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MEMO
To: Julie Spilker

From: Megan Bailey

Date: May 11, 2020

Subject: Research proposal: contemporary vs. Classic-different types of literature in classrooms

Purpose: I hope to show through my research, that studying modern young-adult literature
alongside classical literature will allow students greater understanding and enjoyment of long
regarded classical books.

My issue questions are:

 Does classic literature address relevant themes? (Wortham) (Santoli)

 Does modern literature help students understand classic literature better? (Boseman)
(Gillespie) (Cook)
 Does Young Adult literature add any insight to teaching curriculums? (Hambouz)
(Dubbo) (Samuels)

Background: I have loved reading since an early age, and have been drawn to different styles of
books over the course of my education. It wasn’t until I was well into high school that my classes
started reading classic literature. As I grew up, I was learned to enjoy more complex themes and
plots, but struggled to understand the same themes in the classics. Students see a disconnect
between the enjoyable narrative books they learn with growing up, and the seemingly imposing
classical books that they associate with college professors and stuffy 18th century dresses. I
believe that by introducing themes found in young adult literature and classic novels, that
students will be able to more clearly understand and enjoy literature from all time periods.
(Cook)

Significance: There are a couple reasons why this topic is important. In the world today, the
young adults are faced with complex problems, viewpoints and emotions, while navigating the
same problems in their own lives. They don’t have an attachment to classic literature until they
learn about, and understand the themes that are represented in different ways (Wortham)
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(Bushman). I hope to learn more about establishing this kind of connection with my students to
allow them to learn in various settings, both historical and current. (Boseman)

There are a lot of articles, journals and publications fighting for classical literature to stay in
school, but there aren’t the same arguments for modern literature (Samuels) (Bushman). Why
should these two worlds be separated? I believe that by combining what we learn from the
classics, with how we learn in modern books, that students and people alike will be more willing
to apply themes found in literature (Santoli) (Hambouz) (Cook).

Description:

I am using sources found from the New York Times, Ted Talks, and academic articles found
from EBSCO to support and defend my argument.

Outline:

Introduction:
Presentation: Summary of
Overview of classical Responsee to
Examples and sources Opposing View: Conclusion:
literature in schools, Opposing Views:
found about why Why the classics making literature and
and personal literature study
different types of aren't needed, and its themes applicable
experiences with
Introduction: Overview ofisclassical and personal(Cook) and bringing with different
literature important literaturewhy
in YA
schools,
novels don't experiences is most important.
different types of literature to life.
types
literature of literature ininschool.
in schools.
scholastic learning. matter.

Presentation: examples and sources found about why different types of literature is important in
scholastic learning.

Summary of opposing view: why classics aren’t needed, and why YA novels don’t matter as
much.

Response to opposing Views: literature study (Cook) bringing literature to life.

Conclusion: making literature and its themes applicable is most important.

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Problems: My biggest problem will most likely be my sources, keeping them straight, and
deciding which ones I will use. I found a lot of good sources for my research paper, but I may
need to find a couple more sources for my opposing views section.

Methodology: I will take notes on the sources I have, and organize them according to how I
would use them in my paper. I will be using the online sources I have available, since libraries
are closed.

Annotated Bibliography:

“A Classic Problem.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 12 June 1977,

www.nytimes.com/1977/06/12/archives/a-classic-problem.html?searchResultPosition=2.

classics declining in schools since 1977

Bosman, Julie. “To Lure 'Twilight' Teenagers, Classic Books Get Bold Looks.” The New York

Times, The New York Times, 28 June 2012, www.nytimes.com/2012/06/28/business/media/to-

lure-twilight-fans-classic-books-get-bold-looks.html?searchResultPosition=2. New covers for

classic literature to appeal to younger audiences

Gillespie. “Why Should You Read ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream?".” TED, TED Talks , Dec. 2018,

www.ted.com/talks/iseult_gillespie_why_should_you_read_a_midsummer_night_s_dream. how

this confusing classic play relates to valid themes in our time.

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Hambouz, Annissa, and Katherine Schulten. “Dark Materials: Reflecting on Dystopian Themes in

Young Adult Literature.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 6 Jan. 2011,

learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/06/dark-materials-reflecting-on-dystopian-themes-in-

young-adult-literature/?searchResultPosition=8. How themes are relevant in Young Adult novels

https://www.ted.com/talks/natalie_merchant_singing_old_poems_to_life the idea of bringing old

words and themes into a modern light

Bachelder, Linda, et al. “Young Adult Literature: Looking Backward: Trying to Find the Classic

Young Adult Novel.” The English Journal, vol. 69, no. 6, 1980, pp. 86–89. JSTOR,

www.jstor.org/stable/816800. Accessed 11 May 2020. YA ‘classics’ from the 70’s, and what

make them ‘classics’.

Santoli, Susan P., and Mary Elaine Wagner. “Promoting Young Adult Literature: The Other ‘Real’

Literature.” American Secondary Education, vol. 33, no. 1, Fall 2004, pp. 65–75. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip&db=tfh&AN=15220783&site=eds-

live&scope=site. Are classics needed in classrooms anymore? POV of students and teachers.

Good arguments.

Cook, Thomas R. “Approaching the Classic through Modern Literature.” The English Journal, vol.

23, no. 6, 1934, pp. 472–477. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/804096. Accessed 11 May 2020. An

experiment done in the early 1900’s of teaching modern literature along with classical

literature. Good results!

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Bushman, John H. “Young Adult Literature in the Classroom--Or Is It?” The English Journal, vol.

86, no. 3, 1997, pp. 35–40. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/820642. Accessed 12 May 2020.

about whether classics are really needed in the classroom

Wortham, Stanton. The Microstructure of Multiculturalism: Experiencing the Great Books. Apr.

1995. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&AuthType=ip&db=eric&AN=ED384052&site=eds-live&scope=site. Classics

aren’t helping students.

Barbara G. Samuels. “Young Adult Literature: Young Adult Novels in the Classroom?” The English

Journal, vol. 72, no. 4, 1983, p. 86. EBSCOhost, doi:10.2307/817086 has arguments of teachers

against teaching YA novels. From 80’s

“What’s the Appeal of Young Adult Novels When You’re No Longer Young?” Dubbo Daily

Liberal (Dubbo, Australia), 2019. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&AuthType=ip&db=edsgin&AN=edsgcl.606819969&site=eds-live&scope=site some

arguments against YA novels, past and present. Talks about recent novels and their themes.

Timetable:
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Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

May 4 May 5
Brainstorm Research
proposal sources
question
May 11th May 13 May 15 May 16
Begin Research
working on Proposal draft Peer Review Proposal Due
Research discussion
Proposal
May 18 May 20 May 21 May 22
Begin Rough Finish Rough Begin Research
Draft Draft Revision proposal
draft due
May 25 May 27 May 28 Peer Review May 30
Paper Final
Edit paper Research Edit paper Research
paper draft 2 paper due
due

Request for Approval

I want to learn more about this debate so that I can implement the things I learn into my own
classroom when I am a teacher. By having a better understanding about how different styles of
writing will affect me and my students, I will be better prepared to help them to understand and
apply themes from the texts we will read. This is why I would like to research this topic.