The Cynical Historian
300 | Based on a True Story
Here is another episode of 'Based on a True Story.' This time it is 300 and how it is based on the battle of Thermopylae. It is a great film with a great many historically innacurate plot points....
Book Club for Kids
What Motivated the Author of "When You Reach Me"
Books allow us to transcend the world we live in, but they also help us to connect to the people and places around us. In this audio story, several young students at a school in Washington D.C. talk about the plot, characterization,...
TED-Ed
How to Write Fiction That Comes Alive
Launch a fiction writing unit with this video that encourages writers to craft their stories with language that permits readers to experience the illusions of their stories.
TED-Ed
Why Should You Read Sci-Fi Superstar Octavia E. Butler?
Introduce science fiction fans to writer Octavia E. Butler with a short video that argues for why readers should add her works to their must-read list.
PBS
A Separate Peace
Jenna and Barbara Bush, daughters of former President George W. Bush, and author Armistead Maupin share with viewers their reasons for selecting John Knowles' A Separate Peace as one of their favorite books.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: American Masters: Gatsby Chases the American Dream
In this video [3:24] from the American Masters film Novel Reflections on the American Dream, learn about F. Scott Fitzgerald and his notorious fictional character Jay Gatsby. Both were in the pursuit of the American dream and love....
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Character Study: Scout Finch
This video [4:18] from American Masters: Harper Lee: Hey, Boo highlights Scout, one of the most beloved characters in all of American fiction and the main character of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird. In the video, students learn what...