Showcase
Connections Literature
American Voices
Immerse students in outstanding American literature while developing critical reading and writing skills.
Student Edition
Setting a Purpose for Reading
Student Edition
pp. iv-x
Table of
Contents
The Table of Contents provides a comprehensive overview of the themes and chronological organization of the program along with the authors and skills focus for each selection.
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pp. xiii–xvii
On Style
An overview of Elements of Style is provided for the student. Students will explore these elements through the texts they read in the program.
pp. 120–123
Unit Opener
The Unit Opener provides the student with the historical events for the unit as well as the literary movements. This helps to provide context for the texts students will read.
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pp. 124
Before You
Read
Before students read the text, the Before You Read introduction includes a brief overview of the author in About the Author. A summary of the Author’s Style is introduced and helps put the author’s style into perspective with the movements of the time.
pp. 125–134
Reading the
Passage
The passage is used to teach a literary element. The Literary Lens highlights the literary element students will be applying with what they read. Passage Vocabulary is provided in context to help students with challenging vocabulary they may encounter as they read.
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Student Edition
Developing Critical Thinking Skills
Student Edition
pp. 135
Read and Think
Critically
Students react to the selection by responding to questions and completing activities focused on Critical Reading and the Literary Lens. Students are challenged to analyze the passage from the perspective of the
Literary Lens skill introduced at the beginning of the passage. This section includes a graphic organizer that students can reproduce in their
Writer’s Notebook and fill in to analyze the text. Students analyze the Authors’ Style and find text evidence to support elements of the style of the Literary Movement.
Student Edition
Writing Skills and Application
Student Edition
pp. 262–265
Responding
to the Unit
At the end of the unit, students respond to questions that explore Craft and Structure. They will compare and contrast elements across the various texts within the unit.
Integrating Ideas asks students to explore the literary movements further as an exploration of literature as primary sources reflective of the time period.
Writing Extension is a literary analysis activity students produce to reflect on the unit of reading selections with guidance on the final written product. Students have a choice of Writing with Style activities for their literary analysis.
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pp. 4–11
Guide to Teacher
Support for
American Voices
The Table of Contents provides a comprehensive overview of the selection titles, genres, and Author’s Style focus covered in the program. Quizzes, skills, writing, and assessments are detailed here with page references.​
pp. 12–15
Teaching
American Voices
Teaching American Voices offers teachers a quick overview of the program, how to teach the lessons, and key features to note during the lessons. The special focus of this text is the study and analysis of Author’s Style in literature.
pp. 16–17
Differentiation
with American
Voices
Differentiation with American Voices provides suggestions for modifying and differentiating the instruction for English Language Learners, striving learners, and thriving learners. The table provides a list of effective strategies to use with different learning populations in mixed learning environments and for various skills.
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pp. 18–23
Critical Reading
Strategies &
Critical Reading
Models (Fiction
& Nonfiction)
A main focus of studying the literature and texts in American Voices is developing critical reading strategies. The Critical Reading section includes suggestions for the teacher as well as reproducible activities for fiction and nonfiction to introduce and practice the critical reading process.
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pp. 72–76
Unit Opener
The first pages of the Unit Opener are an overview of the suggested differentiation, by text, for ELL, striving, and thriving learners.
An Overview of the historical periods of the unit and student-facing Reproducibles are provided to help introduce the unit focus.
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pp. 77–78
Teaching
Notes
Teaching support for every text presented in American Voices includes:
• A Summary of the selection
• Domain-Specific Vocabulary with definitions
• Passage Vocabulary with definitions
• Critical Reading Questions to foster discussion with proposed responses
• A Literary Lens Activity to reinforce the literary element along with possible student responses
• Author’s Style, which provides an activity for a deep dive into the author’s writing style
• Literary Movement, which offers additional study into the literary movements of American literature
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Teacher Edition
Developing Critical Thinking Skills
pp. 79–81
Student
Reproducibles
Every passage includes student-facing Reproducibles which may include:
• A Comprehension Quiz to check for understanding. Also includes short answer prompts.
• A Literary Lens activity that provides more practice of the literary element using excerpts from the text
• A Vocabulary Quiz to measure understanding of the passage vocabulary
Teacher Edition
Writing Skills and Application
pp. 127–131
Responding
to the Unit
Teaching support for the end of unit activities of Craft and Structure, Integrating Ideas, Writing Extension, and Writing with Style are provided with possible responses. Student Reproducibles and a Writing Rubric are provided for additional practice and capturing thoughts.
pp. 140–141
Unit Writing
Prompts &
Projects
Teaching supports for the end-of-unit thematic writing activities are intended to extend students’ understanding and appreciation of the literature they read in the unit.
• Writing About Literature
• Writing About Nonfiction
• Creative Writing
• Writing Research Papers
• Presentations and Projects​
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pp. 132–139
Unit
Assessments
Reproducible assessments include objective, short answer, and extended response questions covering:
• Vocabulary
• Critical Reading
• Essay
• Style