1. An Introduction to the Life and Works of Edgar Allan Poe

2. OBJECTIVES/ LEARNER OUTCOMES The students will develop the skills to read closely into a work of poetry. In addition, the students will learn to analyze and interpret a literary work, by learning and developing skills in explication and understanding of literary devices. These acquired skills will help students in terms of analyzing any text, and will help them to develop the skills necessary to compare and contrast literature from an academic standpoint.

3. Unit Plan Breakdown Day 1: Introduction to Edgar Allan Poe with a descriptive biography of his life, including Power point presentation of his life and his most influential literary works. Day 2: Instructor and class will participate in an active reading of Poe’s “The Raven”, which will include explanations of the literary devices used within the poem. Students will be assigned review questions created by the instructor for homework, due the following day for a grade.

4. Unit Plan (continued) Day 3: Instructor will have the students form groups, switching homework with other students throughout the classroom. Students will then access an interactive website of “The Raven”, which will help them get a better grasp on the poem and literary devices. http://www.teachersfirst.com/lessons/raven/s tart-fl.html http://www.teachersfirst.com/lessons/raven/s tart-fl.html

5. Unit Plan (continued) Day 4: Students are asked to get online in class and find another work of poetry (from any poet they choose), which reflects at least 3 of the same literary devices used in Poe’s “The Raven”. Then, the students are asked to read an excerpt of their choosing to the class, explaining the way in which these literary devices are used in both poems, respectively. Day 5: The instructor allows the students to create some form of artistic “vision” of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven”. Each individual student is at liberty to use whatever form of art of their choosing, whether it be written, visual, or even spoken.

6. METHODS/MATERIALS Whiteboard Laptops/computers/Internet access Textbook/Edgar Allen Poe’s Greatest Works Handouts/Parent Newsletter with an overview of material covered, assignments and due dates, and grading breakdown Materials needed for creativity assignments http://www.teachersfirst.com/lessons/raven/s tart-fl.html http://www.teachersfirst.com/lessons/raven/s tart-fl.html

7. ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION Participation Individual- The students will be given in-class worksheets, homework, and participation points Small groups- working together to grade each other’s work, and be expected to respond when reviewed Classroom- The class will actively read the poem together aloud, with each student expected to read an excerpt from the poem. Assignments/Requirements The students will be graded on their content knowledge of Poe’s “The Raven”. The students will be graded on their in-class and homework assignments. The students will be required to use their textbooks and any other means necessary (internet, library, etc.) in order to thoroughly compare “The Raven” with their chosen piece of literature.