synthesis essay

There are certain texts that have been deemed classic. The recipients of this title are books, plays, or poetry written by authors who are seemingly masters of their craft. Their best works have been placed together to create anthologies of recommended reading. Why shouldn’t they? If these writings have withstood the test of time, such as Homer’s Odyssey or Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”, or are examples of great talent with words, then I feel they should be heralded in a place of honor. Toiling over the perfect sentence structure or rhetorical strategy should be rewarded. These authors deserve to have high status and accessibility to the reading public. (Source A)

Because the anthologies have been published by the academic elite, such as Oxford and Norton, many schools feel as though these anthologies make appropriate curriculum for their students. I cannot find fault in any school requiring its students to read literary works that are lauded the world wide, but they must allow for additions. English teachers should have the prerogative to affix other works into their English course. Eshleman added Whitman’s “Song of Myself” when he felt that the anthology was lacking in Whitman’s poetry. Choosing “Song of Myself” allowed his students to begin different kind of discussion. It brought into a light a different side of Whitman, one that might not be deemed as praiseworthy. (Source C) Literature must not be solely about the technique of writing or even how well the author develops his plot. Literature must invoke feeling within us, and cause our minds to ponder new subjects. Our minds must be stretched to their limits; we must be forced to contemplate subjects that are not necessarily comfortable. It must speak to our needs, and give us solutions.

A school’s curriculum must be able to adapt to the needs of its students. Florez-Tighe believed that by giving an African-American child literature rooted in African-American folklore, that child would grow up with a deeper appreciation for his or her background and be more confident in himself. (Source E) I think we can safely take this point even further. By using a multicultural curriculum in a multicultural classroom, one will not only be able to help an African-American understand his heritage better or an Indonesian understand her heritage better, but you will also be able to help the African-American understand his Indonesian counterpart’s heritage and vice versa. Knowing about each other’s background will lead to the discovery of comparisons between cultures and could solve much unneeded conflict between ethnicities.

If the anthology a school chooses covers every aspect the teacher wishes, and is able to aid in every need of the students, then by all means the anthology should be used and adhered to strictly. However, if it fails to provide a full and meaningful education in all aspects of literature, not just grammar and rhetoric alone, it would be an error for a school to solely rely on it.