The popular answer among secondary-level English students world-wide might sound something like, "Because we have to!" OK, let's admit that a certain sense of duty and obligation that comes with school-life can turn the act of reading literature into a chore more than a pleasurable experience for many students. Many students claim they simply "don't like to read." Other students claim they like to read, but not what is assigned in English. Here are some other common complaints that many students have about reading in English: "This books just doesn't relate to my life," "I would read more if I got to choose the books myself," and "This book is too old!" As an English teacher, I am open to the idea that there may be some truth in these time-tested complaints.
After having read and studied 3 major works of American literature (The Crucible, The Catcher in the Rye, Of Mice and Men), and as we are currently studying William Shakespeare's Othello, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on our experiences as 10th grade English student up to this point. In trying to keep up with the demands of assigned curriculum, it becomes difficult to pause and ask important questions like, "Is this course of study worthwhile to me?" and "What am I learning from studying literature?"
So in the spirit of reflection, consider the following questions here: "Is studying literature in English worthwhile to me? Why or why not? What am I learning as a 10th grade English student, if anything, that is important to me as a student and as a person?
A good comment to the above questions will contain references to the works of literature which we have studied, and are studying, so far this year (refers to the above paragraphs). Also, a good comment will avoid obvious statements such as, "It is valuable to me because I need to read and study literature to pass the class, to pass high school, so my parents won't kill me, etc."
Please make sure your comment is checked for spelling and grammar, and is at least 150 words in length.
Points: 20
Due Date: Friday, February 20, 2009
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JOE LEE
ReplyDeleteWe read Crucible, Catcher in the rye, and Of mice and men so far and we are reading Othello now. Studying literature truly helps us to expand our vocabulary but I think I can find another answer to the question “Why study Literature?” from the books we already have read.
While reading the book Crucible, I was able to explore totally different cultures and beliefs that we can’t ever expect to be happened now days. Also, when I read the part when John gets killed because he didn’t lie and give other names unlikely others did, I thought the honest guy getting killed is not only problem in the story but also in our world. I think there’s the most important reason for reading literature that author is not just writing a story but also his ideas and thoughts about our society, and we share the ideas with authors by reading a book.
Catcher in the rye is another story wouldn’t be happened to me but I was able to learn better ways to behave by reading what Holden does and it also helped me to get open-minded to the people like Holden on the contrast, I was avoiding guys like him before.
Of mice and men is the story which made me to think about ideas on distinction. Useless people or things get killed in the story. However, this distinction exists still in our world. I thought a lot about which is really important between people and money.
Othello is the book we are reading now. I couldn’t finish the book yet, but Iago’s revenge will be done someday and we will see a tragedy and feel sympathy with the characters. Sometimes, literature’s tragedy and characters’ feelings also helps us to know that we are not alone when the characters have been what we have been before.
I think studying literature is important because it helps us understand past events in another way. It is also good because it helps us feel how other people before us thought and acted.
ReplyDelete- Jak Kumor
In my opinion, studying literature is not worthwhile to me. This is because we students read the same, old, fictional books that have the same theme every time and are not even in good condition. Most of these books we read this year were written like in the 1700s and the early to mid 20 century. The Crucible and William Shakespeare's Othello were books that I despised because I didn't even understand what their saying in the story. The books Of Mice and Men and The Catcher and the Rye were boring because one was about two men's struggle for starting a new life and the other was about a depressed kid who needs to grow up. As a 10th grade student, I believe I am learning nothing new about literature as student and as a person. So I believe that we need a variety of new books with different themes and something that we can relate to.
ReplyDelete-Tyler Dittmar
Studying literature is not worthwhile to me b/c I don’t care for it and I’m not gonna use it outside school so who cares. As a 10th grader I’m not gonna learn much cause I don’t feel the need to learn crap I don’t like. - Ryan
ReplyDeleteIn studying literature, you can put your self in anyone else’s shoes just by reading a book. You can see things from different perspectives, and learn more languages. It also opens everyone’s mind to different meaning of things. In studying literature you can understand any culture and beliefs, or see the good or the bad in everyday, see the world in different eyes, to study our past and our future history. Knowing literature broadens our vocabulary, helps us believe in one’s self and our judgments. I might be going overboard on this but this is how I feel. Yes, of coarse it is really boring to read a book you don’t understand, but it’ll mean something in the end. Everybody has a different perspective on studying literature, and I don’t mind it. I think we will be studying some sort of literature all our lives.
