The Literary Experience, Compact Edition (Available Titles Cengagenow)
"I like that approach. It should help the students focus on reading the text per se, as opposed to reading "the genre." And students need all the help they can get synthesizing. I'm also hoping that so many of my students who love film but aren't sure about their commitment to reading will see the commonality of "reading" a film and reading a text, and might be encouraged to read more.""Your 'canon' is quite inclusive-- I am happy to see females authors and authors of color well represented. I am also happy to see Shakespeare, Swift, and other 'classics.' Your literature selections include very new writing and very old-- as it should be in an introductory course in literature. As a newcomer to the text, it is reassuring to see literature that I have taught many times before along with works I have not yet taught. Teaching should be a process of continual learning, and the inclusion of unfamiliar texts allows for that.""I very much like the idea of works in different genres to teach the basic elements of literature. This not only keeps from relegating poetry to the "deeper, harder" section of the semester, but demonstrates that poetry can be read and understood by the average student. It also helps students to focus on single elements and develop their ideas about specific works rather than trying to write about a work in many general terms.""The thematic clusters are the strongest feature of the text. Teaching by themes allows the teacher and students to explore the different ways different writers examine and develop similar ideas.""In terms of the specifics of the chapter (Chapter 12) that I have been sent, I applaud the inclusion of film discussions. Students are very aware of popular culture, and film is often a good way to explain literary terms, techniques, and other tools that literature students need to learn. Additionally, the text seems not to treat film as something simply to be enjoyed (vs. enjoyed, appreciated, examined, studied, treated seriously, etc.), and as a film instructor (in addition to literature, film adaptation, etc.), this is refreshing to see."