Why won’t English Language Arts Change? A historical examination of intensive, extensive and close reading.

• In Event: Reimagining ELA Pedagogy: Inquiring into Historical and Contemporary Practices to Mobilize for Change

Abstract

At the turn of the 20th Century, there was a fierce debate over what English should or could be; today, the same debates are happening. This theoretical paper explores initial debates between intensive and extensive reading, and its parallels today, as well as the ambiguously defined term ‘close reading,’ the natural extension of intensive reading. The paper includes recommendations for bridging divides by placing students at the center of secondary English.

Author

• Todd Reynolds, University of Wyoming