ReplyDeleterebecca y
Tyler Dillon
ReplyDeletePer: 7
I can see why English is so important and why I should study the English language. However, I do not find myself entertained at this moment with my English class experience. I feel that when im forced to read a story I lose my interest in it and get lost. As a student in 10th grade learning English and literature is important and all but I feel that having an English class every year of my high school career is ridiculous. All the things that we learn in English seems like review from previous years.
Yes it is worth while to me I want to study my language and know allot about it. I really don’t like Shakespeare but he did so much for our literature that I would read his plays. As of now I’m reading books and I understand them when I’m done as of before I was like what did I just read. I learned that you really have to get in to a book if you truly want to understand what it is about. The hardest part about reading a new book for me is that I don’t really like it until about half way when I understand how all the characters are. Now I like reading a little more then I did last year.
ReplyDeleteTim Clauss
Literature is not so important to me because I do not find it interesting. Some of the books we readthis year are all right. I really did not like Shakespeare. I find his books very boring and difficult to understand. Catcher in the Rye was in incredibly good book; as well as Of Mice and Men. These books made me think about things like how other people go through life and some of the challenges people face. Even though literature is not my favorite thing, I do try and learn something from what we read in class.
ReplyDeleteBruce B
Yes literature important to me, and i think its important to learn. it is important because many of the storys we read this yeah have themes to them. these themes help us to learn about life during the time period that they were written. Literature is hard to get when your readig by yourself, but when you read with a group of people its alot easier to get. But over all i dont find it very interesting because most of the books we read this yeah was totally horrible. like Othello i find that book very hard to understand because of the way they talk and its very boring. the only book i thought was ok was the Catcher In the Rye becuase it was about able going through struggle around my age ok im done.
ReplyDeleteNick Jamison
I think that we study English and literature because it, more or less, enriches our live and opens our eyes to the past. I think that studying literature and English is definitely worthwhile because it taught me values which I still follow today. Like, The Crucible taught me not to judge others or act on anger or hatred. The Catcher and the Rye gave me an insight into the mind of a boy who was not unlike myself. Overall, learning American literature can show us how America itself, and its people, have evolved and changed over the years. Looking back on our ancestors’ actions can be very affective on making future choices. The fictional, witch-hunting tales of The Crucible show us humanity’s past blunders, while, at the same time, showing the irony of America’s treatment, and how it then treated others. All of these great novels and books teach us valuable lessons for our lives.
ReplyDelete-Pat
we need to study liturature to be able to see themes and pattens in the authers writing so we can apply it to everyday life, or at least try to apply it. kevin brusha!
ReplyDeleteReading literature is healthy for the mind, I guess. But some don't find interesting for the fact that it's not something that they would normally want to read. People like to chose a type of book that would relate to them, or that they would just find interresting.not something someone assigned to them.
ReplyDelete-Abrena L.
Joe, thanks for your comments. Your comments show that you put a lot of good thought into the literature we have read so far, and also that you were able to take different things away from each work, which is great. Do you read much outside of school? Outside of the literature that we have read in class, what other books and authors have made an impact on you and why? If you had to recommend one book for all your friends and family to read what would it be?
ReplyDeleteTyler, thanks for your comments. I’m sorry that you feel you are not getting anything out of the books this year. The 10th grade titles aren’t for everyone, I guess, but maybe you’ll find something you can get into later this year. What do you think newer books could give you that the ones we are reading now can’t? I understand that reading difficult language (like in Othello) can be off-putting, but what kind of themes would you find more interesting and engaging? Despite the older time periods in which our stories so far have been set, do you think that people from today are so much different from people in previous generations?
ReplyDeleteRyan, thanks for posting (although we could have definitely done without the language at the end there – no biggie, but I would like us to practice using more school-friendly words so you can put your best foot forward). What is it about the literature that is so off-putting to you? Is it the act of reading itself? Is it the stories (doesn’t everybody like a good story now and then)? Is it the work (quizzes, homework, etc.) that comes from the reading that you dislike? What do you think makes it such an unpleasant experience? I would agree with you that in life no one is going to ever walk up to with a gun and say, “Give me your money…unless you can tell me why George thought he had to kill Lennie in Of Mice and Men,” but don’t you think having good reading and writing skills that you practice in English will help you in whatever you do after high school?
