Excellence in Humanities Award Session

Students Interests in Relation to the Literary Canon

University

Shawnee State University

Major

Adolescent to Young Adult English Education

Student Type

Undergraduate Student

Presentation Types

Oral Presentation

Keywords:

literary canon, 21st century students, interests, AR

Abstract

Students in today’s society have changing interests than what may be provided for them in an English Language Arts (ELA) classroom. Most classroom texts that are selected are pulled from the literary canon which more often than not, contradicts students interests. This research dives into literature discussing the literary canon and how it maintains relevance in an ELA classroom, but it also uncovers why we need to move away from the canon. Action-based research is conducted to understand students' interests by surveying eighth grade ELA students in a rural school district. Their interests and texts they selected for Accelerated Reader (AR) were documented to see if they align with the contents of the canon. This research will attempt to uncover how students of today’s society and their interests misalign with the contents of the literary canon and what is being taught in ELA classrooms, should change to cater those needs.

Human Subjects

yes

IRB Approval

no

Faculty Mentor Name

John Roush

Faculty Mentor Title

Professor of Education

Faculty Mentor Academic Department

School of Education

Second Faculty Mentor

Gregory Williams

Second Faculty Mentor Title

Adjunct Professor

Second Faculty Mentor Department

School of Education

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS
 

Students Interests in Relation to the Literary Canon

Students in today’s society have changing interests than what may be provided for them in an English Language Arts (ELA) classroom. Most classroom texts that are selected are pulled from the literary canon which more often than not, contradicts students interests. This research dives into literature discussing the literary canon and how it maintains relevance in an ELA classroom, but it also uncovers why we need to move away from the canon. Action-based research is conducted to understand students' interests by surveying eighth grade ELA students in a rural school district. Their interests and texts they selected for Accelerated Reader (AR) were documented to see if they align with the contents of the canon. This research will attempt to uncover how students of today’s society and their interests misalign with the contents of the literary canon and what is being taught in ELA classrooms, should change to cater those needs.