The object of much debate, attention, and scholarship since it first aired more than 20 years ago, The Simpsons provides excellent, if unexpected, fodder for high school and college lesson plans. After all, laughing students are hardly sleeping students! But The Simpsons also provides a familiar student knowledge base which instructors can use as a jumping-off point to introduce concepts in literature, composition, linguistics, cultural studies, gender studies, and media appreciation. The authors, both of whom have been teaching The Simpsons for more than a decade, share exercises, prompts, and even syllabi that have proven successful in their own courses. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

In Homer Economicus a cast of lively contributors takes a field trip to Springfield, where the Simpsons reveal that economics is everywhere. By exploring the hometown of television's first family, this book provides readers with the economic tools and insights to guide them at work, at home, and at the ballot box. Since The Simpsons centers on the daily lives of the Simpson family and its colorful neighbors, three opening chapters focus on individual behavior and decision-making, introducing readers to the economic way of thinking about the world. Part II guides readers through six chapters on money, markets, and government. A third and final section discusses timely topics in applied microeconomics, including immigration, gambling, and health care as seen in The Simpsons. Reinforcing the nuts and bolts laid out in any principles text in an entertaining and culturally relevant way, this book is an excellent teaching resource that will also be at home on the bookshelf of an avid reader of pop economics.

First aired in 1989, The Simpsons has become America's most beloved animated show. It changed the world of television, bringing to the screen a cartoon for adults, a sitcom without a laugh track, an imperfect lower class family, a mixture of high and low comedy and satire for the masses. This collection of new essays explores the many ways in which The Simpsons reflects everyday life through its exploration of gender roles, music, death, food politics, science and religion, anxiety, friendship and more.

First published as two two-part, comic book mini-series, these hard-to-find comics are collected together for the first time in a hardcover collection, encased in a die-cut slipcase, and packaged with a reprint of the Eisner Award-winning issue of "Simpsons Comics."

Bart Simpson may be known as an underachiever at school, but there is no title this juvenile jokester holds more dearly than that of class clown. Watch Bart go to the top of the class and take his place at the top of the dishonour role!

First aired in 1989, The Simpsons has become America's most beloved animated show. It changed the world of television, bringing to the screen a cartoon for adults, a sitcom without a laugh track, an imperfect lower class family, a mixture of high and low comedy and satire for the masses. This collection of new essays explores the many ways in which The Simpsons reflects everyday life through its exploration of gender roles, music, death, food politics, science and religion, anxiety, friendship and more.

This unconventional and lighthearted introduction to the ideas of the major Western philosophers examines The Simpsons — TV’s favorite animated family. The authors look beyond the jokes, the crudeness, the attacks on society — and see a clever display of irony, social criticism, and philosophical thought. The writers begin with an examination of the characters. Does Homer actually display Aristotle’s virtues of character? In what way does Bart exemplify American pragmatism? The book also examines the ethics and themes of the show, and concludes with discussions of how the series reflects the work of Aristotle, Marx, Camus, Sartre, and other thinkers.

How do you approach teaching English in the contemporary classroom? What is expected of a would-be English teacher? The fourth edition of this best-selling text combines theory and practice to present an indispensable introduction to the opportunities and challenges of teaching English in the secondary classroom. It offers insight into the history, policies and definitions surrounding the subject, together with innovative and practical strategies which can be used for effective teaching and learning. Already a major text for many university teacher education courses, the new edition reflects the extent and impact of current reforms whilst retaining its focus on what is of enduring value for English teaching. With an emphasis on developing your own values and on stimulating approaches that underpin English teaching, it will help you navigate your way through changing curriculum requirements, assessment practice and the demands of professional development. Key topics explored include: Reading, writing and speaking and listening Teaching language and grammar Drama in English teaching Poetry Working with digital technologies Post-16 English language and literature Developing as a critically reflective practitioner. Written particularly with the new and student teacher in mind, Learning to Teach English in the Secondary School aims to equip readers with the tools to make critically informed judgements about how to teach, develop principled practice and most importantly, be mindful of pupils and their experience of English in the secondary classroom.