ReplyDeleteRebecca, thanks for your thoughts here. Literature can be a powerful tool to open up your mind to the world, to yourself, and to other people, as you say very well. You also mention the important skills that literature can teach you, like vocabulary. What have been your favorite experiences with literature so far this year? Is there a book that you have connected with more than the others? Do you read outside of school? What have been some of your favorite literature experiences outside of the 10th grade English curriculum?
ReplyDeleteMr. Dillon, thanks for you comments. I’m sorry you are not getting more enjoyment out of the books this year. Have you ever liked a book that you have been assigned in school, or is it just this year? Why do you think English is so important, as you say? If it’s not entertainment, what else do you think you are taking from the class? Since I have always taught 10th grade, your perspective on the annual “reviewing” process in English is interesting to me. What is the most commonly reviewed material from year to year? What new stuff would you like to learn?
ReplyDeleteTim, thanks for posting. I’m glad you like reading more than you did before. I think reading is much more enjoyable when you can comprehend more of what you read, so I’m glad you feel your reading skills are getting stronger. What have been your favorite reading experiences this year, and why? What have been your least favorite reading experiences this year, and why?
ReplyDeleteBruce, thanks for posting. I am glad you liked The Catcher in the Rye and Of Mice and Men. What did you like most about Catcher? How about Of Mice and Men? What challenges or experiences did the characters go through that were most interesting to you? What do you think you learned from reading and studying those books?
ReplyDeleteNick, thanks for your thoughts here. I am glad that you think the themes in the books this year helped you learn about life. I agree, it’s easier to study literature with a group than on your own – that’s part of the reason I have always like English classes. Once you learn the skills, you will become a better reader for life, and then you won’t always need a group to get what you read. I’m sorry that you think a lot of the reading so far has been horrible, but I hope you’ll find some things later in the year that you like, for example Speak. What have been some themes in what we have read so far, like Catcher and Of Mice and Men, that have been interesting or helpful to you? If you had to recommend one book from this year to your family and friends, which one would it be and why?
ReplyDeletePat, thanks for your comments and insight here. I think you bring up a great point about how we can learn what it means to be “American” through studying American literature, and in this way we learn a lot about our own lives. On a personal level, what can this cultural awareness do for you? In your example of The Catcher in the Rye, what kind of insight into yourself did the character Holden Caulfield give you? What are some other books, outside of English, that can teach us valuable life lessons?
ReplyDeleteKevin, thanks for your post, although I would have liked to seen you expand on your thoughts a little more here. How can an awareness of “themes and patterns,” as you say, help us in our daily lives? First of all, how do we know how to spot these themes and patterns? Second, what themes and patterns have you identified this year that have helped you understand what the author’s message or worldview is? Then how have you tried to apply it to everyday life?
ReplyDeleteZach, thanks for your thoughts here. I think you make a good case for the diversity of skills that studying literature can help you develop, from vocabulary to a sense of history and culture. How have some of the works we have studied this year agreed or disagreed with “your own views on certain things,” as you say? Has there been any perspective about life and people in any of the works that has rung most true with you, or rung most false? What has been your most enjoyable experience with the literature this year, and why?
ReplyDeleteAbrena, thanks for your thoughts here. I like how you describe the experience of studying literature as being “healthy for the mind.” What do you mean by this? What experiences with the literature have you had this year that you feel have been the most “healthy for you, and why? If you could pick some books for this year’s curriculum, what would they be? What kind of books do you find most relate to you?
ReplyDeleteStudyoing literature helps me see and understand other people perspectives and way of life. A lot of different things make up people lives, and different things happen in people life, that shows and tells that everything and everyone is different.
ReplyDeleteThe literatures that we read so far this 10th grade year as an english student were all differenytt in their own way...not only am i suppose to read them because it's an assignment but it helped me to be open minded............
