Students explore ideas prominent throughout westward expansion and American literature: myth versus reality. The texts present various perspectives of the West. Students consider the idealism and romance of the American spirit versus the despair and consequences of human hubris. Students complete the unit by forming their own arguments about westward expansion. They will then consider how the dichotomy is reflected throughout our history and told through our literature. This unit connects to US History.

Common Core

RL.11-12.1