One approach to foreign language literature appreciation focuses on demystifying literature and encouraging and maintaining active student motivation and interest in the creative process. The literature lesson is divided and presented in four parts: directed observation; active analysis by discussion groups; re-creation of characters; and creative…

Focusing on rhetorical strategies employed by U. S. presidents in response to states of emergency, investigates differences between discourse (1) initially constituting the government's sole response and (2) accompanying, justifying, and rationalizing specific military moves undertaken. Analyzes five presidential messages, categorizing each as…

Replies to Rist's unfavorable evaluation of Barone's own article critiquing the arts program of a black elementary school. Argues that quantitative social science research has unsuccessfully modeled itself on scientific methodology, but camouflages its subjectivity and fictionalizes the entire research undertaking. Crafting an educational…

Continues an examination of the Nancy Drew series, finding in the character of the young female detective Nancy evidence of autonomy and of a profound but covert feminism that is not present in the many imitations of the series that appeared later. (NKA)

Defines and contrasts the rhetorical status (individual's and groups' potential influence in society through symbols) of some Blacks and Whites under slavery, and analyzes the more powerful forms of persuasion employed by many Blacks during and after Reconstruction. (SR)

Discusses Malcolm X's rhetoric use of animal imagery to modify Blacks' image of White America. In general, his rhetoric reflected societal conflict through word choice, sentence structure, and delivery style. The usefulness of his rhetoric in addressing other images that are in need of change is discussed. (BJV)

Discusses William Beatty Warner's "Reading Clarissa: The Struggles of Interpretation," a study of Samuel Richardson's role as eighteenth-century critic and interpreter of his own novels. Examines the treatment of character by both Richardson and Warner, focusing on Richardson's humanist interpretation and Warner's anti-humanist…

Argues that literature instruction should enable readers to find the connections between their experience and the literary work. Explains how discussions can be guided to focus on students' reactions, perceptions, and associations with a text. (MM)

Speeches given at the 1986 ALSC (Association for Library Services to Children) Charlemae Rollins President's Program on the nature of productive analysis of children's books are presented in three articles. The need to select books that are challenging and exciting to read is discussed, and literary and extraliterary criteria for evaluating books…

Formulates a middle-level theory that explains the process by which rhetroic is epistemic, using Foucault's notion of the discursive formation as a starting point. Discusses five theoretical units derived from Foucault--discursive practices, rules, roles, power, and knowledge--and relationships among them. Analyzes Disneyland, using Foucault's…

Suggests that the loss of early American rhetorical traditions encouraged approaches to writing that emphasized prescriptive rules without acknowledging the art involved in the process, but that current "practical rhetoric" is more aligned with the art of composing and is both theoretically and empirically based. (SKC)

Describes Senator Albert Jerimiah Beveridge as a leader in two early twentieth-century movements: imperialism and progressivism. Indicates that Beveridge's success demonstrates the possibility that rhetors can adapt to changes in the rhetorical situation without surrendering their personal convictions. (JK)

Using "historicist" techniques, scholars have offered challenging alternatives to standard views on the Romantic era. Historicists advocate yoking theories such as deconstruction with analyses of political, social, and other factors that played a role in the creation of period literature. An exhibit touring the United States is…

Presents five reasons for classroom study of Mary Shelley's gothic work: (1)intriguing style and subject matter, brevity and novelty; (2)narrative versatility; (3)representation of the Romantic Era in English literature; (4)female authorship; (5)significance of the central theme of "scientific aims pursued in reckless disregard of human…

While taking issue with the medium that has given students a distorted view of the world in which they live, proposes legitimizing television's presence in the classroom by studying its rhetorical devices in order to demystify it. Offers a methodology for analyzing television news and includes two schematic figures. (JK)