One Green Apple Chapter Summary

What is literature, and why should people read it? These two questions normally surface on the first day of English and literature classes. In fact, as one Introduction to Literature class ended the 2017 Spring semester with student presentations, the final presenter, a middle-age auto mechanic with oily stained hands and a battered countenance, exclaimed most eloquently, “Literature is an alive and breathing thing. It gives life to the past and the present. It makes me know, feel, and love. Without literature, I would be nothing.” Juxtaposed appearance versus thought shows the power and impact of literature. Without literature, we would be nothing; we would have no thought, feelings, or life. By reading, sharing, discussing, and writing, literature breathes life into the breathless. Students are not the only ones who grapple with these questions. What is literature? - is the very question Terry Eagleton opens with in his book Literary Theory: An Introduction. Moving away from the nontraditional student, how does a prominent professor and esteemed literary critic answer the same question? Remarkably, he dittos that of the mechanic. In Eagleton’s opening chapter “The Rise of English,” he responds in much the same way by asserting literature’s “task is to transform society in the name of those energies and values which art embodies” (17). Eagleton adds further elaboration to his view of literature’s development and definition; in his chapter “The Rise of

In “Why Literature Matters”, Dana Gioia discusses the significant decrease of “interest [that] young Americans showed in the arts…” – more specifically “…the declining percentage of Americans…reading literature.” Due to Gioia’s usage of paths, ethos, and logos he is able to build and support his argument that literature is important “…to civic, personal, and economic health.”

One of the most important aspects of teaching literature to adolescents is helping them understand how individual stories can relate to their lives specifically. More and more, the stigma that literature is a lofty abstract that has no connection to the day-to-day lives creeps into schools. This stigma creates an environment where apathy flourishes and care disappears. As teachers, the number one goal today, seems to be first getting students to care about reading. No matter how dynamic or revolutionary a teacher's methods or philosophies are, if a student does not care, that student will not learn. So, when looking for possible novels that one would use in the classroom, one main question must always be asked; how will this novel be

Our lives often depend on literature to assist us with our daily activities. Whether you are deep into a novel about a man embarking on an adventurous trip or simply reading the newspaper on Sunday morning, it is difficult to comprehend what you see in front of you without sufficient knowledge and skill in English. Many individuals misinterpret literature for something simple as carrying the ability to fluently read a fairytale and writing about their day in a diary. Although literature offers one the ability to read, write, and voice opinions, it also allows the reader to develop useful skills throughout the process of analyzing written work, while gaining a better understanding of humanity. This is supported in Michael Meyer’s article “The

As a young child, every night before bedtime my mom would always sit down on the living room sofa with my sister and me, reading story after story, until it was really past our bedtime. We read pieces of literature like “Charlotte’s Web”, “The Little House on the Prairie”, “The BFG” and my favorite, “Junie B. Jones”. But at such a young age, I didn’t realize that my mom was reading these fictional stories to teach my sister and me important lessons and morals about life. It is very important to read and understand literature, and not just for reasons of pleasure. Ceridwen Dovey suggests that reading fiction “is a way of treating ourselves better” (2). I believe that by reading pieces of literature, you are becoming a better you, by learning important life lessons and qualities, both desirable and undesirable.

Kirtley and Mrs. Grubb know that demographics continues to change not only in ethnic diversity but also in linguistic diversity. This is a growing need to diversify school and classroom books that are presently in the classroom. Teachers have collected their inventory of books to help improve their students reading skills over the years. Present day student are looking for more up to date reading and with the technology being as it is. Students experience that feature a need of interests from their age group of middle school students. A school librarian at East Hills Middle School discovered that the students could not or would not read. The diverse group of students had not found books that they wanted to read the book with characters who looked like them and with whom the students felt a connection. Her fellow librarians and teacher, books are an effective way to help students understand each other. Also, they will be helping work with National Education Association Read Across America diverse classrooms across the country this year (Diverse Students, Diverse Books, by Anita

The American literary education system is one that has remained relatively consistent for the last few decades. The typical process which students follow as they progress through their years of primary and secondary education is one that is designed to teach them about the history of our society as well as how they may be able to express their creative thoughts and ideas in the same way so many authors in the past have. To determine which books are used in this system of education, curriculums often look towards the American literary canon, which is a collection of books that are considered to be the most important and influential during the time period of their release. For example, novels taught in American schools like To Kill A Mockingbird

