Key to the activity were the purposeful conversations dealing with the readers experience, analysis, and extension of the windows into the art that is Literature. I am sure they are not aware of it, but asking students to consider their experience, analysis, and extension is the beginning of how to craft arguments, write academically, and enter into the conversations started by others - really, really useful. More to come.
The week ended with a short discussion of story v. Literature, and during the discussion students began to recognize, though the differences are subtle they are important. For example, story - or Commercial fiction - tends to be more plot driven whereas Literature tends to be more character driven. When it comes to Literature character-driven ideas are important because authors focus more on the human experience versus the mechanics needed to forward the plot of a story. At times the differences are striking oftentimes, though, differences are subtle.