80's and 90's Literature

The 80's and 90's

What significant events
define your time?

LITERATURE

Although it is too soon to know which books will become the classics of your time, some of the hundreds of thousands of American novels published between 1980 and 1999 have been acknowledged as outstanding by a recognized literary institution or organization. Best known are the Pulitzer prizes, but the National Book Award, the National Critics Circle and the William Faulkner PEN awards are also very prestigious. Writers groups also honor the best of their genre each year: Science fiction writers vie for Hugo and Nebula awards; mystery writers shoot for Shamus and Edgar prizes; horror writers hope for a Bram Stoker. These lists, as well as the American Library Association recommendations for college-bound students, help us pick out 80's and 90's books that might merit our attention.

During this five-week unit you will read one or more contemporary novels chosen from a dozen different lists of award-winners. You will keep a double-entry journal on each book you read and will write and deliver book talks to your class or another class.

For an A grade: one book from the A lists and one book from the A or B lists

double-entry journals
two Exemplary* book talks

For an ãBä grade: one book from the A lists and one book from the A or B lists

double-entry journals
two Distinguished* book talks

For an C grade: one book from the A lists OR two books from the B lists

double-entry journals
one or two Proficient* book talks

Minimum requirement: one book from any list

double-entry journal
one Proficient* book talk

*as described in the 80's and 90's Unit Rubric

Please observe these guidelines:

Choose a book you have not read before.
If you've seen the movie, don't choose the book.
Don't use print or Internet study guides.(Cliff Notes, etc.)

NOTE: You may negotiate with me to read a novel that is NOT on these lists. Be sure to bring to the table authoritative evidence of the literary or cultural significance of your suggested book. [Quotes from the book jacket are not sufficient!]