Windows to the World: An Introduction to Literary Analysis (Teacher/Student Combo)

1) Is Windows designed to be used over the course of one year, one time only? While I understand the readings are included in the book, could the study reasonably lend itself to being used more than once in high school with other literary selections?

2) How -- if at all -- would you say that Windows supports Teaching the Classics' Socratic approach? That is, are the two products complementary?

Answer from a high school writing teacher:

I became so excited about this offering as I read it that I'm glad to spread my enthusiasm!

Personally, I would use Windows to the World over the course of a year, perhaps adding in for an older student two or three longer works, such as novels or Shakespearean plays. I believe the author said she teaches it in one semester, but it could work as a year course. It's packed with a huge amount of information. I really would hate to have to push it all into one semester! As I read through it, I also got ideas about applying the concepts to other works of literature that I already know.

As to your second question: Yes and no. Once you learn the principles being taught, you could easily extend them to other works of literature--perhaps especially in conjunction with the Socratic questions. And yes, the two complement one another very well. She also talks about plot in very similar terms to the story chart, plus suggests more complex story chart patterns. Also, she mentions other stories or works to use to teach similar concepts, so you have more to build on already suggested.

Lesha Myers's Windows is a very solid grounding in literary analysis: what to look for when we read literature, what authors commonly use as literary devices and why they work well, how authors succeed in conveying tone or theme or character or irony or point of view, and so forth. It's very detailed, too, so you, the teacher, aren't left to figure it out yourself before you present it to your children.

Pamela in TN

Can you tell me the difference between Teaching the Classics and Windows to the World: An Introduction to Literary Analysis?

Answer: Teaching the Classics is a video seminar that will teach you, as the parent or teacher, the basics of literary analysis (character, setting, plot, conflict, theme), which you can then apply to any piece of literature you study. It is suitable for teaching any age student. The workbook includes suggested reading and provides a list of Socratic questions that you can choose from in your literature study. There are no laid-out lesson plans with this program, so it lends itself to literary study in combination with whatever books you are using.

Windows is appropriate for advanced middle school and high school students (due to the stories used for analysis) and will teach annotation and all the literary terms you need to know with specific information for the teacher as well as the student. The lesson plans are clearly laid out. You can intersperse longer novels if you wish, or use the course as is, since it is self-contained.

Both products are suitable for use by teachers who are not familiar with literary analysis. If you would like to talk with Excellence in Writing teachers who have used the programs, join our IEWFamilies Yahoo group (information found under the Support tab/loop and chat).