Adding a multicultural dynamic can be an engaging method that activates prior knowledge or interest that can add to the rigor of the lesson. Each lesson provides literature that can be used whether it is a primary or secondary resources that can be utilized in small or whole group instruction. Using resources to enhance the lesson brings about the ability to challenge the students using higher levels of questioning, engagement, and activities. “Examining children’s literature is essential because scholars are often the teachers of teachers” (Willis-Rivera and Meeks 270). If a teacher wanted to teach fairytales to a class, he or she can use two books of the same story using a multicultural viewpoint. For example, the teacher can read the European version of Cinderella and the Chinese version called Lin Po Po to teach the skill of compare and contrast. These two stories could illustrate the two perspectives of two cultures using the concept. The multicultural aspect creates dialogue and identification of a classic story that can be morph into another grim

In the second decade of the 21st century, cultural diversity has become an incredibly popular idea. The awareness of cultural diversity has integrated its way into all aspects of American society. America is one of the most culturally diverse societies in the world, containing a multitude of different ethnic and cultural groups. Though, success looks different to us all, some studies suggest that literacy skills are vital for cultivating a fruitful society. Children learn best when they can identify with the literature they are reading. The relevancy of the character’s, plot, and setting are especially important to early learners, thru literature they begin to absorb the world around them. That is why we must expose early learners to

The types of books children read can either reflect whom they are and they can relate to the characters (mirror) or it may bring upon a new perspective while the child will gain a new understanding of the world (window). The types of literature that we encourage and provide our students to read are very important. Providing diverse literature for our students and having diverse literature in our classroom has been an educational mission for many years, due to the lack of multicultural literature students are exposed too.

This essay will explore the importance of language and literature in a students learning and how they assist in enhancing their development. Most importantly the similarities and differences will be distinguished so that the relationship between the two can be understood. Defining both language and literacy as different entities, but also closely linked concepts, allows readers to bridge together their affiliation when taught to children in a classroom environment.

English teachers don’t need to be told the enormous value and pleasure of reading whole texts as class readers. Little compares with that feeling when a class are truly engaged in the reading of a really good book. Those moments stay with you forever – indeed, they fuel the desire to find another such book to repeat the experience, again and again. Fortunately, contemporary writers of fiction for young adults continue to offer us fresh opportunities to enjoy literature with our students.

Multicultural literature is described as incorporating different ethnic groups and various cultures of all races into literature, including both children of the majority and minority, (Higgins, 2012). Ever since the late 1960’s, multiculturalism has been acknowledged and integrated into everyday literature to represent the diverse civilization. However, the problems that arise from cultural diversity, such as bullying and racism, are negative factors that are still prominent in todays society, (AllTogetherNow, 2014). Researchers have continued to affirm that culturally authentic children's literature has proven to increase the development of children’s social and emotional skills, expand their language abilities and prolong the minds health

The authors state that, “Multicultural literature helps children identify with their own culture, exposes children to other cultures, and opens the dialogue on issues regarding diversity”, (Colby & Lyon, p. 1). By having students of theirs reflect on their reading of, African American children’s literature that helps students find themselves: Selection guidelines for grades K-3” (Hefflin & Barksdale-Ladd, 2001), the authors have given several probable ideas and summations to support their research. They go on to examine beliefs and practices based on the importance of using such literature in today’s classrooms that will provide a student with a variety of cultural understandings and views, along with themes of the issues held by the public in which these students are now living in.

For the purposes of this paper, I will analyze and discuss seven different children’s literature books that depict people of different cultures and identities. I chose these books because these books challenge children’s preconceived notions about certain groups and help them change those. These books encourage children to not only understand the diversity in the classroom but to appreciate and accept them too and apply this mindset in the classroom and their community as well. In an inclusive classroom, there will be students from different backgrounds, disabilities, socioeconomic statuses and as well as English Language Learners. The books I chose were either chapter novels or picture books. The topics discussed in these books include poverty, students with disabilities, ethnicity, and immigration, and gender and challenging their stereotypes. These books will be great in an inclusive classroom and have great teaching moments for students with their activities.