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Unit 1B: The Cycle of Change

Overview
In this brief unit, students should identify the components of the cycle of change (marginalization,
movement, new status) and analyze the cycles role in the establishment of American identity, the
human ideal, and the American Dream. Students should be able to identify historical examples of
marginalization and/or disenfranchisement; explain examples of social, political, literary, artistic,
scientific, and/or physical movements as results of marginalization; and explain a new status as
assimilation into the cultural identity, creation of a new identity that is both a part of and separate from
(yet accepted) the cultural identity, or new marginalization that may be similar to or different from the
initial marginalization. Students should examine the historical context, American government, and
legal documents, cases, and procedures associated with the cycle of change, and they should be able
to articulate how innovations, pop culture, literature, philosophy, and art influence the cycle, both
positively and negatively (printing press, improved transportation, radio, television, internet,
commercials, etc). Students should also analyze the roles of conformity, individualism, war, civil
conflicts, economic issues, innovations, and technology in historical definitions of American identity,
the human ideal, and the American Dream. Students should identify minority groups that have
challenged social norms in history and identify works that both upheld social norms and those that
challenged them. Teachers can offer quick overviews of these ideas such as a brief history of bilingual
education or the brief history of school desegregation as examples.
Note to Teachers
In this unit, students will need to choose the cultural group that will be the focus of their Independent
Study for the course (currently marginalized groups such as LGBT, Hispanic Americans, Middle Eastern
Americans, multiracial Americans, atheists, etc; European colonizers, European Americans, Asian
Americans, Native Americans, Jewish Americans, American women, African Americans, or other
marginalized groups at the teachers discretion). At the end of this unit, students will need to register
their choices with the teacher so that the teacher and students can plan ahead for student expert
opportunities in Units 2-5. Students should use the unit topics and course goals to guide their
research, reading, and writing, and they should be prepared to offer insights and information about
their groups in each unit.
Generalizations
1. The cycle of change (the marginalization of a group of people, their movement to rectify that
marginalization, and the resulting establishment of a new status, whether positive or negative) has
a significant impact on definitions of American identity, the human ideal, and the American Dream.
2. Literature, philosophy, art, music, and popular culture offer insights into the various stages in the
cycle of change for most marginalized groups in American history.
3. Minority and/or underrepresented groups that use literature, philosophy, art, music, and pop culture
media to challenge social norms may bring about changes to those social norms.
4. The American government and legal system (documents, cases, procedures), economic issues, war
concerns, civil conflicts, conformity, and individualism influence definitions of American identity, the
human ideal, and the American Dream, and these issues are often reflected in the literature,
philosophy, art, music, and pop culture media of the time.
5. American efforts at establishing utopian ideals have influenced immigration, migration, and
settlement, and literature, philosophy, art, music, and pop culture often reflect the changes in
values and identities initiated by immigration, migration, and settlement.
6. Technology, technological innovations, and improvements in transportation and communication
methods facilitate movements and changes in cultural values and beliefs, which are reflected in the
widely-distributed and -accessible literature, philosophy, art, music, and pop culture of the 20 th and
21st centuries.

American Humanities, Unit 1B

American Humanities, Unit 1B

Essential Questions
1. What is the cycle of change?
2. How has the cycle of change influenced definitions of American identity, the human ideal, and the
American Dream over time?
3. How do the literature, philosophy, art, music, and pop culture of a society often reflect its timespecific point of view on conformity and individualism?
4. How have Americas views on conformity and individualism changed over time?
5. How have minority groups challenged social norms in history when those norms impede equality or
understanding?
6. How have historical challenges to social norms brought about changes in those norms?
7. What are some literary, philosophical, artistic, musical, or cultural works that have upheld timespecific norms, and what are some that challenged established norms?
8. How can the government and American legal system (documents, procedures, cases) affect cultural
identity and acceptance?
9. How can economic circumstances and social responses to economic changes affect cultural identity
and acceptance?
10. How do the literature, philosophy, art, music, and pop culture reflect historically current definitions
of identity as well as pressure society to enact cultural change?
11. How do the utopian efforts in American culture factor into immigration, migration, and settlement?
12. How has war influenced definitions of American identity, the human ideal, and the American
Dream?
13. How have civil conflicts influenced definitions of American identity, the human ideal, and the
American Dream?
14. How have technology and technological innovations facilitated movements and changes in cultural
values and beliefs?
15. How have improved transportation and communication methods increased access to culture and
the dissemination of new ideas regarding American identity, human ideal, and American Dream?

American Humanities, Unit 1B

Unit Goals
What do students need to KNOW?

What do students need to be able to DO?

