I am America: The Art of Personal Narratives

Introduction

How does the national identity of America affect your personal life? How is your identity shaped by our heritage, culture, and history? These are questions we will explore as you compose a personal narrative of your identity. Whether you are an American or another nationality, we will explore the founding of this country through a personal lens. We will understand the historical foundations of America, the transformative milestones, and current events in order to compare America's growth and identity to our own. We will read personal narratives in order to understand effective writing techniques and devices to bring our narrative to life. We will share our insights from the essays we read and workshop our writing to strengthen our prose. Your final project will be a creative presentation of writing and other visual elements to support it.

Important Information: This expedition is the Cycle 2 ELA/US History Pathways option

Essential Questions

• Is America a land of opportunity?

• What does freedom mean?

• What was America founded to be?

• What is America now?

• How is your identity affected by the identity of America?

Learning Objectives

• Explain how writers’ choices reflect their voice and personal style.
• Identify and use different literary elements and devices to develop your voice and create a powerful story.
• Analyze and select evidence based on US historical events to communicate your point of view.
• Use organization, tone, style, conflict and climax to speak to a specific audience.
• Develop an effective conflict and thesis to prove a point in your narrative.