Using LitWeb for Students

Literary Workshops

LITWEB focuses on fifty authors in the Ninth Edition of The Norton Introduction to Literature. The authors are gathered in Literary Workshops. It is best to go through the site in sequence: Reading, Re-Reading, and Explorations. The Author Biographies and Related Links should be used as references.

Reading

In this first encounter, you are asked to read the text (provided online or in the anthology). You are then asked to read the questions and notes on this part of the site as a means of exploring your first response to the work. Write down your responses and share them with your classmates. Perhaps your teacher will have set up an on-line discussion for this sharing.

Re-Reading

The Re-Reading section often offers provocative study texts with highlighted words and pop-up notes. Re-read the texts online (or in the anthology). Then, consider the Re-Reading questions and topics as you begin to move from a personal response toward close reading and interpretation. Once again, share your ideas with others so that you can consider many interpretive possibilities.

Explorations

With thematic groupings and dynamic Web links, the Explorations provide excellent opportunities for further study. They encourage you to consider a broad range of questions and ideas about the text you are reading. Exploring links to thought-provoking issues beyond the realm of close reading might inspire you to develop ideas and new topics for papers.

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