The cycle of change

Explain the cycle of change

How the cycle of change influenced definitions


of American identity, the human ideal, and the
American Dream over time

Articulate how the cycle of change has


influenced definitions of American identity, the
human ideal, and the American Dream over time

How literature, philosophy, art, music, and pop


culture reflects time-specific views on
conformity and individualism

Use literature, philosophy, art, music, and/or pop


culture to analyze time-specific views on
conformity and individualism

How Americas views on conformity and


individualism have changed over time

Explain how Americas views on conformity and


individualism have changed over time

How minority groups have challenged social


norms in history

Identify minority groups that have challenged


social norms

How historical challenges to norms have


instigated changes in those norms

Explain how historical challenges to norms have


brought about changes in those norms

Literary, philosophical, artistic, musical, or


cultural works that have upheld time-specific
norms

Identify literary, philosophical, artistic, musical,


or cultural works that have upheld time-specific
norms

Literary, philosophical, artistic, musical, or


cultural works that have challenged timespecific norms

Identify literary, philosophical, artistic, musical,


or cultural works that have challenged timespecific norms

The effects of government and the American


legal system on cultural identity and acceptance

The effects of economic circumstances and


social responses to economic changes on
cultural identity and acceptance

Explain the effects of government and the


American legal system (documents, procedures,
cases) on cultural identity and acceptance

How literature, philosophy, art, music, and pop


culture act as vehicles to perpetuate and to alter
definitions of identity, the human ideal, and the
American Dream

Analyze the effects of economic circumstances


and social responses to economic changes on
cultural identity and acceptance

The influence of utopian ideals on immigration,


migration, and settlement

Explain how literature, philosophy, art, music,


and pop culture can both perpetuate and alter
definitions of American identity, the human
ideal, and the American Dream

The effect of war on definitions of American


identity, the human ideal, and the American
Dream

Analyze the influence of utopian ideals and


efforts on immigration, migration, and
settlement

The influence of civil conflicts on definitions of


American identity, the human ideal, and the
American Dream

Analyze how war affects definitions of American


identity, the human ideal, and the American
Dream

How technology and technological innovations


have facilitated movements and changes in
cultural values and beliefs

Analyze how civil conflicts affect definitions of


American identity, the human ideal, and the
American Dream

Articulate how technology and technological


innovations have facilitated movements and
changes in cultural values and beliefs

Analyze how improvements in transportation


and communication methods have increased
access to culture and the dissemination of new
ideas regarding American identity, the human
ideal, and the American Dream

How improvements in transportation and


communication methods have increased access
to culture and the dissemination of new ideas
regarding American identity, the human ideal,
and the American Dream

American Humanities, Unit 1B

American Humanities, Unit 1B

I Can Statements

I Can explain the cycle of change.

I Can articulate how the cycle of change has influenced definitions of American identity, the human
ideal, and the American Dream over time.

I Can use literature, philosophy, art, music, and/or pop culture to analyze time-specific views on
conformity and individualism.

I Can explain how Americas views on conformity and individualism have changed over time.

I Can identify minority groups that have challenged social norms.

I Can explain how historical challenges to norms have brought about changes in those norms.

I Can identify literary, philosophical, artistic, musical, or cultural works that have upheld time-specific
norms.

I Can identify literary, philosophical, artistic, musical, or cultural works that have challenged timespecific norms.

I Can explain the effects of government and the American legal system (documents, procedures,
cases) on cultural identity and acceptance.

I Can analyze the effects of economic circumstances and social responses to economic changes on
cultural identity and acceptance.

I Can explain how literature, philosophy, art, music, and pop culture can both perpetuate and alter
definitions of American identity, the human ideal, and the American Dream.

I Can analyze the influence of utopian ideals and efforts on immigration, migration, and settlement.

I Can analyze how war affects definitions of American identity, the human ideal, and the American
Dream.

I Can how civil conflicts affect definitions of American identity, the human ideal, and the American
Dream.

I Can articulate how technology and technological innovations have facilitated movements and
changes in cultural values and beliefs.

I Can analyze how improvements in transportation and communication methods have increased
access to culture and the dissemination of new ideas regarding American identity, the human ideal,
and the American Dream.

American Humanities, Unit 1B

Aligned Course Essential Standards


C.1
Understand
how American
culture
defines what
it means to
be an
American.

C.2
Understand
the role of
conformity
and
individualism
in American
culture.

C.3
Understand
how poverty,
affluence, and
the American
Dream have
influenced
American
culture.

C.1.1 Analyze
expressions
of identity
within
American
literature,
philosophy,
and the arts.
C.1.4
Compare
ways in which
the human
ideal has
been
expressed in
American
culture.

