Holly McCall
An Introduction
Welcome to my world of literature! My name is Holly McCall; I am a wife and
mother, and college student. My major
is elementary education, and my academic concentration is English, which is why
I am taking this course – Major American Authors. I enrolled in this course to fill an academic requirement but
also because I feel that it is important, especially as a future teacher, to be
familiar with the literature of our great country.
I am a fan
of all kinds of literature, but I can’t say that I always have been. Growing up, most of my experiences with
literature, or what I thought of as literature, were books that I was forced to
read. I viewed reading as
homework. And yet, some of my fondest
and most vivid memories in school were when teachers would read to the class
during some “free time”. Unfortunately,
it wasn’t until my senior year in high school that I really understood the
relevance of literature. My teacher
told us that literature, all kinds of literature, was about one thing –
us. Literature is a reflection of our
human nature. My view and enjoyment of
literature was completely changed after that realization. I now appreciate the introspection that
literature gives me, and I try to apply it toward many relationships that I
have, at home and in my community.
In taking this course, I hope to become more
familiar with American literature, but I also want to improve my communication
and research skills. My husband is in
the military and we are relocating frequently.
I’ve come to value research skills in the relocation process. Before we move, I try to learn pertinent
information about the community and the surrounding schools. The information available is overwhelming
sometimes, but it takes a skillful researcher to find specific information in a
timely manner. Good communication
skills are also especially important in a lifestyle where we are constantly meeting
new people who come from a wide variety of backgrounds. These skills will be extremely important to
me as an educator, too, in relationships with students and parents and in my
professional development.
I am a firm believer that knowledge and language is
power. Both of these things can be
gained through literature. All the
successful people I know are educated, but more importantly, are life-long
learners. They read books and
newspapers and look for ways to improve their communication skills. They can
communicate their thoughts clearly and concisely and can also comprehend what
is being communicated to them. Language
is the key. In this Information Age,
now more than ever, reading, writing, and speaking skills are crucial for a
person’s success. I am fortunate to
have the opportunity to practice these skills in this course.
If you let
it, literature can open the mind and elevate the spirit. Literature is a playground for thought and
feeling. Once you think of it in these
terms, how can you not enjoy it?
Essay 1: “Life in America,
Smith vs. the Puritans”
Essay 2: “A Look at
Romanticism”
Essay 3: Postbellum America
Essay 4: Modern America
Author Project: Thomas Bangs
Thorpe