Now in its third year, the T S Eliot Prize Shadowing Scheme invites secondary
school students to shadow the judging panel, this year chaired by Poet
Laureate Andrew Motion with Lavinia Greenlaw and Tobias Hill.
Sean O’Brien, winner of the 2007 T S Eliot Prize says:
“I was lucky enough to have an English teacher who alerted students to
Hughes and Heaney alongside Shakespeare and Milton. The T S Eliot
shadowing scheme is a great way to bring students in contact with a range of
poetry in the here and now, to encourage the enjoyment of thinking critically
and to share the excitement of poetry just as it emerges. An excellent
scheme.”
Students will once again be invited to read, study and debate some of the
best poetry published in 2008 as featured in the collections of the ten
shortlisted poets. The Shadowing Scheme’s first two years have proved a
great success with students in many UK secondary schools taking part and
reading the work of the shortlisted poets.
The Shadowing Scheme is run by the Poetry Book Society in conjunction with
the English and Media Centre, publisher of emagazine, the magazine for A
Level students. It will start on 4 November, shortly after the ten-strong
shortlist is announced. Teachers and librarians will be able to download a pdf
on each poet from www.poetrybookshoponline.com, with a biography, photo
and three poems from their shortlisted collection. Ideas and advice on running
the Scheme are available on the English and Media Centre website
www.englishandmedia.co.uk.
There will be an online poll for the students’ choice of winner at
www.englishandmedia.co.uk and a competition for individual A Level students,
to write the best 500 word rationale for their choice of poet. The winning
student will receive:
• tickets to the T S Eliot Prize Readings and the Award Ceremony in
January, and accommodation in London if needed
• signed copies of the winning book and the student’s choice of
winning book
• the opportunity to meet the 2008 T S Eliot prize-winner
• a year’s subscription to emagazine
• a year’s PBS membership.
The winning rationale will be published both in the February issue of emagazine
and on Guardian Online.
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