Magazine: Wordplay – Issue 2

Issue 2
October 2009

Welcome
English Subject Centre Magazine editor Dr Nicole King introduces our second issue.
IT Works
Brett Lucas casts his eye over recent developments in the world of e-learning

The Subjects of English? Communities & Communication
Louise Marshall and Will Slocombe ask whether the Subject of English ’knows its place‘ in the digital age.
Interview with Ron Carter
Candice Satchwell, the Subject Centre’s Liaison Officer for HE in FE, speaks with Professor Ron Carter about his long career teaching and researching English language, linguisitics and literature.
HumBox – sharing made simple
What teaching materials we use and where we source them from is about to experience a shift, and, Brett Lucas reports, it’s all about sharing what we already do.
First Thoughts on the New A-Level Specifications – what’s changed?
Barbara Bleiman gives an early initial report on the impact of the new A-Level specifications on teaching and learning, drawing on the comments of teachers she has talked to during the first year of the new curriculum.
Sharpening the Factual Edge: teaching journalism today
Eamonn O’Neill describes the challenges of teaching and doing journalism while emphasising journalism’s shared territory with Creative Writing.

Poetry in Context: The First World War Poetry Digital Archive
Kate Lindsay and Stuart Lee describe how primary source material is enriching teaching and learning of the poetry of the First World War.
Teaching with YouTube
Amy Palko offers some practical suggestions for integrating YouTube into tutorials and lectures.
Ticking the Right Boxes? A Survey of English Feedback Pro forma
Show your students the patterns of their written work and improve the attention they give to your feedback – it’s as easy as ticking a box, argues Dave Ellis.
Dame Ellen Terrry and Edith Craig: suitable subjects for teaching
Candice Satchwell reviews some of the issues in delivering English degrees in further education colleges, including perspectives from lecturers and students.
Theorising the Teaching of Creative Writing
Katharine Cockin provides an insight into a research project which has produced a new electronic resource, making accessible one of the most significant theatre archives in the UK.

Professing and Pedagogy: Learning the Teaching of English, by Shari J. Stenberg
Reviewed by Shane Collins
Tragedy: A Student Handbook, by Sean McEvoy with Tony Coult and Chris Sandford
Reviewed by Ashley Lister
Studying English Literature: A Practical Guide, by Tory Young
Reviewed by Suzanne Brierley

Weathering the Storm: a networking day for humanities careers advisers
Liberating Sojourn II
Feminist Transitions – 22nd Feminist & Women’s Studies Association (FWSA) Conference
The Doctor’s Dilemna – a new pedagogy for the PhD in English Studies?

Desert Island Texts
Lecturers registered in our Directory of Experience and Interests database highlight their favourite books. This month: Gweno Williams
The Last Word
David Roberts is Head of the School of English at Birmingham City University.