Standard English–Language Arts Content Standards for California Public Schools - Literary Response and Analysis grades 11 and 12
Literary Criticism
3.8 Analyze the clarity and consistency of political assumptions in a selection of literary
works or essays on a topic (e.g., suffrage, women’s role in organized labor). (Political
approach)
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpcoop/moahtml/snchome.html

Lesson idea
Have students choose a controversial issue form United Sates history in the 19th century, and choose three articles form three different periodicals to compare and analyze the political assumptions of the authors.