Literary Analysis

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  • August 20, 2008 at 5:45 pm
    missingtheshire
    Member

    Hi, considering that CM uses great literature and books for her students, how is literary analysis taught using the CM method? I know that the textbooks cover it in great depth – personally I think the fastest way to turn a student off reading, is to make them tear the book apart for analysis, I always loathed it – but I am curious how others handle the it and if anyone knows if there is analysis in the ACTs and SATs?

    August 21, 2008 at 9:55 am
    CindyS
    Participant

    I cannot supply info on the ACTs and SATs (though I should be able to with two children haven taken them). You can see samples online I’m sure, and I know that many public libraries have SAT study guides to read through. I do know that we had two children, both taught in the cm fashion, take the Analyzing and Interpreting Literature CLEP test and pass with flying colors. In my opinion, the analyzing just ‘happens’ when you learn this way.

    Blessings,

    Cindy

    August 21, 2008 at 1:37 pm
    Karen Smith
    Moderator

    I agree with Cindy. If your kids are exposed to good literature, the analyzing and interpreting just “happens”. My son recently took the Analyzing and Interpreting Literature CLEP test and did very well on it. I know he didn’t spend much time studying for that test.

    Sorry, I can’t answer the part about the ACTs and SATs.

    August 21, 2008 at 8:58 pm
    missingtheshire
    Member

    Thanks very much, I shall not worry about it then, we will just continue enjoying all the great literature. Appreciate the input.

    August 23, 2008 at 12:59 am
    Mysterious Lady in Pink
    Participant

    We’ve followed CM methods for years and my older ones (13, almost 15) have read volumes of high quality classics literature. They have great comprehension, but I was looking for deeper analysis, and I’m not always able to do as much with them as I’d like with several little ones in the picture. I despise contrived “study guides” for literature, so I wasn’t sure what to do.

    In the past month or so they worked through “Teaching the Classics” from http://www.centerforlit.com/ and I must say I am so pleased with the results. The discussions and higher level thinking that have resulted are wonderful. Of course, that’s also due to *discussing* it with others, but this has laid a great foundation, applicable to all literature. I look forward to working through the Worldview supplement they have, as well, at a future point. It’s also got great resale value, so you could keep the book (with all the Socratic questions in the back) and resell the DVDs for a decent return when you’re done.

    We started a monthly book discussion group with a few other hs-ed teens for the coming school year and had the first discussion last week. (The other families also worked through the TTC, so we all had that for background.) Each of the teens led a different part of the discussion, and had a couple of well-chosen questions to facilitate meaningful discussion and analysis. It was amazing to watch these “kids” express themselves — having to actually formulate their thoughts and express them to their peers, etc. I can’t wait for future monthly discussions!

    August 23, 2008 at 2:24 am
    missingtheshire
    Member

    Thanks I will look into that – it sounds like a good idea and I am open to all good ideas. It sounds like the course has been really beneficial to your teens and it is certainly something worth looking at.

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