The document presents two papers related to philosophy instruction at the high school level. The first paper suggests how to motivate beginning philosophy students by injecting a sense of reality and relevance into class discussions. One recommendation for furthering this sense of reality is to ask questions of current interest such as whether…

Discusses whether the "old" realism has matured and the "new" realism (drugs, abortion, and homosexuality) in current books for young people. Compares "Skinny" (in the traditional vein) and "Mom, the Wolf Man and Me" (in terms of new realism). (JM)

Proposes that Flannery O'Connor's work should be judged apart from the author's comments about it. Suggests her work should be evaluated on its own merits, read as fiction that represents and reflects the real world. Concludes that O'Connor was a "religious propagandist of minor importance who wrote didactic fiction." (PM)

Addresses problems concerning the ways Flannery O'Connor's fiction has been read. Proposes an alternate reading of "A Good Man Is Hard to Find." Suggests the primary theme of the story is the idea that each generation has the responsibility to pass on values to the next. (PM)

This guide presents teaching strategies for using the basic texts adopted for American literature study in two different year-long courses. Included are the rationale, course objectives, course outline, suggested units and activities, and individualized projects using media for "American Literature, Chronologically Speaking," and the rationale,…

Argues that carefully selected, adolescent novels can foster young people's moral development and describes the four essential characteristics such books should display: a moral dilemma, identified alternatives, moral reasoning, and a moral decision. (HOD)

Includes annotated bibliographies of young adult books written in the 1980s by Black authors. Selections intended to interest Black teenagers represent both historical and contemporary realistic fiction. (NKA)

Discussion of a project in which adolescent novels were analyzed in terms of the characters' incorporation of information skills in problem solving notes the lack of information skills models in adolescent literature. Ways to use these novels--even though they lack models--to teach adolescents information and problem solving skills are suggested.…

Suggests that real life can be depressing enough without subjecting teenagers to a steady diet of reading assignments whose content is largely negative. Laments that a search has turned up so few examples of "good" literature and asks for suggestions. (RBW)