Presents guidelines for using Jean Stafford's initiation story in high school literature classes. Describes a story that has humor, warmth, and a richness of theme that is appealing to both boys and girls. (NKA)

Describes a high school project to encourage creative writing across the curriculum by designating a "Publications Coordinator," whose job is to help fledgling writers by keeping track of opportunities available for publication and generally aiding young writers. (NKA)

Defines free writing, reviews the philosophy and history of free writing, and discusses some problems that it entails. (NKA)

Outlines a student-conducted literature course that uses several classic novels ("My Antonia,""The Pearl," etc.) as the basis for group discussion, writing, and oral performance activities--all directed toward extracting "meaning" from the books selected. (NKA)

Lists and briefly describes 24 books in several categories chosen by young readers as the best books of 1986. (NKA)

Enumerates ways in which material recorded directly from the radio (interviews, sports commentaries, etc.) and TV ("People's Court") can be used in high school to teach a wide range of English skills. (NKA)

Relates, in third-grade students' own words, the rewards and difficulties of creative writing in the classroom. (NKA)

Considers: (1) research by George Hillocks using meta-analysis to examine four modes of composition instruction; (2) role playing in classroom to improve student writing of persuasive letters or opinion essays; (3) process approach to English instruction, which allows for complex nature of individual learning styles; and (4) resource for promising…

Examines a very successful popular magazine published between 1899 and 1950 that was devoted to "correct" English usage. Argues that its fundamental aim was to help its readers to know how to conduct themselves in proper (i.e., elite) society. Its longtime editor defended her prescriptive view of English usage and offered many observations and…

Advocates the effective use of videotapes of classic novels in the English classroom to stimulate interest, motivate learning, and enrich curriculum. Since only a limited number of full-length novels can be read in a survey course, some can be viewed instead, and the number of novels studied can be increased in this way. (NKA)

Explores the origins and elements of popular culture--noting that English instruction and popular culture need not be mutually exclusive, and that selected materials from popular culture may serve goals of the English curriculum without compromising them. (NKA)

Elaborates some strategies for incorporating soap opera into a composition course for remedial English students. Approach provides an instructional uniformity--everyone will be writing on the same subject matter; and plot, narrative, characterization, structure, etc. can be discussed and essay topics developed. (NKA)

Suggests an alternative approach for a popular culture course--an exploration of the culture of the students' parents, or "unpopular" culture. Possible activities for a unit include: interviews (on entertainment preferences, for example), observations (dress codes for social gatherings, parental food and drink habits, etc.), or an attic or closet…

Proposes a study of "Citizen Kane" in high school using a somewhat simplified version of post-modern literary critical theory. Chooses this film because of its familiarity and accessibility and because the ambiguity and indeterminacy of its text allow room for exploration by students. (NKA)

Presents a model for a composition workshop using topics generated from the popular media. Designed to help students explore the mimetic characteristics of popular culture and to analyze the appeals, claims, and techniques used in advertising. Grouped under thematic guidelines of social roles, assignments are flexible in length but easily changed…