Interrogating the Canon

by Dr Davis on October 11, 2009

Teaching American Literature: A Journal of Theory and Practice also has an article on presenting the canon as a mutable entity. It is called, “Teaching the Early American Literature Survey: Expanding the Canon Using Internet Resources.”

I found this reading interesting for several reasons.

  • I am presenting on the canonicity of a particular work in Old English at Kalamazoo.
  • I ask my students to argue for or against including a particular piece in my survey course the next time it is taught.
  • I actually heard this paper presented at a conference. And I thought it was very interesting then.

I thoroughly recommend the adoption of the “Digital Document Assignment” if you are working in American literature. I was delighted to find this idea and I think I will adopt it, if I ever teach American literature for more than a week.

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Online Teaching: Some Thoughts

by Dr Davis on October 11, 2009

Looking in the Teaching American Literature: A Journal of Theory and Practice for an article on how to teach online seems a bit counterintuitive.

But in the Spring 2009 issue, there is an interesting article called Medium Matters: Using Technology Logically, Ethically, and Imaginatively.

It’s a basic introduction to online education for teachers. There are hints on how to be personable in email, for example. I like it, though, especially as I am trying to secure an online course. This gives me food for thought.

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