Alice Walker in the Classroom: 'Living by the Word.' The NCTE High School Literature Series.

National Council of Teachers of English, 1111 W. Kenyon Road, Urbana, IL 61801-1096 (Stock No. 01143-3050: $9.95 members, $12.95 nonmembers). Tel: 800-369-6283 (Toll Free); Web site http://www.ncte.org.

N

87

Practitioners; Teachers

Authors; Censorship; Class Activities; Critical Thinking; English Instruction; High Schools; Literature Appreciation; Novels; Poetry; Reading Instruction; Short Stories; Writing Instruction

1525-5786

This small book is a handy guide for bringing the work of author Alice Walker into the classroom. It includes biographical information, ideas for literature circles using Walker's short stories, sample writing lessons using Walker's poems, suggestions for teaching "The Color Purple," and a wealth of resources for further investigation of Alice Walker and her work. The book's 6 chapters are: (1) "Where Life and Art Intersect," with background information about Walker, including her activism during the 1960s civil rights movement; (2) "Writing from Models," offering guidelines for having students write their own poems modeled after several of Alice Walker's; (3) "'The Color Purple,'" exploring how students can develop the reading skills they need to navigate this challenging text; (4) "Taking a Critical Stance," offering reviews and critical analysis of Walker's work from various viewpoints, helping students reconsider and refine their own experience; (5) "Censorship," exploring issues of censorship in the classroom and providing suggestions for teachers committed to supporting their students' right to read; and (6) "More," containing additional sources of information about Alice Walker and her work. A chronology of Alice Walker's life is included. (Contains 19 references.) (SR)

2001

ED444180