Language and Literacy Education Commons^™

Book Review: Neverworld Wake, Maddison Driggs

The Utah English Journal

Neverworld Wake lives between life and death, which is where five estranged friends find themselves one rainy evening the summer after their first year of college. This novel closely follows Bee as she navigates the trauma of the past, the pain of the present, and the fear of the future while she and her old friends try to find a way to survive Neverworld Wake. By uncovering the secrets of the past—a tragedy in which they all hold a small part of the truth—Bee and her four friends find answers in unexpected ways as they ultimately face the reality of …

“Higher” School: Nineteenth-Century High Schools And The Secondary-College Divide, Amy J. Lueck

English

This article traces the emergence of nineteenth-century U.S. high schools in the landscape of higher education, attending to the gendered, raced, and classed distinctions at play in this development. Exploring differences in the conceptualization and status of high schools in Louisville, Kentucky, for white male, white female, and mixed-gender African American students, this article reminds us of how these institutional types have been situated, socially inflected, and structured in relation to broader political and power structures that transcend explicit pedagogical considerations. As a result, I argue for the recognition of high schools as historically significant sites in the history of …

Using Mindset Pedagogy To Promote Growth And Increase Efficacy In Student Writers, Sara Hoeve

Dissertations

This dissertation offers four in-depth, vivid profiles of twelfth grade writers and the ways in which writing mindsets impact self-beliefs and inform the writing process. The multiple case study explores the impact of a mindset pedagogy, which is defined as an instructional paradigm that emphasizes the malleable nature of writing, as an ability that can be developed with effort, learning, and dedication over time. This belief contrasts the notion that writing ability is fixed trait that cannot be significantly developed over time.

Derived from Dweck's mindset theory, my dissertation argues for a discipline-specific construct of the "writing mindset,” which refers …

The Mania Of Morphemic Analysis: Multisyllabic, Meaningful, Magical, Jennifer Fritz

Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Literacy

As academic expectations have increased in recent years due to the rigors of the Common Core State Standards, students are encountering a greater rate of multisyllabic words earlier in their schooling. Proficiency in reading has not paralleled this upward trend. Students are not receiving sufficient instruction to enable them to successfully decode and derive meaning from the multisyllabic words in their texts. To ascertain the effects of multisyllabic instruction on student performance in upper elementary students, we formulated an instructional model to teach syllabication and word morphology to determine if explicit instruction in syllabication and structural analysis had an effect …

Allegorical Reference To Oxford University Through Classical Myth In The Early Poetry Of Dorothy L. Sayers: A Reading Of “Alma Mater” From Op.I.., Barbara L. Prescott

Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Mythopoeic Literature

Dorothy L. Sayers is rarely considered to be an author of mythopoeic literature or one whose own writings contain the metaphors or allegories of myth and legend. Yet, as a young adult at Oxford University, Sayers produced a variety of poems that, centering upon Oxford and her experiences as a student, explored mythic themes as they related to the university. Her early poems, written while an undergraduate at Oxford and directly afterward, were built upon three motifs: classical mythology, mediaeval legend, and Christian romanticism. These Oxford-centered poems were included in Dorothy L. Sayers’s first book titled, OP. I., published …

International Students’ Responses To Explicit Instruction On Vocabulary Learning Strategies: Implications For Eap Courses, Wing Shuen Lau

TESOL Theses

Given that the importance of understanding the academic language is strongly associated with the academic vocabulary size, vocabulary knowledge is regarded as one of the most crucial areas of language competence to bolster academic achievement. The present study investigates the effectiveness of two different strategies of vocabulary acquisition in English including 1) learning from sample sentences and 2) learning from word parts. Results are significant for immediate testing and reveal the beneficial role of explicit instruction on vocabulary learning strategies that increases international students’ English vocabulary learning ability. The study also discusses survey responses from the participants in relation to …

The Simple Math Of Writing Well: Writing For The 21st Century, Jennie A. Harrop

Open Textbooks

Writing guides abound, but The Simple Math of Writing Well is one of a kind. Readers will find its practical approach affirming, encouraging, and informative, and its focus on the basics of linguistic structure releases 21st-century writers to embrace the variety of mediums that define our internet-connected world. As Harrop reminds us in the opening chapters of her book, we write more today than ever before in history: texts, emails, letters, blogs, reports, social media posts, proposals, etc. The Simple Math of Writing Well is the first guide that directly addresses the importance of writing well in the Google age.

La Variedad De Los Cráneos, Michael Wheeler

Open Access Books

La variedad de los cráneos was written and illustrated in 2018 by Michael Wheeler. The original text was edited and translated by Mackensy Asbell and Madeline Strelec. New, original illustrations were created by Rina Sato.

Un Cumpleaños Colorido, Tejas Kandharkar

Open Access Books

Un cumpleaños colorido was written and illustrated in 2018 by Tejas Kandharkar. The original text was edited and translated by Mackensy Asbell and Madeline Strelec. New, original illustrations were created by Rina Sato.

