Works in Progress -- An Online Experiment

[Madeline Buchanan <dems105@UABDPO.DPO.UAB.EDU>]

>>Subject: Works in Progress -- An Online Experiment
>>
>>
>>If you are working with young people in grades 3-6 in the first quarter of
>>1995, I invite you to take part in a collaborative online experiment in
>>literature and education.
>>
>>Works in Progress is a program in which educators and librarians will receive
>>stories as email from an established children's author. These "works in
>>progress" have not yet reached final form. Participants will be asked to
>>share the stories with young people and to relay comments back to the author,
>>as well as to comment themselves.
>>
>>While the author gains valuable feedback, kids will gain interest in and
>>appreciation of the creative process -- and both kids and adults will enjoy
>>the opportunity to influence stories headed for publication. There is no
>>charge for the program.
>>
>>My publications include current and forthcoming books from Scribners,
>>Atheneum, Whitman, Clarion, Lothrop, Dial, and H. W. Wilson. I also appear
>>often in _Cricket_ and the _Cobblestone_ group. I live near San Jose,
>>California.
>>
>>The stories selected for this program are "The Man Who Knew Everything: A
>>Tale of Iran," and "Nonviolence: A Buddhist Fable." Participants may respond
>>to one or both of the stories, with no obligation. Supplementary materials
>>include a letter to the kids, suggested questions for discussion, and an
>>author profile.
>>
>>The requested response date is March 1. In March, I will send a note about
>>the comments I received and how I plan to use them. By May, I hope to send
>>revisions of the stories to show how they've changed.
>>
>>To receive the materials, just send me an email request at one of the
>>addresses below. Unless I sent you this message personally, DO NOT REPLY
>>DIRECTLY TO THE MESSAGE SOURCE. (But please tell me what it was.) Stories
>>will be sent to the return address at the head of your email message, unless
>>you instruct me to ignore it. I regret I cannot send stories by regular mail
>>or fax.
>>
>>This message is being posted to a number of lists and newsgroups, and I
>>apologize for duplication. Please feel free to repost it elsewhere,
>>especially on local networks I may not know about or have access to.
>>
>>Aaron Shepard
>>AaronShep  (America Online)
>>AaronShep@aol.com  (Internet)
>>"If stories come to you, care for them. And learn to give them away where
>>they are needed. Sometimes a person needs a story more than food to stay
>>alive." -- Barry Lopez


     Madeline L. Buchanan            Barrett Elementary School
     Library Media Specialist        7601 Division Avenue
     dems105@uabdpo.dpo.uab.edu      Birmingham, AL  35206
                                     (205) 838-7644