English Education - Volume 29, Issue 4, 1997

Examines teaching practices in one English department. Investigates language of course syllabi for statement of goals, course reading, and course writing. Interviews faculty for observations about the texts, curriculum, and classroom practice. Suggests that, while university scholarship has moved beyond the New Criticism of the 1950s, university teaching may be stuck there.

Relates the journeys of two English teacher/professors through their changing field: how their approach to teaching and research has been challenged along the way by critical incidents in classrooms and with individual students; and how their stances on what literature teaching is and should be, and what research is and should be, have changed. Presents a response.

Available in print version only.