One of my favorite activities was analyzing works as a class. I learned a lot about analysis by listening to my fellow students critique works. The instructor jumped into the discussion a lot and would ask students to explain their analysis and trace their thought process - this was great, because we learned to examine our presuppositions and then to question and critique those presuppositions.
This is great. I am certainly no English teacher, nor much of an English student, but this is possibly the most valuable skill any person can learn in their school years. I would think that if you could use literary analysis and interpretation to teach fundamental aspects of critical thinking (checking for internal and external consistency, flow of argumentation, rightly representing the thoughts of an author, etc.), it would be a refreshing and helpful change for these students.
Yet another really great aspect of the class was that we had several short papers that we wrote throughout the semester. They were on "fun" topics - for instance "What is the good life?" "What is your earliest memory? Why does it stand out to you?" "Discuss/Explain something you've learned during your first few weeks of college." The papers counted very little towards our grade, but he graded them very strictly. The result was that we got a lot of practice and great feedback, but our first few (poor) efforts didn't knock our grade down.
I also think this is a great idea. Be forewarned that there are many party-poopers in classes where "frivolous" assignments like this are given, typically among the male population. Stick-in-the-muds like myself will roll their eyes, complain, and dismiss the importance of it.
You could address that by: 1) Telling the students in advance the purpose of the assignment - to let them see your high standards and get feedback before more significant assignments come....or 2) Make the topic at least tangentially related to some course material.
Jeremy Gage
First Baptist Church
Durham, NC
"No heart can conceive that treasury of mercies which lies in this one privilege, in having liberty and ability to approach unto God at all times, according to his mind and will." - John Owen
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