Student Choice is Lit!

Erich Lieser, Leah A. Nillas

Research output: Faculty Advisor of Undergraduate Research

Abstract

This study investigates assessments that offer student choice in a secondary English classroom. After reading a short story or novel, assessments traditionally ask students to find themes or answer a question with evidence from the text. While this system promotes close reading and writing skills, unique interpretations are not represented. In response to this, I compared the traditional process to a student choice assessment. I administered a single question literary analysis based on The Necklace written by Guy de Maupassant to gauge student understanding and writing skills without student choice present. After the following unit, I created a new assessment that allowed for students to choose an open-ended question with multiple correct interpretations possibilities. The second assessment was based on George Orwell’s Animal Farm. This study looks closely at student work samples, field notes, and a review of current research. Students need practice interpreting texts individually. Without this practice, students will depend on teachers to determine the meaning and significance of literary works.
Original languageAmerican English
StatePublished - 2018

Disciplines

  • Education

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