The 2012 Paul and Kate Farmer English Journal Writing Award
The Paul and Kate Farmer English Journal Writing Awards are given to authors of the best articles published in English Journal during the previous volume year. Eligible entrants must be high school teachers and may include those on leave or not currently teaching.
Winners of 2012 awards are:
Shannon Falkner, for "'Signs of Life' in the High School Classroom: Analyzing Popular Culture to Provide Student Choice in Analytical Writing" Nov. 2011, Vol. 101.2
Falkner offers a user-friendly approach to semiotics that engages students in critical examination of popular culture they’re already immersed in.
and
Fahima Ife, for "Powerful Writing: Promoting a Political Writing Community of Students", March 2012, Vol. 101.4
For students to act as responsible citizens, they must become comfortable writing with and about power.
Honorable Mentions to:
Brent McKeown for "Decoding Teacher and Student Identity with Jay-Z", November 2011, Vol. 101.2. “Challenging Texts” Column, Edited by P. L. Thomas
"Challenging Texts" explores various ways of teaching literary theory to high school and middle school students.
and
Jennifer Ansbach for "Long-Term Effects of Bullying: Promoting Empathy with Nonfiction", July 2012, Vol. 101.6
Students’ empathy increases after responding to essays from Dear Bully.
Awards were presented at the NCTE Annual Convention in November during the Secondary Section Luncheon.