Classics in Their Own “Words”: Analytical Remixes in a Land of Essays

The author shares his experience in effecting change in an AP English Literature and Composition course by employing book trailers as an assessment. Using multimodal responses fostered a shared classroom space that combined the students’ preferred, everyday communicative modes with the canonical literature study required by the curriculum. This inclusive space proved valuable in helping a diverse group of students produce competent literary analyses and in scaffolding their comfort and efficacy with the language of literature study.