Part of the TRIED Series (teaching resources in the ERIC database, condensed and reorganized from their original sources to offer a wide but manageable range of teaching suggestions, useful ideas, and classroom techniques), this book focuses on practical suggestions for developing critical thinking, reading, and writing skills at both the…

A synthesis of the report, "The Current State of Assessment in Literature," (produced by the Center for the Learning and Teaching of Literature), this digest discusses methods of evaluating students' knowledge of literature. The digest argues that, by and large, the tests that now exist in the United States do not live up to the…

There are two types of literacy: mechanical literacy and critical literacy. Those who teach mechanical literacy use language to oppress, while those who teach critical literacy use language to liberate. The mechanical view of literacy oppresses because it encourages passivity and acceptance of authority, places a disproportionate emphasis on…

Reacting to the tradition which has reduced rhetorics to summaries of rules and principles, this book presupposes that Plato's "Phaedrus," Aristotle's "Rhetoric," and Cicero's "De Oratore" cannot be reduced to summary information or pedagogical advice. The book considers that these works, on the contrary, along with…

The new General Educational Development test demands that students read critically. Teaching critical reading presents a twofold challenge to teachers. First, they must help students expand their knowledge in content areas. They must also teach students the skills involved in reading critically. Because the skills entailed in critical reading are…

This article presents an account of how one teacher and one student work through James Joyce's short story, "Eveline," illustrating an important reconceptualization of literacy--the teacher struggles to make public those aspects of reading which are often only assumed or left covert, namely, entering the world of the text, groping for…

To enhance reading comprehension and critical reading skills, more attention should be placed on patterns inherent in the English language. (JH)

The study of literary art and the study of ourselves are ultimately the same thing. (JH)

The second document in a curriculum series describes objectives from three units of a program to meet the needs of academically gifted elementary students in the area of reading, with emphasis on comprehension skills including critical and creative reading. Units have the following objectives: to identify the causes presented in a given selection,…

College freshmen often misread poetry because they cannot read precisely, because the culture and the teachers stereotype poetry as cryptic frill, or because they underread the poem's complexity of response. These problems can be surmounted by using a facets approach to discover the meaning of a poem. Facets illuminate the fact that various poems…

A study was designed to formulate a taxonomy of the literary response processes of children. Three fifth grade girls reading above grade level were asked to read two books that treated a common subject (the death of a child) in different ways. Interviews with the children were recorded so that their literary responses could be analyzed for…

The theme of this issue of the "Connecticut English Journal" is poetry instruction. Numerous ideas, examples, programs, and resources are offered to help students and teachers learn to read, analyze, write, and enjoy poems. The 28 articles and poems provide interpretations of what poetry is, ideas for publishing student writing, strategies for…

THIS SECOND ISSUE OF VOLUME 1 OF "THE OKLAHOMA READER" PRESENTS SIX ARTICLES IN AN EFFORT TO EXTEND THE WORK OF THE OKLAHOMA READING COUNCIL TO TEACHERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. THE ARTICLES CONCERN PLANS FOR A REMEDIAL PROGRAM, THE ROLE OF ILLUSTRATIONS IN BASIC READERS, WORD ATTACK SKILLS, STRENGTHENING ATTENTION SPAN, CRITICAL READING, USE OF…

DURING EACH OF THE FOUR SESSIONS REPORTED, A READING EXPERT SPOKE ON ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TOPICS--(1) REMEDIAL READING, (2) THE MID-CONTINENTAL REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL LABORATORY READING PROGRAM AND MEETING INDIVIDUAL NEEDS, (3) READING AS REASONING, AND (4) THE CONTROVERSY OVER INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNIQUES. THE PARTICIPANTS DISCUSSED EACH TOPIC…

The publications of the Marvel Comics Group warrant serious consideration as a legitimate narrative enterprise. While it is obvious that these comic books can be used in the classroom as a source of reading material, it is not so obvious that these comic books, with great economy, simplicity, and narrative density, can be used to further introduce…