Teacher lectures in England

Roseann Quinn, an English teacher at Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons School in Schenectady, recently traveled to England for the biannual meeting of the Thomas Hardy Society, where she presented a talk on "Thomas Hardy and the American High School Student."

Hardy, an English novelist (1840-1928), is best known for "The Mayor of Casterbridge," "Far from the Madding Crowd" and "Tess of the D'Urbervilles."

"I spoke about the literary devices he used in his novels," she told The Evangelist. "They include theme, foils, symbolism and irony. Hardy used them all effectively."

Ready for exams

During the school year, Ms. Quinn has students study those devices so they can use them to satisfy the writing requirements of the N.Y.S. English Comprehensive Regents examination and SAT tests.

"In their exams, the students are required to write an essay that is persuasive," she said. "They must know how to begin the essay, develop the subject and establish an obvious ending. They can't just summarize the plot."

In the past four years, 100 percent of the sophomores at ND-BG who took the English Regents exam have passed it.

Goal in England

Ms. Quinn developed her lecture in England from her classroom lessons in Schenectady.

"Some who attended the lecture were teachers, but others were just people that love the works of Thomas Hardy and wanted to know a little more about him," she said.

Her goal was to provide information for academicians as well as to present an interesting, thought-provoking talk.

Chosen one

Ms. Quinn is among the first members of the Thomas Hardy Society to present such a lecture. In the past, speakers from outside the society gave the presentations.

"I was shocked when I learned I'd been chosen," she said. "I thought that the preparation would be a simple matter of gathering my notes from class. Boy, was I ever surprised!"

She ended up doing nearly four weeks of research and spent ten additional days preparing her talk.

(Ms. Quinn's talk will be published in the group's journal and sent to members around the world. For information, go to www.hardysociety.org.)

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