The articles in this focused issue draw attention to works of contemporary literature with classroom potential. Four articles suggest new approaches for the reading and teaching of such established writers as Robert Frost; Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.; Eudora Welty; and Saul Bellow. Two other articles examine the bestsellers "Ordinary People" and "The Color…

Presents ideas for teachers on how to use science fiction to stimulate learning in all subject areas. (JMB)

Suggests ways to guide students in the skills of plot development so that they produce interesting fiction. (DD)

Discusses the teaching of "Bleak House" to students who are daunted by its length and complexity. Provides suggestions on how to get beyond those complexities and allow students to understand the central concerns of the book. (SRT)

Recounts the experiences of a literature instructor who moderates three different adult reading groups to demonstrate the possibilities for carrying literature outside the confines of the classroom and into other student and adult communities. (HTH)

Describes the growing respect for science fiction as a genre of literature and discusses possible uses of science fiction in the classroom. (MKM)

This theme issue of the "Virginia English Bulletin" focuses on "Literature and Its Teaching." The 15 major articles are: "Response to Literature" (Robert C. Small and Ruth Fisher); "The Power of a Good Book" (Gayle Sterrett); "Some Plain Truths about Teaching English" (Coalition of English Associations); "Introducing High School Students to…

Explores ways that science fiction can be used in the classroom in discussions of world affairs, social studies, and science. (HOD)

Briefly describes and compares 15 historical novels about the American West suggested as teaching aids to promote student interest and understanding of units on mountain men, emmigrants and settlers, cowboys and ranchers, Indian-White relations, gunfighters, the demise of the frontier, and the image of the West. (WL)

Describes a heuristic for writing about literature, especially drama and fiction. Questions from the heuristic cover character, plot, setting, and literary devices. (HTH)

The rationale for teaching short fiction to high intermediate and advanced English as a second language (ESL) students is discussed. The main use of short fiction in the ESL or bilingual class is as a decoding tool. Any reading function is peripheral. Short fiction, including non-fiction narratives, can provide a supplement to the regular…

Discusses the methods used to develop a secondary level geography unit using James Michener's "Caravans." A list of pertinent suppplementary films is included. (RM)

Explores the use of detective story writing to help children move from chronology to causality. Examines the elements of a detective mystery and includes a sample story written by a student. (HTH)

The development and selection of meaningful activities associated with literature must take into account the nature of the work, the maturity of the children and the manner in which the story is presented. Activities for literary appreciation must send the child back into the work for reconsideration. (HOD)

Notes that the brief but crucial appearances of Prince Escalus in "Romeo and Juliet" offer a key to the understanding of how plot proceeds in any dramatic or comedic work. (FL)