New Books Network Carlo Rotella, "What Can I Get Out of This?: Teaching and Learning in a Classroom Full of Skeptics" (U California Press, 2025)
Nov 18, 2025
Carlo Rotella, a Professor of English at Boston College and author, dives into the transformative power of literature in the classroom. He shares insights from his experience with skeptical first-year students questioning the value of humanities. Rotella discusses strategies for engaging diverse learners, the impact of technology on student participation, and the significance of hands-on literary skills in everyday life. He masterfully illustrates how literature fosters critical thinking and community, proving its worth beyond mere job preparation.
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Classroom As A Rehearsal Scene
- Rotella fuses magazine-profile techniques with classroom observation to enter students' inner lives.
- He treats a semester as a scene where people rehearse skills and form collective efficacy.
Require Early Speaking
- Require early, regular verbal participation to prevent permanent silence.
- Make students raise hands and speak early so class discussion becomes expected, not performance.
Use Writing Prompts And Modeling
- Vary prompts and use short private writing to draw in quieter students.
- Model if-then statements to show how to synthesize classmates' points into richer arguments.
