Contemporary Poets Talk Back: An American Tradition

In celebration of National Poetry Month, the authors of ALR and colleagues who contributed to the resources discuss "Contemporary Poets Talk Back: An American Tradition." One way to view our new book American Literature & Rhetoric (ALR) is one big conversation about issues and ideas about our perfect—or imperfect—union. Nowhere is the conversation more dynamic than in our "talk backs": contemporary poets responding to a song, a painting, or another poem from another era. These responses might be an appreciation or a challenge, but they always raise questions that continue to engage us.

During this webinar, we will discuss five contemporary poets who are talking back:

  • Ada Limon (to “The Star-Spangled Banner” by Francis Scott Key)
  • Natasha Trethewey (to "Veteran in a New Field" by Winslow Homer)
  • Ilya Kaminsky (to "At Lowe's Home Improvement Center" by Brian Turner)
  • Ocean Vuong (to "Facing It" by Yusef Komunyakaa)
  • Eve Ewing (to "How It Feels to Be Colored Me" by Zora Neale Hurston)

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In celebration of National Poetry Month, the authors of ALR and colleagues who contributed to the resources discuss "Contemporary Poets Talk Back: An American Tradition." One way to view our new book American Literature & Rhetoric (ALR) is one big conversation about issues and ideas about our perfect—or imperfect—union. Nowhere is the conversation more dynamic than in our "talk backs": contemporary poets responding to a song, a painting, or another poem from another era. These responses might be an appreciation or a challenge, but they always raise questions that continue to engage us.

During this webinar, we will discuss five contemporary poets who are talking back:

  • Ada Limon (to “The Star-Spangled Banner” by Francis Scott Key)
  • Natasha Trethewey (to "Veteran in a New Field" by Winslow Homer)
  • Ilya Kaminsky (to "At Lowe's Home Improvement Center" by Brian Turner)
  • Ocean Vuong (to "Facing It" by Yusef Komunyakaa)
  • Eve Ewing (to "How It Feels to Be Colored Me" by Zora Neale Hurston)

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Renée Shea

Renée Shea

Professor Emeritus, Bowie State University

Renée H. Shea is professor emeritus of English and Modern Languages at Bowie State University, and coauthor of The Language of Composition, Literature & Composition, Conversations in American Literature, American Literature & Rhetoric, Advanced Language & Literature, and Foundations of Language & Literature. She has served as a reader, table leader, and question leader for both AP® Literature and Language readings. She most recently served as the College Board advisor for AP® Language.

Renée Shea

Renée Shea

Professor Emeritus, Bowie State University

Renée H. Shea is professor emeritus of English and Modern Languages at Bowie State University, and coauthor of The Language of Composition, Literature & Composition, Conversations in American Literature, American Literature & Rhetoric, Advanced Language & Literature, and Foundations of Language & Literature. She has served as a reader, table leader, and question leader for both AP® Literature and Language readings. She most recently served as the College Board advisor for AP® Language.

Robin Aufses

Robin Aufses

Lycée Français de New York

Robin Dissin Aufses served as the English department chair at John F. Kennedy High School in Bellmore, New York, for 10 years and is now English department chair at the Lycée Français de New York. She is a coauthor of The Language of Composition, Literature & Composition, Conversations in American Literature, and American Literature & Rhetoric.

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Megan Pankiewicz

Renée Shea

Rockville High School, MD

Megan Pankiewicz is a National Board Certified Teacher with over ten years of experience in the secondary English Language Arts classroom. She has received distinctions including the National Council of Teachers of English High School Teacher of Excellence (FL) She has served as President and Executive Director of the Florida Council of Teachers of English. Megan currently works at Rockville High School (MD) as the Staff Development teacher, AP® Coordinator, and AP® Language teacher. She is also a co-author of The Language of Composition, 3rd Ed.

Kate Cordes

Kate Cordes

Skyview High School, MT

Kate Cordes is a National Board Certified English Teacher who currently teaches 10th grade English, 12th grade English, and AP® English Literature at Skyview High School. She received her undergraduate degree in English, Psychology, and Medieval Studies from St. Olaf College and spent a year at Oxford University studying Medieval and 20th-century British Literature, and has a master's degree in education from Montana State University-Billings. Kate is co-author of American Literature & Rhetoric.

Natalie Castillo

Natalie Castillo

Felix Varela High School, FL

Natalie Castillo has been teaching for 11 years and has taught AP® courses at Felix Varela High School for seven years, where she teaches AP English Language and AP Seminar. Natlie serves as the College Board Advisor on the AP Seminar Test Development Committee, and has served as a District mentor for AP English Language. She has presented at the 2018 AP Annual Conference on behalf of College Board and at District AP Teacher and AP Student Curriculum Review workshops.

Renée Shea

Renée Shea

Professor Emeritus, Bowie State University

Renée H. Shea is professor emeritus of English and Modern Languages at Bowie State University, and coauthor of The Language of Composition, Literature & Composition, Conversations in American Literature, American Literature & Rhetoric, Advanced Language & Literature, and Foundations of Language & Literature. She has served as a reader, table leader, and question leader for both AP® Literature and Language readings. She most recently served as the College Board advisor for AP® Language.

Robin Aufses

Renée Shea

Lycée Français de New York

Robin Dissin Aufses served as the English department chair at John F. Kennedy High School in Bellmore, New York, for 10 years and is now English department chair at the Lycée Français de New York. She is a coauthor of The Language of Composition, Literature & Composition, Conversations in American Literature, and American Literature & Rhetoric.

Megan Pankiewicz

Renée Shea

Rockville High School, MD

Megan Pankiewicz is a National Board Certified Teacher with over ten years of experience in the secondary English Language Arts classroom. She has received distinctions including the National Council of Teachers of English High School Teacher of Excellence (FL) She has served as President and Executive Director of the Florida Council of Teachers of English. Megan currently works at Rockville High School (MD) as the Staff Development teacher, AP® Coordinator, and AP® Language teacher. She is also a co-author of The Language of Composition, 3rd Ed.

Kate Cordes

Renée Shea

Skyview High School, MT

Kate Cordes is a National Board Certified English Teacher who currently teaches 10th grade English, 12th grade English, and AP® English Literature at Skyview High School. She received her undergraduate degree in English, Psychology, and Medieval Studies from St. Olaf College and spent a year at Oxford University studying Medieval and 20th-century British Literature, and has a master's degree in education from Montana State University-Billings. Kate is co-author of American Literature & Rhetoric.

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