Project Prospectus:
For my individual inquiry, I have chosen to inquire into the topic of non-fiction novels with the focus on Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer. I am interested in finding out the usefulness of using a non-fiction novel in a high school English class to explore various topics such as coming of age, adventure, money/wealth, and reality. I believe that non-fiction is undervalued in the classroom setting, and that students, and perhaps especially boys, will benefit from the uses of non-fiction literature in the classroom as texts for study and discussion.
Furthermore, I think that Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer is an especially useful text because of the debate and controversy around the main character, Chris McCandless (aka Alex Supertramp). While some consider him a hero, many argue that his trek into Alaska shows how ill-prepared and idealistic McCandless was, leading to his tragic death. Using this as a starting point, and only as one example of the usefulness of non-fiction in the classroom, students are able to use non-fiction texts to grapple with social issues and debates, and slowly become more and more involved, rationalizing their ideas and conclusions, in the real world that surrounds them.
For my inquiry, I will focus on research that examines the use of non-fiction in the classroom. I also hope to do some research myself into Chris McCandless, namely who he admired and how they affected his decision to trek into Alaska alone. Such authors include Jack London and Henry David Thoreau. I hope to look especially at how boys might especially benefit from studying non-fiction literature, and how teachers should take advantage of this fact if it is indeed true. I expect that throughout my research I will find much support for the use of non-fiction literature in the classroom, and that it does indeed allow students more opportunity to be involved in both past and contemporary real-world issues.
Works to be Consulted:
Artichuk, Francine et al. Echoes 12: Fiction, media, and non-fiction – Teacher’s resource. Don Mills, ON: Oxford UP, 2002. Print.
Hedrick, Joan D. Solitary comrade, Jack London and his work. Chapel Hill, NC: U of North Carolina P, 1982. Print.
Linda Rief. Vision & voice: Extending the literacy spectrum. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 1999. Print.
Mallett, Margaret. Early years non-fiction: A guide to helping young researchers use and enjoy information texts. London, NY: RoutledgeFalmer, 2003. Web.
Ponech, Trevor. What is non-fiction cinema?: On the very idea of motion picture communication. Boulder, Colo: Westview Press, 1999. Print.
Raskin, Jonah. “Calls of the Wild on the Page and Screen: From Jack London and Gary Snyder to Jon Krakauer and Sean Penn.” American Literary Realism 43 (April 2011): 198-203. Web.
Read, Adam. Christopher McCandless aka Alex Supertramp. 2001. Web. http://www.christophermccandless.info/intothewildpictures.html. 4 Jan 2013.
Root, R. L. Teaching Creative Non-Fiction. Pedagogy: Critical Approaches to Teaching Literature, Language, Composition, and Culture, 4(2) (Spring 2004): 289-322. Web.
Wray, David & Lewis, Maureen. Extending literacy: Children reading and writing non-fiction. London, NY: Routledge, 1997. Web.
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