Eric shared with some of the TAs in First Year English that Heminway’s Hills Like White Elephants was a great piece to demonstrate the difference between looking at a text literally or literarily. For Unit 4, students must write a rhetorical analysis on a non-fiction narrative focusing on textual, cultural, and ethical elements.

I chose to present the piece from a well-acted YouTube video, and explained to my class that movies were a visual text medium. As a class, we discussed the surface literal meanings behind the text, and I had intended to break them into small groups, something they are bored with by this point in the term, but something told me to offer them a couple of different options. I offered them the small group dynamic with each group discussing and then presenting a different aspect of the text including plot, them, character, setting, etc. Their second choice was to continue discussing the piece literarily as a class with the stipulation that ALL students must participate in the class discussion, and that is what they chose to do.

It was probably the best and most animated discussion I have experienced with them yet this semester. They were really excited about the piece and even got into a bit of a debate about the male versus female perspective. Quiet students who I know from their papers are very intelligent happily joined in, and those I never hear from seemed to feel free and safe enough to participate.

I decided to push my luck, and offered them the option of writing their papers on a fiction short story that has meaning for them with my pre-approval. Although it means more work for me, as I will have more to read at the end of the semester, it was worth it to see their reactions and happy animation at the idea of having a choice.

…and that was the key. Giving students some choice in the classroom to have control over their own learning fostered a more animated and participatory classroom, something we all benefited from. By going with the flow and reading students’ reactions, I was able to foster the participation in my classroom I have been yearning toward all semester.

-Christine