This past summer, the NIU English Department conducted a six-week Fulbright American Studies institute on contemporary American literature for 18 foreign university educators teaching American literature in their home countries. The participants examined, discussed, and debated developments in contemporary American literature and criticism with a focus on issues of geography and space. Titled Redefining American Spaces: The City, the Land, and the Body, the curriculum was broken up into five modules which addressed five different sorts of spaces: Public and Private Spaces; The Urban and Ethnicity; The Suburb, the Exurb, and the Farm; The Geography of the Body and the Family; and Landscape and History. This professional development conference presents an overview of the content of the summer program and samples of the individual sessions, intended to give teachers and scholars curriculum ideas, and approaches to teaching particular texts and concepts.

8:15 a.m. Check in/Registration, Holmes Student Center, Regency Room. Main Floor

8:45 a.m. Welcome Fred Kitterle, Ph.D., Dean, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and
Heather Hardy, Ph.D., Chair, Department of English

8:55 -9:45a.m. New Approaches to Teaching Contemporary American Literature: The Fulbright American Studies Program at NIU. A panel presentation and discussion. Keith Gandal, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of English and Director of the Fulbright Program; James Giles, Ph.D., Professor, Department of English and Special Advisor to the Fulbright Program; and David Barrow, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor, Department of English.

10 a.m. - 10:50 a.m.

A1 Narrative Fiction: Going beyond the Basics.  David Gorman, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of English. The study of narrative has been a booming area of literary criticism in recent years--but how much of the results can be taught to beginners? Two generally accessible ideas are those of convention in fictional narrative and of analysis in terms of function.

B1 The Cinematic West and American National Narrative.  Robert Self, Ph.D., Professor, Department of English.  Defines the generic western story as a central American narrative and examines the representation of western geographies in this mythic formation.

C1 Terrorism and the City: American Poetic Responses Before and After 9-11. Mark Van Wienen, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of English. The collapse of the twin towers of the World Trade Center appears to have changed forever our assumptions about the solidity and safety of the places where city dwellers live and work.  But the theme of terror in/at the city has a longer history than the recent "war on terrorism."  Through the lens of contemporary American poetry, we examine in this session what has changed about urban terror since 9/11--and what has not.

11 -- 11:50 a.m..

A2 The Second Ghetto and African-American Experience: Claude Brown’s Manchild in the Promised Land. Keith Gandal, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Deparatment of English. Claude Brown’s autobiography represents a journey of a black youth from Harlem, street gangs, and reform schools to Greenwich Village, employment, and high school and college. Brown’s book describes the contemporary socio-economic struggles and cultural or identity conflicts along such a path. Leaving Harlem, the streets, and the penal system involves not only a move into opportunity, but also a confrontation with peer expectations and notions of black masculinity. Brown’s book also marks the emergence of a new type of expert and commentator on the second ghetto, someone local to the community.

B2 Defining the Self Within the Group: Diana Abu-Jaber’s Arabian Jazz. Ibis Gomez-Vega, Ph.D, Associate Professor, Department of English. Abu-Jaber’s novel uses fairy tales and popular myths, the stuff of America’s cultural unconscious, to ground the lives of two Arab-American sisters and their Arab father, Mathussen. Although Mathussen attempts to raise his daughters with a clear awareness of Arab folklore and legends, Jemorah and Melvina grow up to question their places within their most immediate family of uncles, aunts, and cousins versus their places within the larger Arab or/and American communities.

C2 Contemporary Women’s Writing and Criticism. Diana Swanson, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of English. A feminist look at several contemporary women authors.

12 noon LUNCHEON –free networking lunch. Join conference faculty and teachers from participating schools to exchange ideas over lunch.

1:00 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.

A3 Contemporary American Literary Regionalism. James Giles, Ph.D., Professor, Department of English. A discussion of the regionalist aspects of Jane Smiley's Midwest farm novel, A Thousand Acres, and Cormac McCarthy's surrealistic Appalachian novel, Outer Dark.

B3 Postcolonial Literature and Theory: A Caribbean Case-Study. Brian May, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of English. This session surveys some of the more influential forms of critical theory and interpretive practice that have come to be called "postcolonial," especially as they have developed in the Caribbean context.  The literary text that we discuss is Jean Rhys's 1966 novel, Wide Sargasso Sea, a retelling of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre from the perspective of the Creole Bertha, Bronte's "madwoman in the attic."

C3 Vernacular Space: from Mark Twain to South Park. David Barrow, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor, Department of English. We examine the ways the western landscape has inspired a literature of irreverence. Current theory about the notion of "vernacular" will be discussed.

