Unit 1: Identity: - This unit explores the myriad of factors influencing individual identity. Focusing on Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, students examine the confluence of forces that amalgamate to create perspective. Students evaluate diversity within historical, political, and economic narratives. Uncovering how Sherman Alexie uses humor to enhance the accessibility of his narrative while building empathy, allows students a more powerful lens into the importance of syntax and tone. Honors students will also analyze Mary Shelley’s text Frankenstein. Students will develop literary analysis techniques that allow them to consider the novel’s subtext and how it parallels each person’s innate desire for connection and understanding. Specific analysis will be given to how environmental factors shape our identities and in what ways our actions are merely reactions to the love or rejection of others. The unit strives to foster appreciation for the importance of diversity, tolerance, and a shared human experience.