Thursday, November 13, 2014

Locating Sites of Regional Literature--A Sample Engagement for Teachers and Students

Below is a sample engagement I used with SE Michigan Secondary English Teachers to help them locate and name  some of the material resources and places available to support a curriculum and inquiry into Local Literature.  They are offered here for you to borrow and adapt for your own classroom.  Please share your efforts and results in the comments.



Engagement #1:  Locating Sites of Regional Literature
Over the next week your mission (should you choose to accept it) is to investigate some of your local resources available for ‘teaching local literature in a global age.’  Between now and next class meeting  you will visit four sites—one virtual, the others a bit more substantial—to trace what sorts of texts and materials remain accessible for 21st century readers interested in pursuing local literature.

Here’s what you need to do:

1)    Go to you school library with a copy of our list of suggested local literature.  How many does your library have?  

2)    Then, try to find physical copy of at least one of the texts (likely the one you’ve selected for your dialogue journal or literature circle readings, but it need not be).  If your school does not have a copy available, find out why.  (You may need to talk with your school librarian or media specialist or other faculty).  If your school does have a copy of the text, where is it located?  How many copies of the text are available?  What other texts are near this one?  Who else is there when you are searching for your book?  What are they doing?  If they are reading or browsing books, try to find out what they are reading (you may be direct or discreet, but don’t be creepy by stalking other patrons).  Make a note of all these things.  AND if you find a copy of the text, sit down somewhere to examine the book and to read the first page or two.  What is the most interesting, unusual, or compelling thing, passage, phrase, or word on the first page?  Whether you find a copy of the text here or not, then….

3) Go to your local PUBLIC library to find a copy of the text in #2.  Again, if your local library or branch does not have a copy of the text, find out why.  Is this a text that you can request through MeLCat?  If so, do so, if the library cannot provide a copy for you.  If the library does have a copy, then obtain a copy.  Note where the text is located within the library? What section is it in?  How many copies are available?  What other texts or materials are nearby?  As above, also take note of other patrons, especially in the section where you find your text.  AND if you find a copy of the text, sit down somewhere to examine the book and to read the first page or two.  Upon this reading and in light of your past experiences with the text and/or trying to find the text, what is the most interesting, unusual, or compelling thing, passage, phrase, or word on the first page? Then…

4)  Go to the nearest commercial bookstore in your community.  Does this store carry a copy of your text?  If not, why not?  Can you order the book for delivery there?  If so, what are the costs to you (time, money, resources) above the cost of the book? If the store does have a copy available, where is it located?  How many copies do they have and in what condition are they?   As above, notice the other patrons and their activity.  If you prefer to have your own copy of the book (rather than the library versions), purchase the text.    Again, sit down somewhere to examine the book and to read the first page or two.  NOW, what is the most interesting, unusual, or compelling thing, passage, phrase, or word on the first page?  If nothing changes with this reading, think about why that is and write about it.  

 5)    Bring your field notes and all copies of the book you have managed to secure to class.

3 comments:

  1. Here is a list of the preliminary texts we used for this particular engagement. Each of the titles below has been written by or about people in Michigan, and each is generally a 20th or 21st century work of fiction.

    If you know of other authors/titles please share.


    Charles Baxter, The Feast of Love
    Laura Kasischke, Eden Springs
    Michael Zadoorian, Second Hand
    Michael Zadoorian, The Leisure Seeker
    Margaret Fuller, Summer on the Lakes
    Lisa Reardon, The Mercy Killers
    Ellen Slezak, Last Year’s Jesus
    Bonnie Jo Campbell, American Salvage
    Caroline Kirkland, A New Home, Who’ll Follow?
    Ernest Hemingway, In Our Time
    Janet Kauffman, Trespassing: Dirt Stories and Field Notes
    Harriet Arnow, The Dollmaker
    Joyce Carol Oates, Them
    Jeffrey Eugenides, Middlesex
    Michael Delp, As If We Were Prey
    Dorene O’Brien, Voices of the Lost and Found
    Andy Mozina, The Women Were Leaving the Men
    Stephen Dobyns, The House on Alexandrine
    Loren Estleman,The Left-Handed Dollar
    Elmore Leonard, Pagan Babies
    William X. Kienzle, The Rosary Murders

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    Replies
    1. Kirkland's A New Home, Who'll Follow? obviously the 19th century exception to the list here :)

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  2. Our shared readings each week consisted of shorter works of poetry, short fiction, and drama.

    Here is the brief list of authors with schedule:

    Philip Levine 1/6
    Christine Hume 1/6
    Caroline Kirkland 1/13
    Charles Baxter 1/13
    Sound, Image, Text pieces for 1/20
    Robert Hayden 1/27
    Toi Derricotte 1/27
    Carolyn Forche 1/27
    Marge Piercy 1/27
    Theodore Roethke 1/27
    Jim Gustafson and Jim Daniels 2/3
    Literary Journals of Interest
    Michael Brian Ogden-CORKTOWN
    Jeff Daniels-BEST OF FRIENDS
    Ellen Slezak 4/7

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