2:00 p.m. Adjournment

What some teachers have said about past "New Ideas" programs:

"This conference often sparks a fire that grows into a "bonfire" of a lesson in my classroom."
Don Pielin, Maple School, Northbrook, IL
"It is refreshing to attend something that is not a remake of old programs."
Karol Squier, District 205, Rockford, IL
"The sessions I attended were current and intellectually challenging."
N. Eugene Tester, Streamwood High School
"[This conference] always presents new perspectives on a wider range of topics to be used in my
classroom." Lee Weindorf, teacher, Geneva
"[This conference] provides a rich source for professional enrichment and scholarship. It helps to
break down the isolation so many teachers experience."
Ronald Szymanski, District 211, Hoffman Estates, IL

Why Attend?
This program gives you an opportunity to meet with colleagues from other educational institutions, to learn about successful teaching projects, and to hear about the latest research findings from thought-provoking Northern Illinois University scholars. NIU research professors and other professionals working in the academic disciplines will share ideas from their field research and suggest ways for you to enliven your classes.

You will:
1. Focus on Contemporary American literature through a focus on geography and space.
2. Explore internet resources, many of which are being developed by NIU scholars.
3. Experience effective teaching methods that help students learn.
4. Receive materials from the faculty to use as a ready reference when you return to your school .
5. Have the opportunity to begin establishing a professional network with other attendees and talk
with others to explore new ideas and expand your professional horizons.

plus...
Recertification– CPDUs
You will receive a report documenting 5 Continuing Professional Development Units for your participation. Northern Illinois University is an approved provider of professional development activities. This documentation will assist you in your individual recertification plans.

General Information
Enrollments are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. If reservations exceed conference limits, a waiting list will be established. Late registrations will be accepted if space is available. Registration confirmed by payment. If the conference must be canceled due to unforeseen circumstances, you will receive a full refund. All facilities are accessible to the handicapped.

Location
Holmes Student Center, located on-campus. NIU is in DeKalb, 65 miles west of Chicago (one mile north of I-88); 45 miles southeast of Rockford. A map will be sent with your confirmation.

Parking A visitor's parking lot ($5.00) is located close to the Holmes Student Center. A campus map is sent with your confirmation plus a parking pass (upon request).

Some of the Schools represented at past New Ideas Conferences: Bloom Trail High School, Chicago Heights; Central High School, Crystal Lake; Christ the King School, Lombard; DeKalb High School; District 205, Rockford; Elmhurst College; Evanston High School; Freeport Catholic Schools; Guilford High School; Highland Community College; Hononegah High School; Huntley High School; Joliet West High School; Lake Forest High School; Libertyville High School; North Boone High School; Simpson Alternative School; Streamwood High School; Streator Township High School; Sts. Peter & Paul School, Cary; Wheaton Christian High School; Wheaton North High School; Woodlands Academy; and many more.
 
 

1. PHONE 1-800-345-9472 or (815) 753-0277 to register with a credit card.
2. FAX your form to (815) 753-6900 to register with a credit card.
3. MAIL your completed registration form with check to: University Outreach Services, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois 60115-2860
4. IN PERSON at the LNB Building, 2nd floor, 3rd and Locust St., DeKalb, Illinois. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

(All registrations confirmed by payment)

Tuition Fee: Only $95 ($125 after February 15; $145 at the door) per person (includes materials, refreshment breaks, networking luncheon, and a documentation for 6 CPDUs).

Cancellations/Refunds: Requests for refunds are accepted if written notification is received by Friday, February 2, 2003 (refunds will be issued minus a $25 processing fee). Cancellations received after that time will be charged 50% of the total program fee. No refunds issued for cancellations received on or after February 27. Substitutions of registrants may be made, without penalty, anytime prior to the program's commencement. All reservations confirmed by payment.

[ ] YES, reserve my space in Northern Illinois University's Conference "New Ideas in English: New Approaches to Contemporary American Literature" on Friday, February 28, 2003, Holmes Student Center, 8:45a.m.-2:00p.m. (6383)

[ ] Check here if you have special needs that are regulated by the American with Disabilities Act.
Name#1_______________________________________________________________
Check One [ ] English Teacher, [ ] Other, please specify____________
To help planning, circle which sessions you plan to attend:A1, B1 or C1; A2, B2 or C2; or A3, B3 or C3.

Name#2_______________________________________________________________
Check One [ ] English Teacher, [ ] Other, please specify____________
To help planning, circle which sessions you plan to attend:A1, B1, or C1; A2, B2 or C2; or A3, B3 or C3.

Institution/school_________________________________________________________
Address _______________________________________________________________
[ ]Home [ ]School
Day phone(___)__________________________Evening phone(____)_______________
Fax(___)__________________________E-mail________________________________
City, State, Zip__________________________________________________________
Approving Person____________________________________(Title)________________

$95 ($125after February 15, $145 at the door) per person;
Total: $_____________

[ ]Please send Complimentary parking pass for the Visitor’s parking lot.
[ ] Enclosed is check payable to Northern Illinois University.
[ ] Charge fee to: [ ]VISA [ ]MASTERCARD [ ]DISCOVER [ ]AMEX

Card #____________________________Exp. Date_________________
Signature_______________________________________________

All registrations confirmed by payment. Attendance limited to 200 teachers.

To check for final schedule and any revisions to the program or latest information, visit us on the web at URL: http://www.niu.edu/ext_prog/nie2003.html