Edgar Allan Poe: His Contributions to American Literature

Audience The relevant characteristics of the intended learners for the Edgar Allan Poe Project include high school American Literature students, grades 11-12, probably an advanced English or College Prep course based on the material of the assignment.

Instructional Objectives I want the learner to learn as much as possible about Edgar Allan Poe and what he endured in his personal life to become one of the 19 th century’s best-known authors. I want the students to be able to work on their own, work on task, work in a group of four members, share ideas and information and multi-task several assignments (writing, art, dramatic presentation, oral presentation) in one project.

Pedagogy My instructional strategies include having the students research facts and information from Edgar Allan Poe’s life, read his poems and short stories and incorporate several learning and discovery techniques into the project such as acting a scene from one of Poe’s poems or short stories, creating an painting or sculpture of Poe, writing an essay and creating a timeline of Poe and America’s life during the early 1800s.

Pedagogy If the members of the group are interacting, sharing and contributing to the group, the learner should be able to handle and work within the required field laid out by the teacher for the assignments and project.

Active Response I will ask the learner to demonstrate his understanding through repeated behaviorism techniques. The students will take several complex tasks and break them down into simpler tasks such as researching Poe’s life and reading texts of his writings to incorporate into a timeline and dramatic presentation.

Active Response The learner will also demonstrate constructivism techniques. The project will encourage students to make sense of Poe’s writings and discover things themselves about Poe to use in the assignments for the project.

Feedback The learner will receive feedback on his actions taken through interaction with members of his group. The group will also receive feedback from their classmates in a presentation to the ‘Poe Committee,’ otherwise known as their classmates. The teacher will also provide feedback for the members of the group throughout the project.