Rutgers University
Rutgers University: Johnson on the History of the Language
Critical analysis of Johnson's use of literary sources in his dictionary, and his contribution to the development of modern English. Includes extensive notes and bibliography.
Rutgers University
Rutgers University: Samuel Johnson and the Revival of Learning
A critical analysis of Johnson's commentary on the period later called the Renaissance by Jack Lynch. In-depth article with extensive notes and bibliography.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Introducing the Essay: Twain, Douglass and American Non Fiction
This lesson plan serves as an introduction to American literary non-fiction writing and focuses primarily on teaching some basic approaches to recognizing rhetorical strategies adopted for persuasive effect in essays and non-fiction. The...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Recognizing Similes: Fast as a Whip
This lesson is designed to help students review what they have learned in earlier classes and to begin to engage with similes on a deeper and more abstract level. Students will define similes and identify examples; read and analyze the...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Animal Farm: Allegory and the Art of Persuasion
This lesson plan will introduce students to the concept of allegory by using George Orwell's widely read novella, Animal Farm. Through this novel, students will learn what an allegory is, the rhetorical components of an allegory, and...
Lumen Learning
Lumen: Introduction to Writing About Literature
This is an introduction to writing about literature; it includes a list of learning objectives for writing about literature including finding and using historical sources to discuss the historical context, finding and using literary...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Modeling Academic Writing
Students prepare an already published scholarly article for presentation, with an emphasis on identification of the author's thesis and argument structure.
Lumen Learning
Lumen: Writing About Literature: Additional Resources
This is "'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow': An Allegory for a Young America," an exceptional student example of literary analysis as well as an explanation to the main body of her paper. A link to the MLA website is also provided.
Bartleby
Bartleby.com: Cambridge History of Eng and Am Lit: The Romantic Revival Byron
Information on the life and works of Byron and several other Romantic-era writers is offered at this site, with links to critical analyses of these works.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Flying to Freedom: Tar Beach & the People Could Fly
Comparing and contrasting works and looking for underlying themes and messages are at the heart of this multicultural lesson plan. Provides links to several background resources, and suggestions for assessment.
Other
New York Review of Books Archive
At this site, you can conduct a search for critical reviews that have been published in the New York Review of Books. Currently (July, 2000), only reviews published since 1996 are available, but that is supposed to change. This is a good...
University of Illinois
University of Illinois: Modern American Poetry: Archibald Mac Leish
This site houses three poems in full text from the great American poet Archibald MacLeish (1892-1982 CE), as well as criticism on two of his most famous. The three pieces are 'Baccalaureate', 'Two Poems from the War', and 'An Eternity'.
University of Illinois
University of Illinois: Modern American Poetry: William Carlos Williams
This is the Modern American Poetry index site for William Carlos Williams (1883-1963 CE). From this site you can click on links that take you to analysis of the author's works as well as a link to full text versions of additional poems.
Other
Civil War Book Reviews
This site provides good examples of critical book reviews of Civil War literature.
Other
Emily Dickinson: Early Feminist Essays (Pub. 1886 1915)
This is an eclectic mix of Dickinson's letters, some early essays about her writing, and remembrances of her by friends and family. The texts of 32 of her poems are annotated with references to other Dickinson writings. The entire site...
Other
Critical Reading: Three Ways to Read and Discuss Texts
Designed to help students think about their reading and writing skills, this page offers three different ways to interpret and discuss texts.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Emily Dickinson & Poetic Imagination: "Leap, Plashless"
This lesson introduces students to Emily Dickinson's poetry which often reveals a child-like fascination with the natural world. Students examine how she writes perceptively of butterflies, birds, and bats and uses lucid metaphors to...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Mining Literature for Deeper Meanings
Writing a great English paper can be tough because literature doesn't always reveal its deeper meanings immediately. Amy E. Harter offers a few tips on how to read and write more critically and thoughtfully. [4:12]
PBS
Pbs News Hour: Responding to Quotes and Aphorisms
The objective of this lesson plan is to teach students about responding to quotes and aphorisms. This site features a lesson plan with detailed information.
PBS
Pbs: Culture Shock: Huck Finn in Context
This site features information on themes from Huck Finn. You will find activities and discussion questions to accompany the different sections.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Introducing Metaphors Through Poetry
This lesson is designed to help young scholars begin to engage with metaphors on a deeper and more abstract level. The lesson will begin with a poem containing metaphors accessible at all levels, and with each poem, the lesson will...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Is Torture Ever Justified?
Activity for students promoting a critical analysis and relevant discussion on whether torture is ever justified. Students are presented with the literature on U.S. law and international law on torture as well as Bush administration...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Book Report Alternative: The Elements of Fiction
Analyzing a book takes the form of creating their own when students complete this activity. The stated goal is to help students "Read like writers." Includes link to a template for student use.
Other
Ohio Governor's Youth Art Exhibition
The home page for the Ohio Governor's Youth Art Exhibition. There are pages to see what scholarships are available, to see who has won in the past and pages to view the winning artwork, writings, and criticism. Get informed for making a...