Discusses a class activity in which students engage in a mock trial based on a hypothetical charge that could have developed from the plot of a novel. Discusses the six-step process, and the five procedures and requirements. Suggests that students win more than just the case--they win the knowledge of process. (RS)

Brings to focus, on Paterson's novel "Park's Quest," the author's own experiences. Emphasizes the importance of personal engagement with literature in the present as the foundation of a commitment to literature. Discusses transactional theory of response, a personal transaction with "Park's Quest," and implications for…

Discusses Robert Louis Stevenson's "Treasure Island," especially the characters of Long John Silver and Jim, and why the novel continues to be read today by adolescents. Discusses, also, the character of Jimmy Little, the adolescent protagonist of "Somewhere in the Darkness," a contemporary novel. Furnishes questions for…

Discusses 10 reasons to end the senior year of high school with Bernard Malamud's novel "The Natural." (RS)

Details the planning and the specific assignments involved in teaching "Great Expectations" over a period of nine months. Explains how the novel was coordinated with other reading using the themes of Judgment, Influences, and Control. (NH)

Explains how to teach F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" in three stages: before, during, and after a close look at the text and outlines the novel's narrative structure. (HOD)

Emphasizes the importance of having students write "artistic" responses to literature, thereby revealing what meaning the literary work has for them. (HOD)

Claims Reader Response theories form the basis for helping students to enjoy reading and studying the classics. Discusses: (1) asking students to "step into" and explore the world of the text; and (2) helping students "step out" of the world of the text to consider it analytically. Presents drama activities to help students…

Discusses how "Sons and Lovers" was used to elicit values discussions using questions from "Teaching in the Content Areas" by Harold Herber. (CRH)

This teacher's resource guide capitalizes on the appeal of fantasy literature to children to create activities that address the 12 Standards of the English Language Arts sponsored by National Council of Teachers of English and the International Reading Association. The guide contains practical ideas that enable grade 4-8 teachers or librarians to…

Argues that Christa Wolf's novel "Patterns of Childhood" provides opportunities for students to consider the adolescent dilemmas of the protagonist Nelly and to reflect on how they themselves are coming to terms with the world. Notes that the novel forces students to see Nazi Germany with new eyes. (RS)

Case studies can be a powerful strategy to use for helping students learn critical thinking processes that are key to interpreting and responding to literature and writing. Some of the major benefits of applying case methods are: cases provide an environment for active learning; they encourage the creation of a community of learners; cases help…

Book Club started over 12 years ago with the goal of creating an alternative context for reading instruction--one that would get students excited about reading and discussing books. Since then, Book Club's combination of excellent literature, relevant writing activities, and student-led discussion groups has proven effective in classrooms. This…

Chinua Achebe is one of Africa's best-known and most influential contemporary writers. His first novel, "Things Fall Apart," is a narrative about the European colonization of Africa told from the viewpoint of the colonized people. Published in 1958, the novel recounts the life of the warrior and village hero Okonkwo and describes the…

Based on Joseph Heller's novel "Catch-22," this lesson plan presents activities designed to help students understand that active readers evaluate the actions and statements of characters in a novel; and active readers apply the ideas of a novel to contexts outside the novel. The main activity of the lesson involves students writing a paper on a…