Highlights Canadian writer George Bowering's view of reading as metaphor and process (shaping both his fiction and his developing sense of interpretation as a political act) by focusing on two of his books, "Burning Water" and "Caprice." (SR)

Critiques teleological narrative structures implicit in the work of some classical historians, adopting instead a multilayered historiographical method. Argues that a law instituted in 451/450 B.C.E. by Pericles opened up a possibility for resisting women's exclusion from the public sphere. Reads Gorgias' and Isocrates' speeches on Helen of Troy…

Burgess' novel, "A Clockwork Orange," is discussed as a perfect example of schema theory in operation. The book's overwhelming linguistic accomplishment is based on Nadsat, a language coined by Burgess and described as bits of rhyming slang, gypsy talk, with Slavic roots and propaganda components. (seven references) (LB)

Uses the communications theory of Habermas to analyze the structure of the debate about educational administration between Thomas Greenfield and Daniel Griffiths. Addresses the debate's paradigmatic nature; the ideal speech situation, the public sphere, and the forum of the debate; strategic speech actions; and validity claims. (DMM)

Discusses the history and literary value of young adult novels written mainly for adolescents. Topics covered include measures of quality; literary criticism and reviews; specific characteristics of young adult novels related to the elements of plot, characterization, dialogue, setting, point of view, and style; and critical standards. (nine…

Investigated the possibility that some kindergartners exhibit patterns of affective reactions associated with helplessness. Results indicated that, after they were criticized by their teachers, some kindergartners showed affective reactions and made self-evaluations associated with motivational helplessness. Reactions were related to conceptions…

Considers a feminist research agenda in literature for youth. Highlights include the sexist nature of literary theory; traditional studies of youth literature; feminist criticism and archetypal approaches, genre criticism, and reader response criticism; and a selected list of feminist scholarship and literary criticism applicable to youth…

Advances a "rhetoricized" conception of alienation through the work of Mary Wollstonecraft, a British feminist writing in the 1790s. Suggests that alienation is a discursive problem posed by the interpolation of women throughout history and the reification of those interpolations over time. Shows how alienation functions as a critical…

Presents a five-step series of lessons which introduce seventh-grade language arts students to literary criticism and analysis as they progress through a text, moving from surface evaluation to thoughtful analysis. (SR)

Analyzes judicial rhetoric in U.S. Supreme Court civil liberties cases. Finds three related inventional strands: a rhetoric of efficiency, an evolving reasonableness standard, and appeals to tradition and majoritarian morality. Shows how these rhetorical turns have redefined the Court's role and transformed the Court from the guardian of…

Describes a quest, both as an editor and as a reader, to understand the compelling power of the genre of fantasy novels. Argues that fantasy is created out of the building blocks of the world and of the human psyche and is driven by powerful ideas and that, as such, it provides a map for living. (SR)

Questions why there is such an emphasis on mathematics for all students and what all students should know, calls for open-minded criticism of current recommendations for reform, and discusses current reforms of teacher education. (MKR)

Uses vice president Albert Gore Jr.'s book "Earth in the Balance" as a case study to examine the relationship between analogy and "presence." Argues that presence is a flexible critical construct allowing for examination of the relationship between the style, substance, and structure of arguments. Explores relationships between…

This response to criticism of a previous article discusses the ways in which learners exist in and move through communities and how changing locations affect learning processes. Topics addressed include prior knowledge; practice-based, situated learning; political philosophy; learning as a social practice; and implications for the design of…

Examines arguments that view "The Secret Garden" as stereotyping female roles and making females subservient to males. Argues that Mary's quest remains central throughout the book and is successful to the point that she is able to transcend egocentric concerns, while Colin remains trapped in the same kind of male self-absorption that…