Well, my apologies for missing class today. I was looking forward to talking about how we all would approach this in teaching. Unfortunately, illness has a way of crushing plans…  I was able to gather some strength for the evening class- hopefully that was not a mistake and I will be able to attend class tomorrow morning. No promises because for whatever ungodly reason this illness likes to strike me down in the morning.

Anyway- TEACHING.

So I think this would be good to use in a ENGL 101 course as like an “introduction to research writing” I know there’s a whole class dedicated to this- but I would have other plans for that course. Plus, you write research papers before you take research writing. I would have the students work in a group to make it less intimidating. I would have them do a very short research report (3-4 pages- if that) and a presentation on a section of the book.  Background is important, especially when trying to interpret poetry and differential texts. So they would get experience using the library, internet search engines through the library, (hopefully I am teaching at a school where the library is actually helpful instead of a hindrance- but I won’t hold my breath) I also think team work is a valuable thing to learn- especially in college, because we all have to work together and communicate in group projects in many courses. This skill can of course be translated into the workplace and the real world.   In order to make sure everyone participates, group members will be asked to fill out a “review” of their fellow group members after the project is turned in and the presentation occurs. Speaking of the presentation, I feel that public speaking is also an important skill to develop while in college because it is- again- one of those things that you have to do in multiple classes and can translate into the work-place and the real world.

This project will also help students realize that race and racism is still a real issue in America. Hopefully they will be sensitive to the issue in the classroom. They will also -again- be able to translate this (hopefully) into the real world and work place and will not be racist- or at least acknowledge that racism does exist. Also, hopefully they will understand that America, the land of the free, is not really all that free for some people.