Zora Neal Hurston, Toni Morrison, and Maya Angelou are featured in a guided inquiry unit. High schoolers research the lives and works of these and other Black women writers and craft an argument, using evidence from their research, to...

Teach the importance of context and perspective with a unit focused on Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin. The first lesson considers the role of female characters and readers, including the gender expectations of the time. The...

An informational site on Harriet Beecher Stowe. Includes general information about her life, works, and writings, including Uncle Tom's Cabin. Also includes links to other sites.

Feminist and modernist, Gertrude Stein is featured in this biography for her contributions of many literary genres as well as being a mentor to many twentieth century writers. See "Gertrude Stein Activities" for related materials.

Provides a brief biography of Karen Blixen, a writer who used the pseudonym of Isak Dinesen. This biography is seperated into the stages in her life, from her time in Africa to life as a writer.

Writer Gwendolyn Brooks is presented in this biography for her contributions to African American literature. Click on "Gwendolyn Brooks Activities" for related artifacts and activities.

A good informational site on Edith Wharton. Includes general information about her life, works, and writings, including The Age of Innocence and Ethan Frome. Also includes links to other sites.

This biography focuses on the abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe, infamous for her novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and author of many other influential published works in the nineteenth century. See "Harriet Beecher Stowe Activities" for...

Detailed biography of Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888 CE) from the Dictionary of Unitarian & Universalist Biography. Contains a couple of pictures as well.

The Willa Cather Archive is a vast collection of material that allows for the study of Cather's life and writings. Included are writings, letters, biographical information, images, audio and movie clips, teacher resources, and digital...

Alice Walker is highlighted in this brief biography for her acclaimed contributions to literature, relating the struggles and triumphs of African Americans throughout history. Click on "Alice Walker Activities" for related materials.

Drawing attention to the role of women in marriages, social differences between Europeans and Americans, old money versus new, near the turn into the twentieth century we read about author Edith Wharton. Click "Edith Wharton Activities"...

Toni Morrison is featured for her ability to illustrate the idiocies of racial stereotyping through her award winning literature. See "Toni Morrison Activities" for related materials.

Grace Paley is presented in this brief biography highlighting her contributions to literature for her vivid expressions of American local-color through her writings. See "Grace Paley Activities" for related materials.

This site features a reading group guide for the book, "My Antonia," by Willa Cather. Students will benefit from the discussion questions listed in this resource.

This resource provides a wealth of information about the period of American literature from 1860-1914. There are eight good articles discussing the movements of realism, regionalism, and naturalism, the rise of black American literature,...

This colonial document was written by Sarah Kemble Knight (1666-1727 CE). It is used in classrooms today.

Sylvia Plath is featured in this brief biography for her writings which focused on her views of feminism. See "Sylvia Plath Activities" for related materials.

Brief discussion about the lack of women writers in 17th century Puritan culture.

Notes for teachers who are reading Freeman's (1852-1930 CE) stories with their students, as well as links to other authors for comparison and a bibliography of source material are all available here.

Phillis Wheatley, an African-American slave, is featured for her neoclassical poetry of pre-nineteenth century America. Click on "Phillis Wheatley Activities" for more resources.

An article on Bessie Head which gives biographical information as well as a good discussion on her writing.

Some general strategies, discussion questions & teaching information from the Heath Anthology for teachers interested in teaching Clifton's poetry.

This background essay combines biographical and literary information about the author Mary E. Wilkins Freeman (1852-1930 CE). A bibliography is included as well as a few links.