Edgar Allen Poe, Ambrose Bierce, and the unreliable biographers

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Social Studies (2003)

Grades 11–12 — Psychology

• Goal 1: The learner will become familiar with the history and research methods of psychology.
  • Objective 1.01: Discuss the contemporary perspectives used by psychologists to understand behavior and mental processes.
• Goal 4: The learner will explore the basic concepts of sensation and perception.
  • Objective 4.03: Describe the interaction of the person and the environment in determining perception.

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 11 — English III

• Goal 2: The learner will inform an audience by using a variety of media to research and explain insights into language and culture.
  • Objective 2.03: Respond to informational texts by:
    - using a variety of strategies for preparation, engagement, and reflection.
    - paraphrasing main ideas and supporting details present in texts.
    -explaining significant connections among the speaker's/author's purpose, tone, biases, and the message for the intended audience.
• Goal 4: The learner will critically analyze text to gain meaning, develop thematic connections, and synthesize ideas.
  • Objective 4.01: Interpret meaning for an audience by:
    - examining the functions and the effects of narrative strategies such as plot, conflict, suspense, point of view, characterization, and dialogue.
    - interpreting the effect of figures of speech (e.g., personification, oxymoron) and the effect of devices of sound (e.g., alliteration, onomatopoeia).
    - analyzing stylistic features such as word choice and links between sense and sound.
    - identifying ambiguity, contradiction, irony, parody, and satire.
    - demonstrating how literary works reflect the culture that shaped them.
  • Objective 4.03: Assess the power, validity, and truthfulness in the logic of arguments given in public and political documents by:
    - identifying the intent and message of the author or artist.
    - recognizing how the author addresses opposing viewpoints.
    - articulating a personal response to the message and method of the author or artist.
    -evaluating the historical significance of the work.

Grade 12 — English IV

• Goal 1: The learner will express reflections and reactions to print and non-print text as well as to personal experience.
  • Objective 1.01: Compose reflective texts that give the audience:
    - an understanding of complex thoughts and feelings.
    - a sense of significance (social, political, or philosophical implications).
    - a sense of encouragement to reflect on his or her own ideas.
  • Objective 1.02: Respond to texts so that the audience will:
    - empathize with the voice of the text.
    - make connections between the learner's life and the text.
    - reflect on how cultural or historical perspectives may have influenced these responses.
    - examine the learner's own response in light of peers' responses.
    -recognize features of the author's use of language and how the learner relates these features to his/her own writing.
• Goal 4: The learner will analyze and critique texts from various perspectives and approaches.
  • Objective 4.02: Develop critiques that give an audience:
    - an appreciation of how themes relate among texts.
    -an understanding of how authors' assumptions, cultural backgrounds, and social values affect texts.
    -an understanding of how more than one critical approach affects interpretation.