The main idea this week involved sharing the relationships between summer reading Literature and How to Read Literature like a Professor by creating a visual metaphor. It was a practice that I had not yet tried and I enjoyed observing the interactions of students as they puzzled through the ideas. Initially many seemed unsure about the strategy, but once they overcame that hurdle they each entered into strong (and complex) ideas about Lit. It was wonderful to see the "ah ha!" moments as connections began to fit in their minds eye. The practice was a nice way to weave summer reading into the beginning of the year as a low-risk activity.
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.
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.