Traditional vs contemporary

Honestly, to compare between these two differnt works is quite hard for me as I didn't really have an experience in rading traditional YAL. However, as far as know, there are quite differences between these two. When I read 'Chinese Handcuffs' and 'Hero', they obviously try to picture the real situation or conflicts that arose among teenagers nowadays. In contrast, with the more traditional YAL, where they are more on imaginery adventure faced by teenagers those days. Moreover, the elaboration on the literary elements in the book is more complex where the writer uses more complicated language words and vocabulary and it is quite hard to analyze the material.

Contemporarily, the modern YAL is focusing more on the single protagonist with his/her own conflicts and issues. The other characteristics are only as the antagonists and most of them involve the protagonist's family member's, friends and the surroundings. Furthermore, there are more literary elements can be discussed such as the conflicts, issues, plot, setting, language style and many more. The language used is easily followed and understood by the students.

The way the writers write and elaborate each elements are also attracted readers to read more on the modern YAL. This is important to help learners gain interest in reading the YAL and make it as a habit. To have such a good way of expressing the feelings throughout writing YAL, is to think the way young adults think. And to think their way, we need to understand them.

Making discussion & writing real

To be a critical thinker for what I have read and clarify my thinking about a selection I am reading at the moment of time is not easy. We sometimes do not realize that what we think is not what we understand and what other people feel about it. Discussion with peers about what we have chosen and readwill help us a lot in understanding our feeling and thinking towards the reading material. Because, through the discussion, our friends can give their general reaction to their own understanding. We can together discuss or focus more on the theme, tone, conflict or any other literary elements and gain more understanding on the material. Through group discussion, it will also help me improve my conceptual understanding and critical thinking.

Other than group discussion, I can also respond my understanding on the materials through writing, scuh as journal. Through this informal way of writing, I can jot down my initial impressions and expectations or I can even sometimes make predictions before I can start my new reading. I can also write reflections after my reading. As we know, journal is a free form of informal, personal writing with no restrictions on spelling and mechanics. This is an advantage as it provides freedom and flexibility of revealing my personal reflections throughout my reading.

We can also allow our friend to read and react on it. Brief, supportive, nonjudgmental comments are the most effective approach for our understanding on the reading selection.

Sharing

Sharing what we've read with our peers and classmates is one of the best ways to enhance our understanding about the literature. We can either share with partners or a small group of members. Through small-group activity students can share their experience with the other group members and it can further their understanding of those experiences. It also provides students with the opportunity to encourage and support the efforts of each other as the students explore the ideas, concepts and experiences in their reading.
Through my own experience as a teacher, students prefer group activity more than individual tasks. This is because; they will feel more confident as they get support from other group members upon completing their tasks.
When the students are discussing about YAL in the group they can share their opinions about the book, the characters, the theme and even the overall understanding of the book. This can lead to their better understandings on the YAL.
Other than that, teachers can also use other approach to help students gain better understanding like having a learning partner. Sometimes having learning partners is more beneficial as they are closer to each other and they share many things together.
The students can share with each other their learning or serve as peer editors, discuss what they are reading, recommended book to each other, or develop creative projects together. The benefit of having this kind of activity is that the students can gain trust and an increase level of cooperation with each other. Other than that, they can have mutual responsibilities and needs; therefore, the level of commitment and involvement will be high.