Reading and Writing with Multicultural Literature Vol. I & II - Tapa blanda

Designed for use in literature and humanities courses from freshman through senior years, for both English majors and non-English majors, this book seeks to help students further their understanding and enjoyment of literature while simultaneously advancing their reading and writing skills. The author brings to this project what he has learned during more than thirty-six years of teaching literature and writing at the college and university levels. The book is guided by the belief that study of literature should bring about at least three enrichments 1. A wealth of enduring ideas and fresh insights celebrating life and showing ways to cope with dilemmas of human existence 2. Continuous improvement in written and oral expression and 3. Participation in the pains and pleasures of humanity to develop empathy and openness. While the focus of this book is on literature, study of film has been included to show the common elements between the two genres and to make the cinematic experience more rewarding. In the process of introducing students to literature, this book serves another important purpose. With its humanistic slant both in selections of literary works as well as in their interpretations, it reaffirms the hope that study of literature can enhance our pleasures, mitigate our suffering, raise our consciousness, and develop our ability to empathize, in short, make us better human beings. The book's teaching approach consists of five components: 1. Necessary background information to explain various literary forms 2. Clearly worded assignments 3. Step-by-step instructions on how to complete the assignments 4. Sample essays (some of them by students), showing how the assignments are actually completed