Yin and Yang in the English Classroom

English studies today are driven by demanding curriculum, but this need is often met with unenthusiastic students. "Fun" work-like movie days or projects-is often seen as what to do after the real work is finished. But what if instructors could blend the two pieces together more effectively, motivating students with interesting material while still achieving curriculum goals? This text attempts to fuse the pieces in to a cohesive philosophy.
Yin and Yang in the English Classroom: Teaching With Popular Culture Texts is designed to provide college professors and high school teachers with both halves they need to tackle the job of teaching students literature and writing skills: theoretical foundations of, and practical applications for, the modern classroom. In addition to theory and research, each chapter also offers ready-to-use activities and projects that can be immediately brought into the classroom. Whether you're new and need a guide to begin your journey as a teacher, or you're experienced and want to add some spice to your classroom, this text can offer new ways to fold popular culture effectively into your teaching toolbox.
Other key features of this book include:
Clear, easy-to-read sections for each chapter, including a Review of Current Literature and Classroom ConnectionsStudent-centered solutions to increase engagement with popular culture and technologyStep-by-step plans for taking the activities from the page to the classroom easily

Sandra Eckard is associate professor of English at East Stroudsburg University where she teaches writing, works with English Education students, and directs the Writing Studio, a tutoring spot for students. She specializes in teaching writing, tutoring writing, and using pop culture in the classroom.

Contents
Part I - Literature Fundamentals and Pop Culture Connections
Chapter 1
Entering a Noir World in the Classroom through Detective Fiction and Film Analysis
Mary T. Christel
Chapter 2
A PTI-Inspired Pedagogy:
Appropriating Sports-Talk Discussion Protocols to Facilitate Literature Study
Luke Rodesiler
Chapter 3
Whose Side is He On? Teaching Complex Characters with Novels and Films
Carmela Delia Lanza
Chapter 4
The Graphic Novel as Historical Marker:
Making "History Readable" Through Reader-Response Theory
Carissa Pokorny-Golden
Chapter 5
The Truth is Out There: Using Science Fiction as a Springboard to Teach Literature
Sandra Eckard
Chapter 6
Hacker Heuretics and Intertexuality in Videogames and English Language Arts
Hannah R. Gerber
Part II - Developing Writing and Critical Thinking Skills with Popular Culture
Chapter 7
Make it Work:
What We Can Learn About The Writing Process from Watching Project Runway
April Brannon and Elle Yarborough
Chapter 8
Up, Up, and Away: Superman in the Composition Classroom
Alex Romagnoli
Chapter 9
Popcorn and Movies for All:
Four Reasons Feature Films Work in Developmental Writing Classes
Salena Fehnel
Chapter 10
The Heroine's Journey: Writing and Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Jennifer Marmo
Chapter 11
Speed Dating an iPad Until the Break of Dawn:
Creative Techno-Feminist Pedagogy for Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga
Laura Patterson
Chapter 12
Composing Digital Found Poetry in Secondary English Language Arts Classrooms
F. Blake Tenore and Katelynn Collins-Hall