CFP: Students Writing "Early English": Practice, Promise, Problems

CFP: Students Writing "Early English": Practice, Promise, Problems
45 th International Congress on Medieval Studies in Kalamazoo, Michigan
May 13-16, 2010

A pedagogical technique sometimes practiced by college and university teachers of early English language or literature is to allow - or require - students to communicate in the early dialect, or at least as close an approximation as they can manage. Arguments in favor of this technique include greater enthusiasm by students, greater and longer responses on online classroom forums, and greater student insights about the texts. However, there is an argument against such assignments as well - principally, that speaking or writing responses in the studied language will result, perhaps unwittingly, in parody or bombast. This session will explore the options, problems, benefits of having students communicate in an approximation of early English.

This session is sponsored by the Chaucer MetaPage. Please submit a brief proposal by September 15 to:
Susan Yager
Associate Professor, English
Iowa State University
syager@iastate.edu