Literature Improves Empathy


Have you ever felt that reading a good book makes you better able to connect with your fellow human beings? If so, the results of a new scientific study back you up, but only if your reading material is literary fiction; pop fiction or non-fiction won’t cut it.

Great Expectations from great literature … empathy occurs in the spaces between characters, such as Joe and Pip, pictured here in the 2012 film adaptation. Photograph: Moviestore/Rex Features

Empathy occurs in the spaces between characters, such as Joe and Pip in Great Expectations. Photograph: Moviestore/Rex Features

Psychologists David Comer Kidd and Emanuele Castano, at the New School for Social Research in New York, have proved that reading literary fiction enhances the ability to detect and understand other people’s emotions, a crucial skill in navigating complex social relationships.

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Week 4:10 (May 20–22)

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Freshmen: Exam Study Guide, Exam Time-Slot Signup, Literary Analysis Thesis FrameLiterary Terms, Analytical Verbs, Tone Words, Analytical Verbs, Weaving & CitingTransitions & CommentaryTheme Log / Macbeth: Interactive E-text, Film Adaptations, Outline & Rubric, Essay Rubric, (Pre-)Notes, “Reading Shakespeare” Packet, Choice-Emphasis TrackerThings Fall ApartE-text, Audiotext, (Pre-)Notes

Diploma Support: Final Exam Schedule, Semester Grade ChartRotation CalendarSay Something, Eduaide.ai / Research: EBSCO HostGale Databases, Google Scholar, JSTOR, Sci-Hub / EEs: Full EE Guide, MLA TemplateMLA Sample PaperCat. 1 (28/34)Cat. 1 (30/34)Cat. 2 (34/34), Cat. 3 (33/34), EE Rubric, English EE Scoring, Prescribed Reading List

Week 4:9 (May 13–17)

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Freshmen: Exam Study Guide, Literary Terms, Analytical Verbs, Outline Rubric, Macbeth Interactive E-text, Macbeth Plain E-text, Macbeth Film Adaptations, Exam Time-Slot Signup, Essay Rubric (required only for late/incomplete Macbeth outlines)

Diploma Support: Final Exam Schedule, Semester Grade ChartRotation CalendarSay Something, Eduaide.ai / Research: EBSCO HostGale Databases, Google Scholar, JSTOR, Sci-Hub / EEs: Full EE Guide, MLA TemplateMLA Sample PaperCat. 1 (28/34)Cat. 1 (30/34)Cat. 2 (34/34), Cat. 3 (33/34), EE Rubric, English EE Scoring, Prescribed Reading List

Week 4:8 (May 6–10)

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Freshmen: Theme Claim Padlet (for B3–4), Film Adaptations (for C1–2), The RCP, Lit Terms, Analytical Verbs, Outline & RubricEssay Rubric, Macbeth Interactive E-text, Theme Log, Vocab Practice, Macbeth Audioplay, Macbeth Plain E-text, Performance Prep Sheet / Perf. Responsibilities: A3–4 , B1–2, B3–4

Seniors: Evaluative Language, Final Journal, Major Works Comparison Charts, General Literary Terms, Poetry Terms, Graphic Novel Terms / Paper 1: Tips, Video, Rubric, High-Scoring Example (Poetry), High-Scoring Example (Prose), Prompts for the Examples / Paper 2: Tips, Video, Rubric, Scored Example, The Metamorphosis E-textBeloved E-text

Diploma Support: Semester Grade ChartRotation CalendarSay Something, Eduaide.ai / Research: EBSCO HostGale Databases, Google Scholar, JSTOR, Sci-Hub / EEs: Full EE Guide, MLA TemplateMLA Sample PaperCat. 1 (28/34)Cat. 1 (30/34)Cat. 2 (34/34), Cat. 3 (33/34), EE Rubric, English EE Scoring, Prescribed Reading List

Week 4:7 (Apr. 29–May 3)

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Freshmen: FSA PM3 Testing Locations, The RCP, Lit Terms, Analytical Verbs, OutlineEssay Rubric, Macbeth Interactive E-text, Theme Log, Vocab Practice, Macbeth Audioplay, Macbeth Plain E-text, Performance Prep Sheet / Performance Responsibilities: A3–4 , B1–2, B3–4, C1–2

Seniors: Evaluative Language, Final Journal, Major Works Comparison Charts, General Literary Terms, Poetry Terms, Graphic Novel Terms / Paper 1: Tips, Video, Rubric, High-Scoring Example (Poetry), High-Scoring Example (Prose), Example Prompts / Paper 2: Tips, Video, Rubric, Scored Example, The Metamorphosis E-textBeloved E-text

Diploma Support: Rotation CalendarSay Something, Eduaide.ai / Research: EBSCO HostGale Databases, Google Scholar, JSTOR, Sci-Hub / EEs: Full EE Guide, MLA TemplateMLA Sample PaperCat. 1 (28/34)Cat. 1 (30/34)Cat. 2 (34/34), Cat. 3 (33/34), EE Rubric, English EE Scoring, Prescribed Reading List

Week 4:6 (Apr. 22–25)

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Freshmen: The RCP, Lit Terms, Analytical Verbs, OutlineEssay Rubric, Macbeth Interactive E-text (join with JXZG6N), Theme Log, Vocab Practice, Macbeth Audioplay, Macbeth Plain E-text, Performance Prep Sheet, Theme-Tracing Task / Performance Responsibilities: A3–4 , B1–2, B3–4, C1–2

Seniors: Final Journal, Major Works Comparison, Lit Terms, Poetry Terms, Graphic Novel TermsJournal Rubric, Analytical Verbs / Paper 1: Tips, Video, Rubric, High-Scoring Example (Poetry), High-Scoring Example (Prose), Example Prompts / Paper 2: Tips, Video, Rubric, Scored Example, The Metamorphosis E-textBeloved E-text

