A Case for Teaching Literature in the Secondary School: Why Reading Fiction Matters in an Age of Scientific Objectivity and Standardization [Hardcover]

Taking a close look at the forces that affect English education in schoolsat the ways literature, cognitive science, the privileging of the STEM disciplines, and current educational policies are connectedthis timely book counters with a strong argument for the importance of continuing to teach literature in middle and secondary classrooms. The case is made through critical examination of the ongoing culture wars between the humanities and the sciences, recent research in cognitive literary studies demonstrating the power of narrative reading, and an analysis of educational trends that have marginalized literature teaching in the U.S., including standards-based and scripted curricula. The book is distinctive in presenting both a synthesis of arguments for literary study in the middle and high school and sample lesson plans from practicing teachers exemplifying how literature can positively influence adolescents intellectual, emotional, and social selves.

Contents

Foreword Michael Moore

Preface

1 Introduction: The Need to Make the Case for Teaching Literature

Part I: What Literature Can Do

1. Literature and Identification: How self becomes character
2. Literature and Empathy: How narrative stimulates emotion
3. Literature and Critical Thinking: How fiction makes us think\
4. Literature and Social Action: Can reading change what we do?

Part II: Challenges to Literary Study

5. Literature Curriculum and Standards-based Education
6. Case Study: College Town Middle School, with Taylor Norman and Tiffany Sedberry

Part III: Rel3'