An Exploration Of Representations Of Race And Ethnicity In Three Transitional Series For Young Children, Sonia M. Balkaran

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis seeks to explore the related research literature surrounding representations and portrayals of protagonists of various multicultural backgrounds in series or transitional books. As teachers, it is essential to acknowledge the lack of multicultural characters in children's literature among elementary classroom bookshelves and learn how to incorporate literature featuring strong main characters of varying races and ethnicities so that children can see role models who mirror their own contexts. Prior studies, such as Gangi (2008) and Green and Hopenwasser (2017) have examined the deficiency of multicultural literature in the classroom, particularly among transitional stories, which shows the importance of …

Coming To Voice: An Analysis Of Social Justice And Transformative Learning Approaches In English Language Curriculum Design, Lucy Burriss

Capstone Collection

Language is a tool for communication and an expression of cultural values, norms and beliefs. Teaching the English language is a global profession that carries social justice and ethical implications. The School of English for Engaged Social Service (SENS), a program of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB) offers an alternative and transformative English learning opportunity, which emphasizes self-reflection and strengthening interpersonal relationships to live a life of greater integrity and work towards social change. Yet, there are still social justice implications to consider in any program or initiative. This Training Course Linked Capstone (CLC) is an analysis of …

Playing And Learning Through Text And Images: Examining Features Of Adolescent Literacy And The Potential Of Graphic Novels As A Supportive Tool, Emily Ann Bushta

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Graphic novels have been making their way into the classroom steadily during the past two decades. Whether their use is for a pedagogical purpose or pleasure, graphic novels are grabbing the attention of adults and youth alike. As general interest arises surrounding graphic novels, increased scholarship discussing their purpose, structure, and use has appeared across a variety of disciplines. Educators, especially those with younger students, are drawn to the genre. Their interest has produced a growing body of literature; however, these publications often lack quantitative data and typically offer qualitative conclusions about the benefits of graphic novels in classroom contexts. …

Final Ma Portfolio, Jessica Goodman

Master of Arts in English Plan II Graduate Projects

A Final Portfolio submitted to the English Department of Bowling Green State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the field of English with a specialization in English teaching. The first project is a syllabus for a course on American protest literature. The second project is a five-week major assignment plan focusing on identity and rhetorical writing choices. The third paper is a theory and practice synthesis of empowering literacy alongside a checklist for teachers who wish to include empowering literacy in their classrooms. Finally, the fourth item is a revision (re-vision) …

Final Ma Portfolio, Annelise Mason

Master of Arts in English Plan II Graduate Projects

This portfolio contains papers on Urban Education and teaching speakers of African American Language/ African American Vernacular English. As the capstone to my Masters in English with a Specialization in Teaching, I have chosen four papers to revise and resubmit: “Intertwining Narratives: Stories of the I-280 Bridge Collapse,” “Reshaping Attitudes: Tailoring Urban Education to fit the African American Student,” “The Study of Language in a Multi-Dialectical Classroom,” and “Youth Acquisition and Ownership Is Crucial Language Vitality.” "Intertwining Narratives" is a report on the I-280 bridge collapse in Toledo. "Reshaping Attitudes" is an explanation of some best practice in urban education. …

Creating A Community Of Writers, Melissa Heaton

The Utah English Journal

An essential focus of English teachers is to help their students read, think, and eventually write like writers. However, these lofty goals are more challenging to reach when students write in isolation. Budding writers need to collaborate with peers who share common goals and purpose. When done correctly, a writing “community has the power to motivate its members to exceptional performance” (Bickford 4.2). Thus, elevating students to become the writers that their teachers hope they will become.

Book Review: Ghosts, Joshlin Sheridan

The Utah English Journal

Adults often use soothing catchphrases to reassure frightened children. The scared child is told, “there is no such thing as ghosts.” The mourning child is reminded that her “grandmother is in a better place,” and the sick child is reassured that she will “get better soon.” How would a child react, however, if she discovered that ghosts were real and living in her town? How would she feel realizing that some illnesses are incurable?

The Utah English Journal, Volume 45, 2017: Full Issue

The Utah English Journal

No abstract provided.

Asking The Tough Questions: Teaching Literature And Nonfiction Through Critical Literacy To Recapture Our Voices, Agency, And Mission, Elsie L. Olan, Wendy Farkas, Kia Jane Richmond

Conference Presentations

Exploding the Myth of Mental Illness

Disrupting Notions Of Stigma While Empowering Voices: Examining Language Identity, Mental Illness, And Disability Through Young Adult Literature, Elsie L. Olan, Wendy Farkas, Kia Jane Richmond

Conference Presentations

Presenter Two will share new research on young adult literature which features characters with mental illness. She will describe strategies for using texts such as Your Voice is All I Hear (2015), Thirteen Reasons Why (2007), and The Impossible Knife of Memory (2014) to analyze and critique representations of mental illness in young adult literature. Drawing on research by Koss & Teale (2009) and Richmond (2014), this presenter will help session attendees interrogate “the power of language choices” and “become empowered to confront the stigma associated with mental illness and confront bullying” (p. 24).