C.2.1 Explain
how
conformity
and
individuality
have
influenced
American
literature,
philosophy,
and the arts.
C.2.2
Evaluate the
extent to
which
American
support or
criticism of
conformity
has
influenced
American
literature,
philosophy,
and the arts.

C.3.1
Compare
multiple
perspectives
of the
American
Dream using
examples of
American
literature,
philosophy,
and the arts.
C.3.3
Evaluate
universal
prosperity as
a Utopian
ideal founded
in the
American
Dream.

American Humanities, Unit 1B

C.4
Understand
how American
culture has
sought to
balance
individual
rights with
the common
good.
C.4.2 Explain
how
discrepancies
in freedom,
equality, and
justice
influenced
American
literature,
philosophy,
and the arts.

C.5
Understand
how conflict
and
consensus
influences
American
culture.

C.6
Understand
how human
interaction
with land and
nature has
impacted
American
culture.

C.5.1 Analyze
the
relationship
between
conflict and
consensus in
American
literature,
philosophy,
and the arts.
C.5.3 Analyze
the
relationship
between
warfare and
American
culture.
C.5.5 Explain
how social
movements
on behalf of
civil rights
and reform
have
influenced
American
culture.

C.6.3 Explain
how
movement on
the American
frontier
influenced
artistic
expression
and
philosophical
thought
within the
United States.
C.6.4 Analyze
the
relationship
between
regionalism
and cultural
development.

C.7
Understand
the
relationship
between
industrializati
on,
urbanization,
and American
culture.
C.7.1 Explain
how
industrializati
on and
urbanization
impacted the
development
of American
literature,
philosophy,
and the arts.
C.7.2 Analyze
the
relationship
between
urban
immigration,
migration,
and American
culture.

C.8
Understand
the
relationship
between
innovation
and American
culture.

C.8.1 Explain
how
innovations in
technology,
transportation
, and
communicatio
n influenced
American
literature,
philosophy,
and the arts.
C.8.4
Evaluate
mediums of
popular
culture, such
as music,
television,
photographs,
and movies,
in terms of
historical
context and
accuracy.

Common Core Standards for Literacy in History and Social Studies


READING

WRITING

CMS CCSS Power Standards:

CMS CCSS Power Standards:

R.11-12.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of


primary and secondary sources, connecting insights gained
from specific details to an understanding of the text as a whole.

W.11-12.1 Write arguments focused on discipline-specific


content.

R.11-12.10 Read and comprehend history/social studies texts


in the grade 11-CCR text complexity band independently and
proficiently.

W.11-12.2 Write informative/explanatory texts, including the


narration of historical events, scientific procedures/
experiments, or technical processes.

Additional Reading Standards:

Additional Writing Standards:

R.11-12.2. Determine the central ideas or information of a


primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary
that makes clear the relationships among the key details and
ideas.

W.11-12.3 not applicable as a separate requirement

R.11-12.3. Evaluate various explanations for actions or events


and determine which explanation best accords with textual
evidence, acknowledging where the text leaves matters
uncertain.
R.11-12.4. Determine the meaning of words and phrases as
they are used in a text, including analyzing how an author uses
and refines the meaning of a key term over the course of a text
(e.g., how Madison defines faction in Federalist No. 10).
R.11-12.5. Analyze in detail how a complex primary source is
structured, including how key sentences, paragraphs, and larger
portions of the text contribute to the whole.
R.11-12.6 Evaluate authors differing points of view on the
same historical event or issue by assessing the authors claims,
reasoning, and evidence.
R.11-12.7 Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of
information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g.,
visually, quantitatively, as well as in words) in order to address
a question or solve a problem.
R.11-12.8 Evaluate an authors premises, claims, and evidence
by corroborating or challenging them with other information.
R.11-12.9 Integrate information from diverse sources, both
primary and secondary, into a coherent understanding of an
idea or event, noting discrepancies among sources.

W.11-12.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the


development, organization, and style are appropriate to task,
purpose, and audience.
W.11-12.5 Develop and strengthen writing as needed by
planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach,
focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific
purpose and audience.
W.11-12.6 Use technology, including the Internet, to produce,
publish, and update individual or shared writing products in
response to ongoing feedback, including new arguments or
information.
W.11-12.7 Conduct short as well as more sustained research
projects to answer a question (including a self-generated
question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry
when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject,
demonstrating understanding of the subject under
investigation.
W.11-12.8 Gather relevant information from multiple
authoritative print and digital sources, using advanced searches
effectively; assess the strengths and limitations of each source
in terms of the specific task, purpose, and audience; integrate
information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of
ideas, avoiding plagiarism and overreliance on any one source
and following a standard format for citation.
W.11-12.9 Draw evidence from informational texts to support
analysis, reflection, and research.
W.11-12.10 Write routinely over extended time frames (time
for reflection and revision) and shorter time frames (a single
sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks,
purposes, and audiences.

