One in a series of annual publications, this booklet contains reviews of books relating to the teaching of English and the language arts. The books are divided into 11 categories: teaching principles and practice; composition, writing, rhetoric; source books and kits; books for the slower learner; prose; poetry; drama; language; literary…

The central activity of literary criticism, the understanding of literature, is related to the process of establishing a context for the works of literature being studied. Choosing not to discuss the factual elements of literary criticism, the author clarifies and concentrates on the "lower" and "upper" limits of criticism. While the "lower" limit…

This study discusses how the high school English teacher can use a study of the modern American novel to help his students function successfully in a society that often strips people of their individuality. The thrust of the study is on teaching materials, but teaching strategies and activities are also discussed. It is suggested that the study of…

Recommends the use of Charlotte K. Brooks' book "Tapping Potential" by English teachers who deal with minority students. Discusses how the book treats everything from language development to reading and writing to literary criticism from the Black aesthetic point of view. (NKA)

Explores the linkages between Thomas Hardy's poem "The Darkling Thrush" and the thrush scene in George Orwell's novel "1984." Suggests a variety of enrichment projects for students that deal with aspects of these two works. (RBW)

150 students at McKinley Technology High School in Washington, DC have engaged the Harvard Model for creating a culture of thinking. This Tishman, Perkins, and Jay framework introduced them to four forces of enculturation and six dimensions of a thinking classroom in combination with African American Literature and Future Studies as specific…

Preparing students for college and work in the Knowledge Age. That is the mission of this generic proposal. A counterpoint to Industrial Age mindsets marking most initiatives in the District of Columbia Public schools and described in the "fifth discipline" works of Peter Senge, Creating a Culture of Thinking in DCPS proposes a project…

The seven articles in this focused journal issue are concerned with choosing books for teaching and the various constraints on those choices. The first article, by Richard Lederer, discusses George Orwell's "1984" and the principles of Newspeak. His article sets the tone for the next two articles: "Beware the Misuse of…

With the encouragement of an English instructor for whom English was a second language and who was consequently enthusiastic about writing experiences, English students in a Texas high school put together an anthology of literary criticism on the modern American novel. Honor students read American novels of their choice and wrote evaluations of…

The ten lessons in this guide outline objectives and activities that will help gifted students to write intelligibly and creatively and to read with understanding and appreciation. Each of the lessons focuses on an aspect of literature, such as story line, building toward a climax, how plot is influenced by theme, characterization, tone,…

A CONTINUATION OF "TEACHING LITERATURE IN GRADES 7 THROUGH 9" (SEE ED 013 804.), THIS BOOK OFFERS A TEACHING APPROACH WHICH EMPHASIZES THE CLOSE READING OF LITERARY WORKS IN A SEQUENTIAL ORDER OF INCREASING COMPLEXITY. EACH OF THE FIRST THREE SECTIONS ("POETRY,""SHORT STORY," AND "DRAMA", PRESENTS A PROGRAM…

Modern drama criticism is rebuked for taking the "closet drama approach" which reduces the theater to yet another type of philosophical and content-oriented literary genre. Group participation and discussion are suggested as means by which the student is encouraged to stage an imaginary performance leading to intelligibility and appreciation of…

Spontaneity and personal freedom are seen as the fundamental requisites to creative teaching. Unseen pressures leading to increasing conformity in classroom procedures and methods are revealed and constrasted with unique examples of teaching Thoreau, Kafka, and Donne. Teachers are urged to rely upon their own creative impulses. (RL)

Within the English curriculum, a course to provide familiarity with Western culture may prevent the problem of foreign students' misunderstanding Western literature. This problem was observed at Iran Girls' College during an American literature short story class conducted for advanced seniors, none of whom had been in America but whose English…

Selections from world literature can increase high school students' interest in reading, their familiarity with age-old literary themes, their understanding of literary genres, their awareness of varying cultures, and their skill in analyzing and writing about literature. A world literature course with those aims introduced in a small Wisconsin…