Arnitia Moten
I think studying literature is important because it helps us gain more knowledge. You might learn new vocabulary words or it might help you understand other plays. It improves your reading and you could do better in PSAT or PSSA’s reading section. After reading books like The Crucible and Catcher in the rye made my brain even smarter. Also, I think that we should read something that’s easy to understand not like Shakespeare. We should read something that would help us in the future. We shouldn’t read Shakespeare because it’s boring and students don’t pay attention. If the students don’t pay attention while reading books Shakespeare, then there’s no point reading it. Books that are interesting and has a story like movies would be better than Shakespeare. More students would start having fun reading the books and they could learn something from it.
ReplyDeletebadal
Nadirah, I find literature to be somewhat interesting. But it depends on the topic or novel that we are assign. The novel that I most enjoy, to my surprise to my enjoyment, was The Catcher and the Rye. Also the Mice and the Man but, the current novel that we are reading Shakespeare Othello, which I find challenging and unable to fluently read .I think we should be able to vote as a class to pick our books. You can’t just expect us to be fully comprehensive of such a novel when were not interested in it. But literature is an important topic in English. The reason I say this is because reading and understanding a book or anything is an important key to use in life. Maybe you will be like me and so happen to enjoy it and appreciate the type of writing and images they supply in your mind.
ReplyDelete1.Yes literature is important to m bc it educates me to learn more and more things I never thought would be true.
ReplyDelete2. I am learning vocab words that I never thought would be words in the world today.
To me anything that can get me into a good college of my choosing I will want to do good at.
Studying literature let's students expand their minds to new ideas and views. So, I do think literature is worthwhile to me and everyone else in our class. I think that if we have the oppurtunity to study these writings then we should take an advantage of it. People can learn so many things from literature, such as, strengthening our vocabulary and learning about people and how they think or feel. I've liked all the booked we have read so far in this class, but I think that it would be better if the students got to choose the books they get to read because not everyone is goona like what the school provides and if they could choose their books they would be more motivated to read and learn. However, as a 10th grader literature is vital in broadening our learning horizons and abilities.
ReplyDelete-Matt McHale
Well, I feel that this cultural awareness, on a personal level, helps me from day to day, because it helped me shape the values that I use in my everyday life. Reading those book helped to open my eyes to thingsthat I hadn't thought about before. Holden Caulfield gave me a sense of seeing an unlucky, yet more privileged, side of myself. He had many problems but he was, in the end, able to somewhat overcome them, I hope to do the same. I haven’t read too many books outside of English class that were very “influencing”, but I guess Ji-li Jiang’s book, “Red Scarf Girl”, could teach us how things can become rough for the US, even when things look great(and they don't).
ReplyDelete-Pat
Joe Lee
ReplyDeleteYes, I read many Korean books that are outside of the literature we read in class. English books I read wouldn’t be as many as Korean books I read. But there are some English books have made an impact on me and I really recommend the books to be read by all students. Jonathan Livingston Seagull is the one of the books. In the book, while most gulls look for something to eat and don’t bother to learn more than eating, Jonathan learns about life and flight and becomes to fly higher than any other birds. I thought it might be same in our human society, too. There are some people trying to plan and achieve their goal like Jonathan but also people just don’t do anything but eating. After reading the book, I decided to work hard as Jonathan does. The other book is Alchemist. It’s a novel about one guy’s journey to find treasure. The book was like a movie displaying in my brain. However, the real treasure was in the abandoned church where he left for the journey. I thought that maybe treasure what each of us is looking for might be also near us but we only wouldn’t see where the treasure is until we finish our own journey.
when i say that reading literature is healthy for the mind i mean that there are alot of things that you can learn from reading literature rather its just history or fiction you can still learn from the book.like you learn things when people in the book may say some thing or do something or you may just learn from the narrarator jus coming out and straight say something that you may not have known. thats what i mean by literture is healthy for the mind.
ReplyDelete-Abrena Lee
Robert Deak-
ReplyDeleteI think we study literature because it teaches alot of things, life lessons, history, vocabulary, people, point of view and more.Personally I really liked The Catcher in the Rye and The Crucible.It was really different from what I've read in other English classs.They had a much more darker theme.Of Mice and Men I wasn't too crazy about but it did compare to the great depression alot.I think reading fiction and nonfiction can really change people's point of views and interest.Of Mice and Men definitely changed my perspective on the great depression and times prior to then.In The Catcher and the Rye,Holden is faced with many different adult challenges within just afew days.One can learn from his mistakes and decisions.I personally love reading stories,if English was an elective, I'd definitely take it.