Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Gothic Undercurrents: Nathaniel Hawthorne

For Students 9th - 10th
Nathaniel Hawthorne is featured in this brief biography highlighting his Puritan family background which inspired his thought provoking writings of the nineteenth century. Click on "Nathaniel Hawthorne Activities" for related resources.
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Regional Realism: Kate Chopin

For Students 9th - 10th
The realistic writings depicting the cultures of Louisiana in the late nineteenth century are featured in this brief biography of fictional author Kate Chopin. See "Kate Chopin Activities" for related materials.
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Spirit of Nationalism: Benjamin Franklin

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a brief biography of businessman, politician, scientist, and author Benjamin Franklin. Click "Benjamin Franklin Activities" for related materials.
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Modernist Portraits: Gertrude Stein

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Masculine Heroes: James Fenimore Cooper

For Students 9th - 10th
This brief biography of James Fenimore Cooper highlights his life as an author who was able to incorporate politics, wilderness and Native Americans into fictitious novels. Click on "James Fenimore Cooper Activities" for related materials.
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Spirit of Nationalism: Thomas Jefferson

For Students 9th - 10th
Arguably one of the most accomplished American in history, this brief biography features Thomas Jefferson and his written contributions to American literature. Click "Thomas Jefferson Activities" for related materials.
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Modernist Portraits: F. Scott Fitzgerald

For Students 9th - 10th
This brief biography of F. Scott Fitzgerald draws on his ability to realistically portray life during the "Jazz Age," a phrase coined by Fitzgerald. "F. Scott Fitzgerald Activities" offers related materials.
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: The Search for Identity: Toni Cade Bambara

For Students 9th - 10th
Toni Cade Bambara is featured in this brief biography for her ability to combine and advocate for both feminism and black minorities through her literature. See "Toni Cade Bambara Activities" for related resources.
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Modernist Portraits: Ernest Hemingway

For Students 9th - 10th
Drawing on the monstrosities of World War I, Ernest Hemingway presents male characters persevering through many difficult circumstances in his works, as highlighted in this biography. See "Ernest Hemingway Activities" for more resources.
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Spirit of Nationalism: Ralph Waldo Emerson

For Students 9th - 10th
This features a brief biography of Ralph Waldo Emerson, an optimistic Transcendentalist author who's personal life was filled with tragedy. See "Ralph Waldo Emerson Activities" for related materials.
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Charlotte Perkins Gilman

For Students 9th - 10th
Charlotte Perkins Gilman's writing career is featured in this brief biography. Click "Charlotte Perkins Gilman Activities" for related resources.
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Migrant Struggle: John Steinbeck

For Students 9th - 10th
Pulitzer Prize winner John Steinbeck is the subject of this brief biography, highlighting his ability to write about the injustices in society, particularly with regard to the economic lower class. See "John Steinbeck Activities" for...
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Utopian Promise: William Bradford

For Students 9th - 10th
Seventeenth century author, William Bradford, set sail on the Mayflower and embarked on a journey to the New World using his experiences for his writings. Click on "William Bradford Activities" for related artifacts and activities.
Handout
National Women’s History Museum

National Women's History Museum: Maya Angelou

For Students 9th - 10th
Poet, dancer, singer, activist, and scholar, Maya Angelou is a world-famous author. She is best known for her unique and pioneering autobiographical writing style.
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Spirit of Nationalism: Margaret Fuller

For Students 9th - 10th
Margaret Fuller is featured for her writings during the transcendentalist movement of the nineteenth century, considered progressive for her times as women of the era were not taught to think. Click "Margaret Fuller Activities" for...
Handout
Other

Online Companion to Middle English Literature: Geoffrey Chaucer

For Students 9th - 10th
A resource from Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf. Provides a short biography of Geoffrey Chaucer and links to pages describing some of his best-known writings.
Website
Other

Emeagwali.com: Just an Igbo Woman

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
An article about Emecheta which discusses her writing.
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Spirit of Nationalism: Jonathan Edwards

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a brief biography of seventeenth century minister and missionary Jonathan Edwards who documented his sermons. Click on "Jonathan Edwards Activities" for more resources.
Website
City University of New York

Cuny: Dorothy Parker Rothschild

For Students 9th - 10th
This biography of 20th century poet Dorothy Parker discusses the many tragedies that impacted her life and the wit that made her writing famous.
Unit Plan
C-SPAN

American Writers: Edith Wharton & the Gilded Age Writers

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Website
Other

Isaac Asimov Home Page

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource covers every aspect of Asimov's prolific writing career. Biographical information, movie connections, short story collections, lists of Asmiov's works are all here.
Website
American Academy of Achievement

Academy of Achievement

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
The Academy of Achievement brings students face-to-face with the extraordinary leaders, thinkers, and pioneers who have shaped our world. Features include profiles of academy members (author Amy Tan at the time of this writing) and...
Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. [Pdf]

For Teachers 4th - 6th
"Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." is a one page, biographical passage about Martin Luther King, Jr. It is followed by an open-ended question which requires students to provide evidence from the story; it includes determining the author's...
Unit Plan
Emory University

Emory University: Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul

For Students 9th - 10th
This site has a biography on V.S. Naipaul and gives information on his themes and writing form.