[CALIBK12] Define Contemporary Fiction

[Blanche Woolls]

Tom is, as usualy, on target. Argue with the English teacher in September, 
2009 if your daughter is out of his/her clutches by then.

Then you give her the definition of "contemporary" which I thought meant 
written by a living author, a contemporary of ours and not someone dead 
for only 25 years, regardless of topic. If that isn't the definition, then 
it would seem the teacher is anticipating students will read only 
realistic novels (and what does that really mean?) The students definition 
of realism might come from reality TV and most middle school students know 
that's an oxymoron.

One of my truly favorite assignments was in my first years in my 
elementary school (K-8) when the English teacher asked students to write a 
story/essay about a road, any road. One student came in and said, "That's 
a really dumb assignment!" Back then Route 66 was honored by a song, so 
that seemed a no-brainer. I suggested the Appian Way -- just think of all 
the excitement of the people who walked and rode (horse and chariot) over 
it. Not much excitement in realistic or contemporary if it's read and 
report!

Blanche

On Mon, 6 Oct 2008, Thomas Nixon wrote:

> Yet one more English teacher attempting to kill the love of reading! Sigh...
>  
> I say that being a former English teacher. Absolutely Breaking Dawn is contemporary
> fiction. Is it perhaps in a sub-set of that group? Probably. Could an argument be made
> that it is not realistic fiction? Yes (well, unless you believe in vampires). However,
> it sounds like they were offered a choice of either contemporary fiction or realistic
> fiction.
>  
> I think the teacher is trying to make a distinction between Literature (with a capital
> 'L') and contemporary fiction. My take is that the barrier between the two is not as
> strong as it once was, particularly in YA.
>  
> All that being said, is it worth a fight (or even a conversation) with the teacher?
> Probably not in your case because your daughter is fortunate enough to have you to
> watch out for her reading needs.
>  
>  
>  
> Tom Nixon
> --
> Teacher Librarian
> Tehipite Middle School
> 630 N. Augusta Street
> Fresno, CA 93701
> (559) 457-3420, x. 570
> Web: http://www.tehipitelibrary.org
> Blog: http://notyourmotherslibrarian.blogspot.com
>  
> 
> ______________________________________________________________________________________
> 
> ______________________________________________________________________________________
> From: calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu on behalf of Larry & Tania Guyer
> Sent: Mon 10/6/2008 11:51 AM
> To: calibk12 at lists.sjsu.edu
> Subject: [CALIBK12] Define Contemporary Fiction
> 
> Yesterday, my daughter brought a Language Arts issue to my attention, and I have to
> say I'm stumped. Her 8th grade teacher has assigned her students to do a book report,
> on either a realistic fiction or contemporary fiction book. My daughter chose Breaking
> Dawn by Stephenie Meyer for contemporary fiction, and the teacher shot down her
> selection (in front of class), informing her that fantasy or science fiction does not
> qualify as contemporary fiction. Now, I suggested she just go with what the teacher
> says, and she has gone one to work on Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. Now, the mama
> bear in me want to argue with the lady, and point out that her instructions were not
> clear enough; she didn't define realistic or contemporary fiction on her handout.
> Here's the big question: How do you define contemporary fiction, especially for
> middle/high school students? Is it specific? Is it broad?
> 
> Thanks,
> Tatiana Guyer
> Librarian
> Mayfield Junior School
> 
> 
>