Active Reading: Transformative Writing in Literary Studies

Review

'...a terrific addition to any English department. It describes a practical rather than theoretical route to understanding English literature. The writing is meticulous, thoroughly researched and trustworthy...This way of learning makes sense to me...In many ways, this is the bridge-building book...between creative writing and literature, between the elitism of the critics and the writing process and between all the other disciplines that could benefit from this approach. I would recommend it.' Rosie Garner, Lapidus Autumn 2007

'This is an important book, valuable in the first instance not only to student teachers and NQTs but also to those teaching in HE who need convincing of the value of using transformative writing as a literary tool...The enthusiasm of both students and teachers comes across clearly. There is a wide variety of examples given not only of students' writing in response to specified passages and authors but also, and very revealingly, of the ways in which this writing was assessed...' Adrian Barlow, Newsletter of The English Association.

'Active Reading is a welcome contribution to the transformation of English from a subject in which ideological suspicion, inexperience and uneven institutional support ... conspire with other factors against the lecturer who ventures beyond self-improvement into scholarly enquiry into teaching ... Ben Knights is a key figure in an emerging pedagogical research culture in English... engrossing and insightful.' Dr Greg Garrard, Staff and Educational Development Association

Mention —Book News, February 2009

Reviewed in The Use of English.

"Rosie Garner of Lapidus declares that this well-produced book is 'a terrific addition to any English deparment' and reveals that 'it describes a practical rather than a theoretical route to understanding English literature' : but it is no 'addition' at all precisely because its terms of reference are so very 'theoretical'and 'professionalized' . No less respected an authority than Adrian Barlow adds that this book will be 'valuable...not only to student teachers and NQTs but also to those teaching in HE"
The Use of English (Peter Cash)

'…a terrific addition to any English department. It describes a practical rather than theoretical route to understanding English literature. The writing is meticulous, thoroughly researched and trustworthy…This way of learning makes sense to me…In many ways, this is the bridge-building book…between creative writing and literature, between the elitism of the critics and the writing process and between all the other disciplines that could benefit from this approach. I would recommend it.' Rosie Garner, Lapidus Autumn 2007

Mention –Book News, February 2009

"Rosie Garner of Lapidus declares that this well-produced book is 'a terrific addition to any English deparment' and reveals that 'it describes a practical rather than a theoretical route to understanding English literature' : but it is no 'addition' at all precisely because its terms of reference are so very 'theoretical'and 'professionalized' . No less respected an authority than Adrian Barlow adds that this book will be 'valuable...not only to student teachers and NQTs but also to those teaching in HE"
The Use of English (Sanford Lakoff)

Product Description

The subject of this book is the crossover between critical study and creative writing. 'Active reading' is a structured process of writing activities using imitation, variation and experimentation. Through practical composition techniques such as 'transformational writing', 're-writing' or 'translation', students can use writing activities to develop their critical imagination.
This book bridges the gap between theories of learning and Literary studies in Higher Education. Setting the argument in an historical and theoretical context, it outlines the importance of writing as a medium of learning and argues for its usefulness in aiding English students' understanding of theoretical as well