I love young adult literature, and  I used to love bringing in the different novels into my middle school and high school classrooms. You have a unique idea about using the literature as a bridge to the classics; this would especially true with similar themes.  I work with many adult learners who want a second chance in life, and teaching the classics is a literature class is a little challenging. I can see how this would work in the type of classes I teach.

I have often taught Romeo and Juliet with Westside story, but have not given much consideration to other stores and classics. This is especially true of the college classroom. I can see how Harry Potter and "Great Expectations" would work in an English Literature class. This is definitely an area that is worth exploring.  this idea could also have some good implications for bridging some of the popular adult novels with the classics.

Patricia, thank you so much for your comments; it is encouraging and hopeful to know that you used the bridging technique in the past and had a positive experience with it. I would love to expand and utilize more college material; however, I am afraid I will start to get too broad. Do you have any suggestions of where I might cut out other areas and perhaps focus more on the collegiate level at this time? Again, thank you so much for commenting. 

Hi Leisha, 

I enjoyed your paper, interesting topic. I do see several APA flaws that could be improved upon (page headings, informal use of "I", "we"), I would also suggest to reintroduce McEllmeal in the paper. I had to go back and re-read the abstract to understand who this was and the significance of an interview with her.

This sounds like a great topic as I read through your paper. I would consider your audience naive on this topic (as I was) and offer a bit more background on the topic, explanation of who the interviewees are that are using this, why they are considered experts, what success they have had and what quantitative research exists on this topic. Has this method been previously proved? A review of the academic literature on this topic would be beneficial in your paper (both quantitative and qualitative). Identify any gap in knowledge on this topic too. 

Finally, explanation of how this could be implemented in a ground and/or online classroom would be another idea. 

Thanks for sharing your topic with me!

LeAnne

LeAnne, I appreciate your feedback as I am feeling a little lonely here... I like the idea of implementing more on Dr. McEllmeal certainly. I also think I can add some current quantitative research right before my conceptual model; however, the model is just that- a way to introduce the practice into a classroom. As far as the mistakes I am not quite sure what you are referring to- do you mean my level I and II headers? The few informal I and we are intentional and serve a purpose. I really appreciate you expressing your thoughts and yourself as someone who is not familiar with this concept. It is my intent to publish in the English Journal or a secondary education magazine as it is a familiar concept in such circles. I only wish more English faculty would comment. Thank you again. 

Hi Leisha,

This is very interesting, as a teenager who detested reading the classics, this would have been a welcome instructional strategy. As I read this, I have no background in YAL. When you talk about bridging I am unsure what that looks like. Do they compare the books for parallels? I really need to understand that more for the article to have value as I am not entrenched in the K-12 environment. I like how you brought in a number of individuals to support your thesis and I can see that you hold Dr. McElmeel in great esteem. I, however, am unsure why as you say she is an author and professor but there is no mention of what she has written or the subject she teaches. You need to position why she is the expert you consulted.  You did a good job introducing the teachers that commented on the process. I would like to have this introduction to Dr. McElmeel.   One last minor note is there is no need for hyphenation in online. Overall I am very interested in this area. I am curious do students get to choose to read the current vs the classic literature? I would have loved that as a student! A little more detail on the actual application would be helpful, but you definitely held my interest.   

Jennifer, thank you so much for your words of inspiration. I hate hearing that students did not get the opportunity to enjoy YAL. You  are absolutely correct; I should provide what Dr. McElmeel has written and what she teaches. LeAnne suggested re-introducing McElmeel which I intend to do. I will add that information at that time- In fact, I intended to do so and in my hurry to submit left it out... I am eternally grateful for the wonderful comments so that I can have the perfect paper to submit to a journal one day. Again. I appreciate your advice, help, and encouragement. 

As a composition/literature instructor and also a YAL author, I really enjoyed the content here. Good topic!

I had a few things I wasn't sure about.

*I wasn't sure the focus of the paper in terms of K-12 or higher ed, since there were examples from various ones. It might help to focus which type of classroom you are talking about and also the type of discipline.

*This statement didn't have any source support or examples: "Even doctorial academics understand the importance of bridging YAL into their rigorous curriculum."

Nice work, thank you for sharing :)

Sandi

Sandi, I am so pleased that more are coming forward with excitement and an understanding regarding bridging! I think you are right. I need to narrow the topic to just public education or higher education as it is too broad. I was hoping I could show higher education teaching current public educators the technique and successfully tie it together, but it does appear I have  established this... currently. The statement about doctoral academics is supported by the previous source discussing J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter with Charles Dickens, so I do believe that is covered- hopefully that makes sense to you now. Again, thank you so much for commenting and for sharing your enthusiasm. 

I was not familiar with the concept of bridging. Your paper was very informative and taught me new things. Other than taking literature courses as part of my undergraduate requirements, I do not have a lot of experience sin this field. Your paper helped fill in some of those gaps. :)

Kristen, you are incredibly kind. I greatly appreciate your sentiments, "Your paper helped fill in some of those gaps." I have amazing feedback and can now go back and re-write, edit, and hopefully then get this published in the English Journal- which is my ultimate goal! 

Thank you for submitting and sharing this interesting classroom technique. Aside from the feedback provided, I encourage you to closely review APA 6th edition details through the document. As well, note research/best practices (at least) within the last five years that substantiate Dr. McEmeel's work.
Best regards,
Genomary Krigbaum, Psy.D.