Category Archives: 2020 Booker Short List novels

We’re creating lit circles based on students selecting one of the Booker Prize Short List novels: https://thebookerprizes.com/fiction/2020

Real Life and Real Artwork

Posted on May 26, 2021 by Dan Ennis

As we read Brandon Taylor’s “Real Life” and explored the complexities and challenges that Wallace endures, we were inspired to create. Below you will find a culmination of the most important moments from the text in a visual format that … Continue reading →

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The Secret War of Independence

Posted on May 26, 2021 by mileshenle

Near the beginning of The Shadow King, Aster is presented as this sort of mean stepmother, who uses Hirut as an outlet for her anger that should be directed towards her husband, Kidane. As readers, we learn that Hirut was … Continue reading →

Posted in #PBL #StudentCentered, #PennPBL, 2020 Booker Short List novels, One Pager, Project-Based Learning, Women's History | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Why is Tambudzai Such a Dislikable Character?

Posted on May 26, 2021 by 21ek

At first glance, Tambudzai is a cold, cruel character. She does not care about her hostel mates, she is focused solely on money, and she is self-centered. But, after taking a deeper dive into the novel, one can see that … Continue reading →

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Shuggie Bain Minecraft Scene Proposal

Posted on May 25, 2021 by 21mjk

Themes:  Temperament- Big shug has anger issues. They stem from his frustration with his life/standing in society. He then takes this frustration and blames it on Agnes effectively gaslighting her.   He tells her he is leaving her because he cannot make her … Continue reading →

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Social-Emotional Learning in Real Life

Posted on May 21, 2021 by 21kbros

One really interesting angle to understand Brandon Taylor’s Real Life is through a Social-Emotional Learning lens. Mark Bracket describes the difference between an “emotional scientist” and a “emotional judge” in his work. A “emotional scientist” recognizes, examines, learns from emotions and accordingly regulates their response. An “emotional judge” decides if feelings are “right” or “wrong” without much reflection … Continue reading →

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A Journey Through The Wilderness

Posted on March 4, 2021 by andrewgingold

The stepping away from composing a traditional paper and crafting a podcast allowed groups to choose and develop multiple ideas rather than being stuck to one. “The Circle of Life” by Elton John was our chosen song to fit alongside our podcast on The New Wilderness by Diane Cook regarding the significant … Continue reading →

Posted in 2020 Booker Short List novels, Literature Circles aka #litcircles | Tagged | 9 Comments

The Shadow King Podcast

Posted on March 4, 2021 by amethystmckenzie

Nearing the end of winter term, final papers are common across many classes. Creating a podcast with this lit group allowed for discussion. This podcast was great because the groupwork and collaboration for the month of February enabled deep discussion. Hearing … Continue reading →

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Diane Cook’s Fan Club: A First Look into The New Wilderness

Posted on March 4, 2021 by 21pjh

As a group, we had collectively been extremely interested in doing a podcast. We were able to come together and discuss about something we are interested in with no pressure and complete freedom regarding what we talked about. We discussed the themes of power and leadership in the novel along … Continue reading →

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Student Podcast on This Mournable Body

Posted on March 3, 2021 by msantopietro

Last Week, Max and I created a podcast, discussing Tsitsi Dangaremba’s novel, This Mournable Body.  In the podcast, we discussed the lack of care for the black female body, and how this uniquely effects the mental health of black women in a postcolonial world. We discussed the effect that … Continue reading →

Posted in #PBL #StudentCentered, 2020 Booker Short List novels, Literature Circles aka #litcircles | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Eyes All Around: Perspectives in and about Real Life by Brandon Taylor

Posted on March 3, 2021 by 21slc

In Real Life, a coming-of-age novel by Brandon Taylor, readers are presented with the character of Wallace, a graduate student studying Biochemistry and faring the obstacles of his and his friends’ approaching adulthood. In traditional bildungsroman form, Wallace undergoes a series of events throughout the course of a weekend that leaves him searching … Continue reading →

Posted in #PBL #StudentCentered, 2020 Booker Short List novels, Literature Circles aka #litcircles | Tagged | 13 Comments