostergaard discusses whether or not television can be considered a form of literature and the benefits and...
CommonLit
Common Lit: "Casey at the Bat" by Ernest Lawrence Thayer
Ernest Lawrence Thayer (1863-1940) was an American writer and poet, best known for the following poem, which is considered a classic in sports-related literature. As you read, take notes on how the author develops the mood of the poem....
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Common Lit: At a Window by Carl Sandburg
Carl Sandburg (1878-1967) was an American poet and writer who won three Pulitzer Prizes in his lifetime. His work is known for the way it plays tribute to the common man. "At A Window" was published in Poetry in 1914. As you read, make...
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Common Lit: Army Eyes 3 D Printed Food for Soldiers by Aarti Shahani
Today, when most people think of a printer, they think of a laser jet printer that prints ink on paper. But thanks to new technology, engineers have developed 3D printers that can print objects-and even food. As you read, take notes...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Alter Egos
Can a person have two selves? Beyonce is also known as Sasha Fierce; Clark Kent, the newspaper reporter, transforms into Superman. The idea that a person can have "another self" is a relatively new concept. As you read about the concept...
CommonLit
Common Lit: "After Twenty Years" by O. Henry
William Sydney Porter (1862-1910) was an American writer better known by his pen name, O. Henry. "After Twenty Years," published in 1908, is one of his better known short stories that shows how complicated friendship can be. As you read,...
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Common Lit: Barack Obama's Nobel Lecture
Barack Obama served as the 44th President of the United States from 2009 to 2017. In 2009, Obama was also awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work strengthening international relations. In his acceptance speech, Obama discusses the...
CommonLit
Common Lit: A Thief Dines Out, Hoping Later to Eat in by Rick Bragg
For most people, the threat of jail is enough to convince them to abide by society's laws. But for Gangaram Mahes, the promise of jail time is what prompts his criminal activity. In this New York Times article, Rick Bragg discusses why...
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Common Lit: Apollo and Hyacinthus by Thomas Bulfinch
Thomas Bulfinch (1796-1867) was an American writer best known for his book Bulfinch's Mythology, a compilation of his earlier works. In this short story, Bulfinch retells the classic myth about Apollo, the god of music, and his affection...
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Common Lit: A Woman Who Went to Alaska by Mary Kellogg Sullivan
In Mary Kellogg Sullivan's book A Woman Who Went to Alaska, Sullivan describes her adventures in Alaska during her search for riches. Between 1896 and 1899, an estimated 100,000 people migrated to the Klondike region of the Yukon in...
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Common Lit: Conflicting News Reports on the Fate of the Sinking Titanic
The RMS Titanic was a British passenger liner that sank in the North Atlantic Ocean in the early morning of 15 April 1912, after colliding with an iceberg. More than 1,500 passengers died as a result of the ship sinking. After the ship...
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Common Lit: Autumntime by Anthony Lentini
The story "Autumntime" by Anthony Lentiniis set in a future where technology meets almost all human needs. It also provides a guided reading mode, assessment, discussion questions, and teacher's guide. [Free account registration required...
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Common Lit: A Respectable Woman by Kate Chopin
Kate Chopin (1850-1904) was an American author of short stories and novels based in Louisiana. She is considered one of the leading feminist writers of the 20th-century. This story begins with a married woman's disappointment over the...
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Common Lit: Behind Closed Doors: "Colorism" in the Caribbean by Michel Martin
In this interview, Michel Martin discusses Frances Robles's report on colorism in the Dominican Republic. Colorism is a form of prejudice based on the darkness of a person's skin color. Discrimination based on colorism often occurs...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Censorship: For the People or for Controlling the People? By Mc Birney
Censorship has, and continues to be, a highly debated topic. Some people believe that in order to secure the safety of citizens, information should be closely censored. However, many other people believe that this is a violation of...
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Common Lit: Courage in Denmark: Resistance to the Nazis in Wwii by Us Holocaust
World War II (WWII), a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945 involved more than 100 million people and over 30 countries. The Allied powers - including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union - worked together...
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Common Lit: American Justice in the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court is the highest court of the United States. It was set up by our Constitution to make important decisions about the law. This article describes how the Supreme Court works, and its impact on American justice. It also...
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Common Lit: "Alexander Hamilton" by Jessica Mc Birney
Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804) was an American political figure and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. In this informational text, Jessica McBirney discusses Hamilton's life and accomplishments, specifically his...
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Common Lit: Dance Mama Dance by Daniel Beaty
Daniel Beaty is an award-winning actor, singer, writer, and poet. His productions are known for incorporating music, movement, and words. In this poem, the speaker discusses their mother and their wish to see her dance. It also provides...
CommonLit
Common Lit: An Incredible Job: Being America's President
The President of the United States is the elected commander-in-chief who has many responsibilities that are crucial to in the safety and success of America. This informational text by USHistory.org discusses the duties of the President,...