American Humanities, Unit 1B

Assessment Options:
W1- Literacy Common Core Power Standard: Writing Arguments

After reading a variety of texts, write ____ that argues your position on ____. Support your position with
evidence from your research. Be sure to acknowledge competing views, and give examples from past
or current events or issues to illustrate and clarify your position.
o

Example: After analyzing a variety of texts, write an essay that argues your position on which
technological innovation of the last century has had the most significant influence on American
identity, human ideal, and American Dream. Support your position with evidence from your
research. Be sure to acknowledge competing views, and give examples from past or current
events or issues to illustrate and clarify your position.

Example: After analyzing a variety of texts, write an essay that argues your position on which
war in American history initiated the most significant changes in American identity, the human
ideal, and the American Dream. Support your position with evidence from your research. Be
sure to acknowledge competing views, and give examples from past or current events or issues
to illustrate and clarify your position.

[QUESTION] After reading a variety of texts, write ____ that addresses the question, and support your
position with evidence from the texts. Be sure to acknowledge competing views. Give examples from
past or current events or issues to illustrate and clarify your position.
o

Example: Which technological innovation of the last century has had the most significant
influence on American identity, human ideal, and American Dream? After analyzing a variety of
texts, write an essay that addresses the question, and support your position with evidence from
the texts. Be sure to acknowledge competing views. Give examples from past or current events
or issues to illustrate and clarify your position.

Example: Which war in American history initiated the most significant changes in American
identity, the human ideal, and the American Dream? After analyzing a variety of texts, write an
essay that addresses the question, and support your position with evidence from the texts. Be
sure to acknowledge competing views. Give examples from past or current events or issues to
illustrate and clarify your position.

American Humanities, Unit 1B

W2- Literacy Common Core Power Standard: Writing Informative Texts

After reading a variety of texts, write a ____ that defines ____ and explains ____. Support your discussion
with evidence from your research. What conclusions or implications can you draw?
o

Example: After analyzing a variety of texts, write an essay that defines the cycle of change and
explain how it has influenced definitions of American identity, the human ideal, and the American
Dream over time. Support your discussion with evidence from your research. What conclusions
or implications can you draw?

Example: After analyzing a variety of texts, write an essay that defines American adaptations of
utopian ideals and explains how American efforts at establishing those utopian ideals have
affected immigration, migration, and settlement. Support your discussion with evidence from
your research. What conclusions or implications can you draw?

Example: After analyzing a variety of texts, write an essay that defines conformity and
individualism and explains how literature, philosophy, art, music, and/or pop culture have offered
differing perspectives on conformity and individualism in American society over time. Support
your discussion with evidence from your research. What conclusions or implications can you
draw?

[QUESTION] After reading a variety of texts, write ____ that defines ____ and explains ____. Support
your discussion with evidence from the texts. What conclusions or implications can you draw?
o

Example: What is the cycle of change, and how has it influenced definitions of American
identity, the human ideal, and the American Dream over time? After analyzing a variety of texts,
write an essay that defines the cycle of change and explain how it has influenced definitions of
American identity, the human ideal, and the American Dream over time. Support your discussion
with evidence from your research. What conclusions or implications can you draw?

Example: What are the utopian ideals America has attempted to establish, and how have
American efforts at establishing those utopian ideals affected immigration, migration, and
settlement? After analyzing a variety of texts, write an essay that defines American adaptations
of utopian ideals and explains how American efforts at establishing those utopian ideals have
affected immigration, migration, and settlement. Support your discussion with evidence from
your research. What conclusions or implications can you draw?

Example: What are conformity and individualism, and how have American literature, philosophy,
art, music and/or pop culture revealed differing perspectives on these ideas over time? After
analyzing a variety of texts, write an essay that defines conformity and individualism and
explains how literature, philosophy, art, music, and/or pop culture have offered differing
perspectives on conformity and individualism in American society over time. Support your
discussion with evidence from your research. What conclusions or implications can you draw?

R1/R10- Literacy Common Core Power Standards: Reading Closely Over Time with a Variety of Grade-Level
Texts

Historical texts (primary and secondary)


Religious texts
Legal texts
Philosophical texts
Literary texts
Artistic representations
Musical representations
Language study

American Humanities, Unit 1B

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