Shows how a teacher used paintings as a basis for writing exercises designed to teach students about the subjectivity of interpretation and the importance of visual imagery. Describes a number of specific writing assignments and classroom activities involving description, interpretation, drawing, poetry, and research papers. (TB)

Describes the dominant discourses regarding modern and postmodern selfhood in the light of empirical observation. Speculates about trends in post-postmodern conceptualizations of the self as it might conceivably be lived in the future. (HB)

Presents commentaries from Clark Kent Ervin, A. J. Williams-Meyers, and Paul T. Murray on Alan L. Keyes'"Masters of the Dream: The Strength and Betrayal of Black America" (1995). They respond to Keyes' controversial assertions, among which is that the Great Society movement and liberalism have undermined black progress that today's…

Critiques the argument made in "Transcending" that the consumer metaphor of education has a detrimental effect on teaching/learning practices, arguing that the paper fails to understand how people use metaphors in discourse. Suggests that, rather than taking the metaphor literally, educators use it to think in new ways about education. (11…

Focuses on the resonance and power of the Madonna, or the Virgin Mary, in literature and culture. Argues that the Madonna represents womanhood and feminism. Describes how the multiple readings of "The Scarlet Letter" charted one professor's changing relationship over 10 years with the Jesuit institution where she taught. (HB)

Discusses the issue of school prayer and explains why prayer in any organized, public, and ongoing form is unworkable in what the author views as a post-Christian nation. The article also explores the insufficiency of the 1984 Equal Access Act that requires schools to grant religious student groups the same privileges as nonreligious groups. (GR)

Claims that the field of rhetoric and composition is currently embroiled in a debate regarding the question of politics in the English classroom. Outlines the current debate and provides analysis. Makes suggestions for teaching rhetorical values by discussing the historical tradition of rhetoric and ethics. (HB)

Reports on a computerized statistical study of discourse bias and the specificity of female writing against male writing. Examines the characters in 20 novels written by male and female Francophone African authors. Finds a number of significant differences that characterize the make-up of novels by the two sexes. (CFR)

Describes a nine-week, secondary-school, language arts unit on the American dream with an emphasis on multicultural issues, particularly as they concern those students who are apathetic about or resistant to the multicultural program. Reviews specific lesson approaches to "The Great Gatsby,""Baseball in April,""Justin and…

Reviews six children's books about American Indian culture, traditional life, and folk tales by Native and non-Native authors. Discusses questions related to whether non-Natives should write about Native life, whether the same criticism should apply to Native and non-Native authors, and problems in adapting oral materials. (SV)

In his works, Richard Wright denounces murder while advocating collectivism as an essential ingredient for effecting social change. The short story collection "Uncle Tom's Children" and the novel "Native Son" are the focal points in this analysis of Wright's recurring themes. (SLD)

Four African-American and West Indian novels of childhood illustrate relationships and bonding between mothers and sons: (1) "Go Tell It on the Mountain" (James Baldwin); (2) "Not without Laughter" (Langston Hughes); (3) "Amongst Thistles and Thorns" (Austin Clarke); and (4) "In the Castle of My Skin"…

Outlines a year-long high school writing course in which students learn to write using a variety of styles and modes for different purposes and audiences and learn to analyze classic and contemporary U.S. writers. Notes that the course includes practice in journalistic writing forms as well as a unit in publication design. (SR)

Presents several class activities for eighth and ninth graders that explore how different readings of a text are constructed, what values each reading supports, and whose interests it serves. Discusses multiple meanings, constructed readings, dominant and resistant readings, and reading character. (SR)