The Laser Loop: A Structured Process Approach Activity For Teaching Argumentative Writing, Larkin Weyand

The Utah English Journal

On August 7, 2016, ten-year-old Caleb Schwab rode the world’s tallest water slide, the Verrückt (German for “insane”) at the Schlitterbahn Water Park in Kansas City. During the 168-foot plummet, Caleb came free from his safety harness, was ejected into the safety netting, and died from what was originally classified as a “neck injury” but later identified as a decapitation. His family has mourned him in public, expressing their grief but also their intention to prevent similar tragedies. According to CBS news, the two adult women riding the raft with Caleb, mothers themselves, have threatened litigation, pending an investigation, to …

Book Review: Making Curriculum Pop: Developing Literacies In All Content Areas, Jessica Lynn Reschke

The Utah English Journal

One of my students is sitting at a worn-out desk and staring at the whiteboard with an occasional glance at the clock. She is looking at me, but it seems as if the words I am saying are going in one ear and out the other. I know she cannot wait for my class to be over. It is important that I cover the course material and meet certain teaching criteria, but how can I make learning more exciting for my students?

Book Review: Goodbye Days, Courtney Jones

The Utah English Journal

Carver Briggs is an aspiring writer attending a prestigious school of the arts for the young and gifted in Jeff Zentner’s Goodbye Days. Carver pours hours into his work and future career, but never imagines that just two sentences could change his life forever: “Where are you guys? Text me back.” These become the most influential words he ever writes, because they result in the deaths of his three best friends.

Interlude Ii: Imitation Poetry To Write Narratives, Gaylynn Parker

The Utah English Journal

Although I focus on poetry during National Poetry Month in April, I like to intersperse poetry throughout the year. Most of my students think they hate poetry until they have a positive experience writing poetry. Imitation poetry is easy, and with the right prompt, students can write beautiful poetry and feel successful.

Book Review: Disruptive Thinking: Why How We Read Matters, Elise Orgille

The Utah English Journal

The ability to read is one of the most valuable skills students gain throughout the course of their education. Teachers work hard to help their students decode words and comprehend meaning, but what is the purpose of comprehension if students do not value what they read? In their book Disruptive Thinking: Why How We Read Matters, Kylene Beers and Robert E. Probst bring reading to the next level, reminding teachers and students that reading is a gift.

“Why Does Someone Have To Die At The End Of The Play?": How The Texts We Teach Shape Students’ Perceptions, Amy Piotrowski

The Utah English Journal

A few years ago, a group of students in my 11th grade English class came to some interesting conclusions about American literature. We were finishing the school year by reading A Raisin in the Sun, and the students were enjoying reading the play even though the countdown to summer vacation was well underway. This class was a group of reluctant readers, not interested in doing much reading, especially now that we had completed the state standardized test. One afternoon, when we were halfway through the play, I came into the classroom to start the day’s discussion. Several students were huddled …

To Read Or Not To Read The “Classics”: Teaching Hamlet, Tara Pearce

The Utah English Journal

If you happened to walk by my classroom the day I told my students we were going to be reading a Shakespeare play, you would have witnessed a revolt. Perhaps the word “revolt” seems strong, but their reactions were also unexpectedly strong— swearing, storming out of class, slamming the door, a chair or two being knocked over in the process. They were furious, and frightened, about the prospect of reading Shakespeare. “We can’t understand Shakespeare,” “I don’t even read,” “Miss, Shakespeare is boring,” “This has nothing to do with us!” I heard phrases like these, peppered with profanity of course, …

Speak The Speech, Ditch The Desk: Teaching Shakespeare As Dramatic Text, Shawnda Moss

The Utah English Journal

Shakespeare is a staple in any English Language Arts classroom, but the value of the Shakespeare experience in your classroom has a lot to do with how you go about teaching the material. You have the power to make Shakespeare’s plays a strictly academic literature study or make them come alive as students actively explore and play with his themes, storylines, and characters. Shakespeare’s plays are dramatic works, so it is key to present them to your students as living, breathing, evolving texts. Studying his plays with a dramatic context allows students to relate physically, vocally, and emotionally with the …

Say Yes: Reading Infographics In The English Classroom, Samantha Andrus-Henry

The Utah English Journal

A summer or two ago, I was reading Shonda Rhimes’ (2015) book Year of Yes, while sitting in a waiting room where three teenage girls were discussing a beauty infographic in a popular glamour magazine. The infographic was beautifully composed and engaging at a glance, but as I looked a bit longer, I noticed a few flaws, and wondered what the informal literature circle I saw unfolding beside me thought. So I tuned in more closely to their conversation, and was startled at the deductions and reasoning I heard happening as the girls interpreted the infographic and applied it to …

Professional Development That Honors Teacher Agency, Jon Ostensen

The Utah English Journal

As a new teacher, I remember judging those teachers who came to professional development (PD) meetings with a bad attitude, who often spent the meeting grading papers or immersed in their lesson plan books. Perhaps I was used to sitting in a class and being lectured at (the style of many of the PD seminars I attended in the 1990s), or maybe I was just too inexperienced to question the standard procedure. As time passed and I spent more time in these settings, I started to understand the reactions of those veteran teachers, and my own frustration and resentment grew …