Prepare: Prior to completing this discussion, read the Critical Literary Theories handout (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site..

Reflect: In the Critical Literary Theories (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. handout, four different kinds of critical approaches are presented. Consider which of the four theories you find most interesting as a means for understanding literature.

Write: Your initial post should be at least 200 words in length. The minimum word count does not include references. Choose two of the critical approaches presented in the Critical Literary Theories (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. handout and address the points below.

• Imagine you are the teacher, and you have a student who does not understand these approaches. How would you describe each, in your own words? Be sure to give a specific example of how the approach would be applied to a critical reading of a text.
• Compare and/or contrast the two critical approaches. What is each of them most interested in exploring?
• Consider the text you wrote for your Literary Analysis Draft assignment in Week 3, and select one of the two approaches you wrote about above. What literary elements, themes, and conflict would you focus on if applying this approach to an analysis of the text? Review the List of Literary Techniques (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. and Types of Conflicts Found in Literature (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. documents for assistance.

Prepare: Review the quote by Skwiot and Clugston that you considered in your Week 1 The Value of Literature discussion: “Literature enriches our lives by challenging us to have new perspectives on life’s experiences and the world in which we live” (Chapter 1, para. 2). You should also review your posts in the Week 1 The Value of Literature discussion. Finally, read the Harry Potter Through the Focus of Feminist Literary Theory (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. article. If you are unfamiliar with the Harry Potter series, please review the Series Overview (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. web page before reading the article so you have some foundational knowledge of the series.

Reflect: Consider how your understanding and perspective of literature has changed (or has not) over the duration of this course. You can also think about the value of literary study and research as you reflect on your experience reading the article. Then, respond to the questions and directives below.

Write: The initial post must be 200 to 300 words in length and posted by Day 3. In your initial post,

• Summarize your understanding of literary research. How does the article exemplify it?
• What critical thinking skills are developed by performing literary research, as you did in this course?
• What critical thinking skills are developed by reading literary research, as you did for your final literary analysis essay and for this discussion?
• What is the value of literary study? How does it help one to become a better individual, colleague, and global citizen? You should use at least one quotation and paraphrase from the Harry Potter article to provide a specific example. For help on writing paraphrases and quotations, review the Ashford University Writing Center’s tutorial Integrating Research (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. and the Quoting, Paraphrasing, & Summarizing (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. web page.