In this article Deidre Faughey shares an experimental classroom project that she developed with a diverse group of students in three ninth-grade English Language Arts (ELA) classes. Podcasts provide a unique opportunity for students to embrace experimentation and to take risks with their own voices, explore the school building and community, and…

At a time when political leaders and media pundits seek to narrow the English curriculum and reduce its knowledge structure to the "basics," it is helpful to revisit the potential of different approaches to learning in English that have evolved over time. In this paper I reflect on the semantic features of personal growth, cultural…

One of the most fruitful ways of introducing students to the Shakespearean drama is by comparing its techniques with those of a movie. (Author)

THIS TEST--"THE MERCHANT OF VENICE"--WAS DESIGNED BY THE OREGON CURRICULUM STUDY CENTER FOR A NINTH-GRADE LITERATURE CURRICULUM. IT IS INTENDED TO ACCOMPANY CURRICULUM UNITS AVAILABLE AS ED 010 815 AND ED 010 816. (MM)

THESE TWO TESTS--"JULIUS CAESAR" AND "AUTOBIOGRAPHY"--WERE DESIGNED BY THE OREGON CURRICULUM STUDY CENTER FOR A 10TH-GRADE LITERATURE CURRICULUM. THEY ARE INTENDED TO ACCOMPANY CURRICULUM UNITS AVAILABLE AS ED 010 817 AND ED 010 818. (MM)

The first step in teaching a play by Shakespeare is to acquaint the class with the meaning of the words. Frequent interruptions in the reading of a play in the beginning to insure understanding is another advisable technique. Reading with a colleague, student dramatization and choral reading are other useful oral methods. Filmstrips, stimulating…

This annotated bibliography of 481 journal articles is the most recent of a series of compilations begun in 1946 on the teaching of college English. Of the eight categories included, literature and freshman English receive the greatest emphasis. Other sections treat the English program, language, drama and television, speech, journalism, and the…

This study was concerned with the attitudes and practices of high school English teachers regarding the use of contemporary literature in their classrooms. Data were obtained from the completed questionnaires of 58 randomly selected New Jersey English teachers. It was determined that 95% of the teachers favor using contemporary works, that the…

This curriculum guide is divided into four major sections: English Skills, Writing and Composition Courses, Literature Courses, and Elective Courses. Thirty courses are described, and the guide outlines the general objectives, specific objectives, activities, and resources for each course. The courses include Advanced Composition, Journalism I,…

Describes a teacher's experience teaching sixth grade drama in Britain, where drama is viewed as distinct from literature and stresses role playing. Outlines particular improvisation activities, scriptwriting projects, approaches to class discussion, and the use of dramatic activities to teach other subjects. (JG)

THIS CULMINATING UNIT OF THE 12TH-GRADE OREGON LITERATURE CURRICULUM IS BASED UPON ONE WORK, "HAMLET." THE TEACHER VERSION INCLUDES DISCUSSIONS OF (1) THE RELEVANCE OF HAMLET'S CHARACTER TO MODERN TIMES, (2) THE PROBLEMS IN THE CHARACTERIZATIONS OF THE GHOST, CLAUDIUS, AND HAMLET, (3) THE PLAY'S THREE-PHASE STRUCTURE, (4) THE PLAY'S…

The "Introduction to Shakespeare" course in the Quinmester Program involves the careful study of the tragedy "Romeo and Juliet" and the comedy "The Taming of the Shrew," emphasizing language, development of character and theme. The course also includes the study of biographical data relevant to the evolution of…

A quinmester course which concentrates on two Shakespearean tragedies is outlined. The focus of the course is on the tragic hero, his development, tragic flaw, and eventual downfall. Performance objectives, course content, teaching strategies and learning activities, and lists of student and teacher resources are provided. The course is designed…

TRAGIC AND COMIC FORMS OF DRAMA ARE EXPLORED IN THIS TWO-PART 11TH-GRADE LITERATURE UNIT. A SECTION ON TRAGEDY, TREATING THREE PLAYS, EMPHASIZES STRUCTURAL DIVISIONS, CONVENTIONS, AND SUBJECT MATTER PECULIAR TO THIS TYPE OF DRAMA. FOLLOWING A DISCUSSION OF THE CLASSICAL GREEK THEATRE AND THE ARISTOTELIAN VIEW OF TRAGEDY, THE FORM AND THEME OF…

This is the second publication of the Literature Study Group using the thematic approach to literature for third through fifth year students in Scottish schools. Eight programs are presented which are a collection of literary texts grouped round a central theme. The programs are the work of different teachers who set out to discover in the…