So, as you might have noticed, I changed my topic. It was suggested to me to do something that I'm really interested in, and there's nothing I enjoy more than fantasy and science fiction. I wish they were used more in the English classroom because they're interesting and enjoyable to read and talk about. Through my research, I've discovered that others feel similarly about this genre. Many say that this genre is only a frivolous one that doesn't carry much depth or importance, but some of the research that I've found states otherwise. This excites me, because I would love to be able to teach some of my favorite fantasy novels one day to students.
So far, I have three articles that support using fantasy and science fiction in the classroom, but I need to find an article or two that goes against this. What I would like to do is present my multigenre paper as an adventure-fantasy novel, but I feel like this will require more time and effort than I can currently give. I've just gotten sick, so now my time is much more constrained than it was (and it was already pretty tight before!).
Below, I will post some genres that I have already created but am unsure about using in my paper. While I believe they solve the problem and state what I'd like them to, I'd like them to be more polished and, if possible, relevant to the adventure-fantasy theme that I'd like to establish.
"...the entertainment value of fantasy is one of the factors that draw so many students to the genre..."
For many years now, I've found myself
Attracted to reading fantasy in my free time.
Now, I must learn how to
Teach it to high school students in a way that
Allows students to be entertained by reading for
School, as well as outside of it. For
Years I've wanted to try this!
This quick poem-type-thing is what I first wrote when I discovered my topic. I don't think I'll actually use this in my paper, but it was a good way to get the ball rolling. I think, instead, I'd like to start with a descriptive narrative from either a real or made-up fantasy novel, showing how interesting reading the genre can be. This will help support the quote above.
"When children read about a fantastical world... it is much safer to think about issues of loss, betrayal, and change."
May 7th, 2013
I want students to be invested in the characters they read about. I want them to feel like they personally know the characters, as if they're reading from the character's diary rather than a story. I find that I am most interested in a story or character when I relate directly to it.
To do this, I want students to read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K Rowling. I know this book is immensely popular in our culture; more importantly, it's an immensely popular fantasy novel. I want students to relate to Harry's hardships: death in his family, unfair parental figures, new friendships, following school rules, curiosity, etc. Because Harry Potter is so popular, students will want to read it and get involved. But because of the really deep questions the book asks for the reader - How does one deal with death? - students will be learning about themselves and the society around them.
While this is not a bad genre, I don't see it fitting in with the theme of my MGP. Perhaps I'll need to rethink the theme, and instead create a more modern adaptation of a fantasy novel. Or instead, do the MGP through a character's point of view that is similar to mine: a nerdy, future teacher that wants to get students as excited about reading as she is.
I was also thinking that instead of creating a diary entry, I would take excerpts from the first Harry Potter book and do a more critical analysis of each excerpt and how it pertains to loss, betrayal and change. The only problem with that is I left my copy of the book at home this semester.
