To help improve students' ability to interpret and write about literature, teachers should get rid of old habits. The old habits include giving quizzes to make sure students read assignments, and assigning readings just because particular works are part the literary canon. Once a teacher assigns a novel and gives a quiz, everything the teacher and students do with the novel is going to be colored by the quiz habit. Students will have difficulty writing about a character, a theme, or the author's use of some literary device. If the teacher announces that there will be a composition assignment on a novel instead of an objective test, students will complain that other classes are just taking tests. To change old habits, teachers need to think about what they are doing in the classroom and why. They need to give serious thought to expanding the literary canon to include literature that is more appropriate and engaging to students. It would also be helpful to introduce literary works in ways that will prepare students for themes, issues, concepts and characters. Literature should also be connected to students' lives through writing. Such techniques can help bring literature alive for students. (Thirteen references are attached.) (SG)