Bridging the Gap between the Classics & Young Adult Literature: Secondary education & College

Bridging the Gap for the Young Adult Learner: Huckleberry Finn & The Chocolate War suggests YAL is the key to a successful classics reading adventure!!! Presenter: Date Event
Audience

Leisha Anderson M.S. Education (Literacy emphasis) June 9, 2012 Scholarship Event- University of Phoenix

Special Circumstances Importance

Colleagues, supervisors, (College Campus Chairs & Deans), and academic leaders of University of Phoenix

It is difficult encouraging reading to students of todays society. Why read when there is a plethora of electronic devices and computer games to explore? It is essential to build a bridge between the classics & YAL to help todays student identify, relate, and become interested in reading, not only in school, but at home as well. Reading strengthens the imagination; making it far more important than any electronic or computerized device! -Leisha Anderson

Content Analysis Breaking it down

The Quote My teachers think I am not a very good reader, that I dont like to read, but theyre wrong. This Student told Bentz that he loved to read; he often stayed home from school so he could read. An underlying issue here seems to be the disparity between what students are expected to read in the classroom and what they themselves choose to read. Sharon Virgil

What they Said

A group of 7 graders staged a rebellion During the assigned reading of Lilies of the Field. They questioned their reading rightsWhat right did I have to force this lousy book down their throats? (Hertz & Gallo, 2005, p.1). Colleges and University professors from all over have begun teaching the literature of J.K.Rowling's Harry Potter series in the classroom. And for those who grew up reading the seven book series, professors
th

What they meant

The students do not mind reading or necessarily find it hard to read, but they want a voice in what books are used for reading.

Even doctorial academics understand the importance of Bridging YAL into their rigorous curriculum.

are finding that students are able to better understand and appreciate the classic literature of Charles Dickens, according to a Washington and Lee University English professor. (Keen, 2012. Para.1).

Colleges & Universities alike are using YAL to assist their students with English courses.

Our very own ASU has a nationally known YAL Dept. www. english.clas.asu.edu/enged-yalit

Monmouth College has its own website:

Young Adult Resource Page for College Students & Other Grown-ups (Why Should Kids Have all the Fun?) http://personal.monm.edu/esolberg/youngadultlit.htm

How Bridging Strengthens the Classics

Source
Plot Characters Setting Language

Helps by
Creates a story-line that is more relatable & applicable to real life Realistic names, traits that are significant & felt by todays student Present day places that the student(s) is/are aware- time & location that is present day acceptable by students Ameliorate vocabulary & sentence/paragraphs, aid with terminology & assist in deciphering clues & context In my thesis I bridge Mark Twains Huckleberry Finn with Robert Cormiers The Chocolate War

Example: 11th Grade English Plot- A boy has hardships while facing adolescence in his hometown or near his hometown Character- Coming of age male Setting- Hometown USA Language Dialect from the south, difficult vocabulary from the 19th Century/modern English with average to college level vocabulary Example: UoP ENG/340 Creative To assist with Diane Thieles novel, Crossroads, I bring in music from Writing: Simon & Garfunkel to demonstrate rhythm & music as poetry with the poem, Richard Cory, by E.A. Robinson. I show a YouTube presentation of Billy Joels We Didnt Start the Fire to assist with T.S. Eliots The Wasteland.

~~~Classics:

~YAL: Westside Story Witness The Chocolate War Harry Potter Exact Revenge

Romeo & Juliet Hamlet Huckleberry Finn Great Expectations The Count of Monte Cristo

For some excellent classic & YAL pairings, please see the article, in The Allen Review, by Christine Sanderson entitled: Birth/Death/Rebirth: Pairing Young Adult and Classic Novels to Teach Situational Archetypes

References

Cook, L. (2000). Bridging the Gap for the Young Adult Learner: Huckleberry Finn vs. The Chocolate War. Salt Lake City, UT: Westminster College. Hertz, S., & Gallo, D. (2005). From Hinton to Hamlet: Building Bridges between Young Adult Literature and the Classics.(2nd edition). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. Hanna, J. (2012). W&L English Professor Thanks Rowling for Students Appreciation of Dickens. Washington & Lee University Media & Press. Retrieved from http://news.blogs.wlu.edu/2012/02/01/wl-english-professor-thanks-rowling-for-students-appreciationof-dickens/ Joel, B. (N/A). (2009, Oct). Billy Joel: We Didnt Start the Fire [Video file]. Available from You Tube website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFTLKWw542g Simon, P. & Garfunkel, A. (2008, March). Simon & Garfunkel: Richard Cory [Video File] Available from You Tube website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euuCiSY0qYs Virgil, S. (Sep. - Oct., 1994), More Time and Choices Overcome Students Resistance to Reading. The Clearing House. (Vol. 68, No. 1 ), pp. 52-54. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/30189035?uid=3739256&uid=2129&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&sid= 56235705653