Several people have tried, unsuccessfully, to learn the facts about J. D. Salinger's life. The little information available from secondary sources about Salinger indicates that "The Catcher in the Rye" has autobiographical elements. Salinger's life parallels Holden's fictional adventures in that Salinger (1) was born and reared through…

Excerpts from law students' journals illustrate themes of their early experiences with law school, including idealism, high expectations, exhilaration, frustration, stress, conflict, boredom, alienation, and despair. (MSE)

Presents a bibliography of books on anorexia nervosa that are appropriate for young adults. Includes fiction, autobiographies, informational books, and books on the related topics of bulimia, bulimarexia, and therapy. (EL)

In the struggle to find an acceptably academic voice that still felt personal, an instructor started thinking about what it would mean to say that academic writing is always autobiographical. Reading student work for how the autobiographical is presented in academic discourse, the instructor thought about how autobiographical writing could be used…

This book is aimed at those who want to record personal stories, or for family and friends, or for fulfillment of higher literary standards. It is a book to open up conversations about memoir and a practical guide to the craft, the personal challenges, and the ethical dilemmas of writing true stories. The chapters deal with getting started,…

This lesson plan introduces students to one of the most widely-read genres of 19th-century American literature and an important influence within the African American literary tradition today. The lesson focuses on the "Narrative of William W. Brown, An American Slave" (1847), which, along with the "Narrative of the Life of Frederick…

There is very little research on the phenomena surrounding the life stories and experiences of teen parents who completed their associate's degree. This dissertation is a case study that tells the life stories of five teen parents who graduated from the Cincinnati Branch of Chatfield College with an associate's degree. Narrative Inquiry provides…

Argues that oral and written American Indian literatures should be part of American literature courses dealing with the conquest of the West, the local color movement, or regional literature. Describes a selection of the best examples of American Indian autobiography and fiction. (AEA)

Outlines a program in journal writing and self-assessment for college students. (AEA)

Annotates nine new adult books of interest to high school readers. The books include autobiographical accounts by survivors of the Holocaust, books of short stories, and books about Shakespeare, the Cuban literacy struggle, and early Chinese explorers. (GT)

Lists and annotates children's books that present Polish folklore and legends, biographies of famous Polish people, personal accounts of life in Poland, and stories about Polish Americans and people living in Poland. (ET)

Includes practical suggestions submitted by teachers concerning the use of student autobiographies in the reading lab, a sensible approach to inservice, critical reading instruction, and the development of a unit on planning a vacation. (MKM)

Excerpted from the second volume of his three-part autobiography, this essay describes B. F. Skinner's first year as a graduate student at Harvard University. Although he focuses on his study of psychology, particularly behaviorism, Skinner also discusses his interest in physiology. (JMD)

Discusses, from the perspective of the co-editor of the National Council of Teachers of English's annotated yearly booklist for high school students, new young adult literature and trends. Presents annotations of adolescent literature on hot topics (AIDS, abuse, death), choices and transitions, poetry, nonfiction, diversity issues, and historical…