Diploma Support: Rotation Calendar (Fixed!)Say Something, Eduaide.Ai / Research: EBSCO HostGale Databases, Google Scholar, JSTOR, Sci-Hub / EEs: Full EE Guide, MLA TemplateMLA Sample PaperCat. 1 (28/34)Cat. 1 (30/34)Cat. 2 (34/34), Cat. 3 (33/34), EE Rubric, English EE Scoring, IB Prescribed Reading List

Week 4:5 (Apr. 15–19)

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Freshmen: The RCP, Lit Terms, Analytical Verbs, OutlineEssay Rubric, Macbeth Interactive E-text (join with JXZG6N), Theme Log, Vocab Practice, Macbeth Audioplay, Macbeth Plain E-text, “Reading Shakespeare”, Performance Prep Sheet, Soliloquy Breakdown, Theme Tracing Task / Performance Responsibilities: A3–4 , B1–2, B3–4, C1–2

Seniors: Final Journal, Major Works Comparison, Lit Terms, Poetry Terms, Graphic Novel TermsJournal Rubric, Analytical Verbs / Paper 1: Tips, Video, Rubric, High-Scoring Example (Poetry), High-Scoring Example (Prose), Example Prompts / Paper 2: Tips, Video, Rubric, Scored Example, The Metamorphosis E-textBeloved E-text

Diploma Support: Rotation CalendarSay Something, Eduaide.Ai / Research: EBSCO HostGale Databases, Google Scholar, JSTOR, Sci-Hub / EEs: Full EE Guide, MLA TemplateMLA Sample PaperCat. 1 (28/34)Cat. 1 (30/34)Cat. 2 (34/34), Cat. 3 (33/34), EE Rubric, English EE Scoring, IB Prescribed Reading List

Week 4:4 (Apr. 8–12)

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Freshmen: The RCP, Lit Terms, Analytical Verbs, OutlineEssay Rubric, Macbeth Interactive E-text (join with JXZG6N), Theme Log, Vocab Practice, Macbeth Audioplay, Macbeth Plain E-text, “Reading Shakespeare”, Performance Prep Sheet, Soliloquy Breakdown, Theme Tracing Task / Performance Responsibilities: A3–4 , B1–2, B3–4, C1–2

Seniors: Final Journal, Major Works Comparison, Lit Terms, Poetry Terms, Graphic Novel TermsJournal Rubric, Analytical Verbs / Paper 1: Tips, Video, Rubric, High-Scoring Example (Poetry), High-Scoring Example (Prose), Example Prompts / Paper 2: Tips, Video, Rubric, Scored Example, The Metamorphosis E-textBeloved E-text

Diploma Support: Rotation CalendarSay Something, Eduaide.Ai / Research: EBSCO HostGale Databases, Google Scholar, JSTOR, Sci-Hub / EEs: Full EE Guide, MLA TemplateMLA Sample PaperCat. 1 (28/34)Cat. 1 (30/34)Cat. 2 (34/34), Cat. 3 (33/34), EE Rubric, English EE Scoring, IB Prescribed Reading List

Week 4:3 (Apr. 1–5)

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Freshmen: The RCP, Lit Terms, Analytical Verbs, OutlineEssay Rubric, Macbeth Interactive E-text (join with JXZG6N), Theme Log, Vocab Practice, Macbeth Audioplay, Macbeth Plain E-text, “Reading Shakespeare”, Performance Prep Sheet, Soliloquy Breakdown / Roles & Responsibilities: A3–4 , B1–2, B3–4, C1–2

Seniors: Syllabus, IB Rubrics, Lit Terms, Poetry Terms, Journal Rubric, Analytical Verbs/ Paper 1: Overview, Rubric / Paper 2: Overview, Rubric / The Metamorphosis: E-text, Other Kafka Stories, Opening Colormarking, Notes on Existentialism, Dualities Discussion

Diploma Support: Rotation Calendar5th Rotations, Say Something, Eduaide.Ai / Research: EBSCO HostGale Databases, Google Scholar, JSTOR, Sci-Hub / EEs: Full EE Guide, MLA TemplateMLA Sample PaperCat. 1 (28/34)Cat. 1 (30/34)Cat. 2 (34/34), Cat. 3 (33/34), EE Rubric, English EE Scoring, IB Prescribed Reading List

Week 4:2 (Mar. 25–28)

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Freshmen: Reading Comprehension Protocol, Lit Terms, Analytical Verbs, Essay OutlineEssay Rubric, Essay Mark Key, Example Essays, Rubric Review, Macbeth Interactive E-text (join with JXZG6N), Theme LogMacbeth Vocab Practice, Macbeth Audioplay, Macbeth Plain E-textShakespeare Pre-Notes, “Reading Shakespeare” Packet, Performance Prep Sheet / Roles & Responsibilities: A3–4 , B1–2, B3–4, C1–2

Seniors: Syllabus, IB Rubrics, Lit Terms, Poetry Terms, Journal Rubric, Analytical Verbs/ Paper 1: Overview, Rubric / Paper 2: Overview, Rubric / Beloved: E-text, Biblical Allusions, Criticism (Schapiro) / Fairy Tale Lit Crit: Literary Theory & Schools of Criticism, Fairy Tales, Assignment Directions

Diploma Support: Rotation Calendar5th Rotations, Say Something, Eduaide.Ai / Research: EBSCO HostGale Databases, Google Scholar, JSTOR, Sci-Hub / EEs: Full EE Guide, MLA TemplateMLA Sample PaperCat. 1 (28/34)Cat. 1 (30/34)Cat. 2 (34/34), Cat. 3 (33/34), EE Rubric, English EE Scoring, IB Prescribed Reading List