This document provides reading assignments for students to complete in pairs of authors from the 19th-20th centuries. For each pair, students must read short excerpts from two works, one by each author, and analyze some element of literature discussed. They then complete a short assessment comparing and contrasting the two authors or their works. Some author pairs included are Paulsen and London, Angelou and Walker, Hughes and Updike, Twain and Faulkner, and horror writers Jackson, Poe, Doyle, and King.

1. Great Authors of the 19th & 20th Centuries Name:
Choose any 3 pairs of authors to read. Read both items for the pair and then complete the
assessment following. Each assessment is worth 15 pts, for a total of 45 points.The items
highlighted in black will be read aloud by Ms. Ites or as a class.
Dates due: choice 1: choice 2:
1
author, l-f Paulsen, Gary author, l-f
work "Glow in the Dark" work
pg 504 pg
lit. elmt. tone lit. elmt.
pg. 503 pg.
overall theme conflict overall theme
R/A ch. From GUTS R/A
ASSESSMENT FOR BOTH:
Make a Venn diagram comparing & contrasting Gary Paulsen & Jack London, with
4 similar's and differ's for each man. On the back write a 2 para. comparative analysis of
"Up the Slide" and "Glow in the Dark" using 5 examples from the text. (notes & text)
2
author, l-f Angelou, Maya author, l-f
work excerpt "…Caged Bird…" work
pg 24 pg
lit. elmt. memoir lit. elmt.
pg. 23 pg.
overall theme voice overall theme
R/A "On Pulse of Morning" R/A
ASSESSMENT FOR BOTH:
In three para., summarize Angelou's excerpt from I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Walker's tribute to Dr. King, and explain how two people who seem so similar can be such
different writers. (open notes & text)
3
author, l-f Hughes, Langston author, l-f
work "Thank You, Ma'am" work
pg 186 pg
lit. elmt. theme lit. elmt.
pg. 185 pg.
overall theme characterization overall theme
R/A all poems in Norton Antholo. R/A
ASSESSMENT FOR BOTH:
In 2 para. Explain how the writers' personal lives affected their stories "Than
Ma'am" & "A & P." In a 3rd para. Decided if you think the stories are believable & defend
your answer. (notes & text)
4
author, l-f Herriot, James author, l-f

2. work "Debbie" work
pg 670 pg
lit. elmt. narrative essay lit. elmt.
pg. 669 pg.
overall theme plot overall theme
R/A (none) R/A
ASSESSMENT FOR BOTH:
Categorize what events in Herriot's past led him to write "Debbie." Do you t
this could have been a true story? Explain your answer in 2 para. In your 3rd para. Decide
if you find the narrator in "Xmas Day …" believable and defend your answer. (notes & text)
5
author, l-f Twain, Mark author, l-f
work "Cub Pilot on the Mississippi" work
pg 109 pg
lit. elmt. conflict w/ character lit. elmt.
pg. 107 pg.
overall theme setting overall theme
R/A (none) R/A
ASSESSMENT FOR BOTH:
Develop 2 Venn diagrams, one comparing & contrasting Twain & Faulkner,
other comparing & contrasting "Cub Pilot…", "Brer Rabbit…", & "A Rose/Emily." (notes & text)
--- STOP HERE - - - NEXT IS THE HORROR MINI-UNIT COVERED AS A CLASS ---
HORROR MINI-UNIT
You will complete works by each of these authors. Everyone must complete t
Venn Quadgram.
author, l-f Jackson, Shirley author, l-f
work "Charles" work
pg 14 pg
lit. elmt. foreshadowing lit. elmt.
pg. 968 pg.
overall theme irony overall theme
R/A "The Lottery" R/A
ASSESSMENT FOR BOTH: n/a
author, l-f Poe, Edgar Allen author, l-f
work "The Raven" work
pg 542 pg
lit. elmt. suspense lit. elmt.
pg. 541 pg.
overall theme foreshadowing overall theme
R/A "Tell-tale Heart" R/A
ASSESSMENT FOR BOTH: Venn diagram for all 4 horror writers. (notes & t

3. hors to read. Read both items for the pair and then complete the
ach assessment is worth 15 pts, for a total of 45 points.The items
e read aloud by Ms. Ites or as a class.
choice 3:
London, Jack
"Up the Slide"
154
conflict w/ nature
153
conflict
(none)
comparing & contrasting Gary Paulsen & Jack London, with
each man. On the back write a 2 para. comparative analysis of
in the Dark" using 5 examples from the text. (notes & text)
Walker, Alice
"Choice: MLK"
370
epithet
365
voice
(none)
ize Angelou's excerpt from I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,
g, and explain how two people who seem so similar can be such
Updike, John
"A & P"
separate #ed pkts.
point of view (1st person)
203
characterization
(none)
Explain how the writers' personal lives affected their stories "Thank You
d para. Decided if you think the stories are believable & defend
page 1
page 2
Buck, Pearl

4. "Xmas Day in the Morning"
64
flashback
63
plot
(none)
e what events in Herriot's past led him to write "Debbie." Do you think
e story? Explain your answer in 2 para. In your 3rd para. Decide
Xmas Day …" believable and defend your answer. (notes & text)
Faulkner, William
"Brer Rabbit & Brer Cooter"
separate #ed pkts.
fable/ colloquialism v. dialect
967
setting
"A Rose for Emily"
Venn diagrams, one comparing & contrasting Twain & Faulkner, the
ing "Cub Pilot…", "Brer Rabbit…", & "A Rose/Emily." (notes & text)
T IS THE HORROR MINI-UNIT COVERED AS A CLASS ---
ks by each of these authors. Everyone must complete the final
Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan
"Speckled Band"
474
mystery story
473
irony
(none)
King, Stephen
"Head Down"
separate #ed pkts.
nonfiction
624 & 131
foreshadowing
"Breathing Method"
Venn diagram for all 4 horror writers. (notes & text)