Abstract

This study examined the nature of interactions that took place among eighth-graders as they participated in literature circles. The teacher/researcher organized students into literature circles based on the students' novel selection. Students completed a different role assignment each week. The role assignments included word wizard, passage picker, connector, summarizer, and question asker. As the students participated in literature circles, the teacher/researcher tape recorded their conversations and took observational field notes. Analysis of the data four weeks later showed that some students' voices were silenced and students went through the motions of completing and talking about their role assignments with little discussion and inquiry. These findings may be due to the way the role assignments were used and the role of the teacher during literature circles.

Degree

MA

College and Department

David O. McKay School of Education; Teacher Education

Rights

http://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/

Date Submitted

2008-07-16

Document Type

Thesis

Handle

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/etd2549

Keywords

literature circles, democracy, democratic participation, middle school, language arts

Language

English

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