The Symbols of a Literary Period

The Symbols of a Literary Period or Important Authors of American Literature:

A Three-Dimensional Research Project

Pre-AP English III

Writing a documented essay is not the only or the most interesting way of presenting research. In this

alternative research assignment, students use objects to construct a visual composition that complements

their written analysis of the symbols a literary period.

Student Activity

1. Select a literary period or author from the designated list.

2. Research the period, using the text and both print and online sources. (text and two other sources. Wikipedia is not a valid source)

3. Choose 3-5 small images to symbolize major events, issues, writing styles, and beliefs from this period.

4. Create a wiki page by attaching the objects. Make sure the name of the literary period is clearly displayed and make sure we can hang the mobile from our ceiling.

5. Provide a “key” on the page with two-dimensional drawings of each of the objects and explanations of the symbolism of each object.

6. Write an overall explanation of how the historical events reflect the writing of the time. Integrate a few well chosen quotations, documented parenthetically. (You may have one paragraph about the time and one about how the views can be seen in the literature.)

7. Provide a Works Cited list on the bottom of the page, following MLA format.

8. Provide a Who did What list to Mrs. House. (Both students must divide all assignments into equal parts. In other words, everyone takes an active role in everything.

8. Present to the class

This is a group project with individual grades.


Wiki Page	A work of art! Great images, easy to read. 15	Pretty good, neat, balanced, 12	A bit jumbled, needs more organization 8	Made it this morning in the mall 6
Key	Clear and insightful, focused on history and literature, you understand symbols 20	Hit some of the key concepts, symbols are clear 16	A bit of a stretch, hard to see the symbolism 14	Huh? 12
Presentation	Professional, prepared, interesting, eye contact, taught the class well, teacher has nothing to add. 25	Somewhat prepared, most of the key concepts explained, made sense, teacher needed to add a couple of things 22	Just read notes, teacher needed to help class understand some things 18	Winged it, teacher will have to reteach, 12
Writing	Informative, proven, clear connection between history and literature, at least four parentheticals, intro. concluding sentences, CUPS, sections are connected, no plagiarism 20	Informative, proven, connection between history and literature, 3-4 parentheticals, intro. and concluding sentences, CUPS, sections are connected, no plagiarism 16	Not very informative, not clearly proven, connection between history and literature is unclear, problems with parentheticals, might not have intro. and/or concluding sentences, problem with CUPS, sections aren’t connected, no plagiarism 14	We haven’t learned much, connection between history and literature is lacking and parentheticals are missing or unnecessary, writing itself needs revision, problem with CUPS, sections are not connected, plagiarism 10
MLA format	Correct format 15	Almost perfect 12	Hit and miss 8	What format? 6
Who did What	5		3 unclear	0 missing