One of the English professors on campus conducts his assessments in a way similar to what Gallagher is talking about. He issues a mid-term and a final exam, both of which are essays. The assignment is for us as students to look at each novel we have read in that half of the semester and create our own thesis statement that emcompasses ideas from each book. So not only are we looking at the novel holistically, we are looking at the entire half-semester holistically and drawing out themes that are evident in all of the books. We then have to craft an entire essay proving the thesis statement that we created.
This approach scared the crap out of me the first time I encountered it, but once I became a little more confident and mulled my way through that first essay, I realized how much I gained from the assignment - because I had to utilize some deeper reading and comprehension in order to do it. I had to know each book well and how each book tied into the others.
I think our students at the middle/high school level may not be ready for that deep of reading or that much freedom in even creating their own thesis, but I think some of the principles are the same. Using some of those essential questions as essay exam questions will help our students learn how to walk through the unit/book always thinking more deeply than surface level stuff.
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4 comments:
You're right. Neumann does have a tendency to scare the crap out of his students. I liked it too after the initial shock wore off!
~Stan
I really liked Dr. Neumann. He's also an excellent discussion facilitator - it amazed me how he found a way to integrate students' points and comments into later class discussion.
I agree that some of our students will not be able to fully develop a thesis of a text, but we can help them formulate and express their opinions by using some of the essential questions!!!
I really think when we teach literature it is important to use a essential question throughout the unit or book. I think it allows for students to see there is much to reading than just a book, but how does this book change me and the people around me. I think it creates that deeper thinking that you are talking about. While they may not be ready to answer one deep essay question I think this would prepare them for it and you could use many short essay questions also.
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