English Journal - Volume 49, Issue 6, 1960

For those high school and junior college teachers who consider a historical survey of American literature important, the early literature has been a chronic problem. Dr. Friedrich discusses here the difficulties and opportunities it presents, and proposes an enlargement of the concept of early American literature. Dr. Friedrich is the head of the Department of English at Cedar Crest College, Allentown, Pennsylvania.

It seems appropriate, in the opening issue of the school year, to emphasize unit planning—thus the next three features. In this article, Dr. Alm, associate professor of education at the University of Hawaii, identifies criteria for evaluating teaching units in English.

Obviously a unit that has succeeded in one situation may not succeed in another. But this discussion of units that have been taught successfully may furnish some further ideas for unit planning this year. Mr. Bennett, as consultant in secondary curriculum for the Minneapolis Public Schools, has responsibility for the English program.

The authors outline two units, one for junior high school and one for senior high school, on the theme of the hero. Dr. Kegler is an associate professor of English education at the University of Minnesota and chairman of the English Department in the University High School. Mr. Simmons teaches senior English in the University High School.

This is the sixth annual list compiled by Dr. Searles, professor of English and education at the University of Wisconsin. Readers are asked to refer to the Journal when ordering from the list. Reprints of this list, as well as of the 1959 list, are available from the NCTE, 508 South Sixth Street, Champaign, Illinois, at 20 cents.