Norris Bio
Robert W. Norris was born and raised in Humboldt County, California. In 1969 he entered the Air Force, subsequently became a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War, and served time in a military prison for refusing to fight in the war. In his twenties he roamed across the United States, went to Europe twice, and made one journey around the world. During that time, he worked as a millhand, construction laborer, stevedore, baker, saute cook, and oilrig steward.
Norris has lived and taught English in Japan since 1983. He is the author of Autumn Shadows in August, an hallucinogenic mid-life crisis/adventure and homage to Hermann Hesse and Malcolm Lowry; Looking for the Summer, the story of a Vietnam War conscientious objector's adventures and search for identity on the road from Paris to Calcutta in 1977; Toraware, a novel about the obsessive relationship of three misfits from different cultural backgrounds in 1980s Kobe, Japan; and The Many Roads to Japan, a novella/ESL textbook about a conscientious objector's 14-year search for identity. He has also written several articles about teaching English as a foreign language. He and his wife live near Fukuoka, Japan, where he is a professor at Fukuoka International University. Check his home page at http://www2.gol.com/users/norris/
Norris Novels Available at Amazon.com
Autumn Shadows in August
Amazon Price: $13.92 (as of 07/25/2008)
List Price: $13.92
Looking for the Summer
Amazon Price: $11.96 (as of 07/25/2008)
List Price: $11.96
The Many Roads to Japan
Amazon Price: $8.92 (as of 07/25/2008)
List Price: $8.92
Toraware
Amazon Price: $14.00 (as of 07/25/2008)
List Price: $14.00
Praise for Norris's Novels
"We meet main character David Thompson and his wife Kaori in an astounding and gripping prologue that forces the reader to turn the page to see what happens to the couple. Throughout the novel, Norris kept the same quick pace and gripping scenes.... [T]hose who have a taste for books with deep, intense, emotional, and soul-searching plots will find 'Autumn Shadows in August' a great read."-- Joanne D. Kiggins, Blogcritics Magazine Review (read the entire Blogcritics review)
"Autumn Shadows in August is a journey in miles and of states of mind. The reader travels through Europe with an American expatriate who recapitulates his past in a transcendental and evocative fashion. Along this mind-expanding sojourn, we also travel over the Khyber Pass from Afghanistan and into India, where the protagonist's life is transformed. Autumn Shadows in August is an insightful and very enjoyable read. I'm glad I went along on this personal journey."--David Echt, author of Messenger from the Summer of Love
"Autumn Shadows in August is an extraordinary and enjoyable kunstlerroman or artist's novel. The protagonist, David Thompson, is a writer who is influenced by and identifies with two master novelists, Hermann Hesse and Malcolm Lowry. From the surreal prologue to the final page, Autumn Shadows in August is packed with direct and veiled allusions to the lives and works of both authors.... Author Robert Norris's writing style is rich in symbolism. Norris tends to intersperse his narrative with expository writing -- a technique employed with great effect by yet another expatriate pacifist writer, Aldous Huxley. Autumn Shadows in August reminds me of Huxley's later novels in other ways as well, in particular for the protagonist's almost mystical detachment and sense that he and his loved ones are part of something greater than themselves. By the novel's end, the reader has glimpsed the forces and obstacles that shape an artist and compel him to write. I am looking forward to reading other works by this author."--Karen Breda, librarian and Amazon.com reviewer
"This is one of the best novels I've ever read! It's an inspiring, meaningful story of a journey through the mind of an enlightened and experienced soul; at the same time it's an exhilarating and humorous adventure, an exploration of great art, literature, and architecture, and a beautiful, emotionally enthralling romance. But this book is far more than the sum of its parts, and my feeble literary reviewing skills can do no justice to this eloquent and multifaceted tale. This book is highly recommended."--Amazon.com reader
"This absolutely breath-taking novel brings the reader to a whole new level of understanding life. It will not only stir your own realizations of where your life has taken you, but also open your mind and heart to new adventures."--Reader Views (read the entire review)
Toraware Blurbs
"Crafted in excellent style and patiently honed.... The Japanese characters are wholly convincing....The ambivalence and spiritual guilt of Yoshiko, one of the tragic heroines of Toraware, about an abortion she underwent years ago, is perfectly captured....[Norris has] captured the unassuagable melancholy at the deepest core of the Japanese soul [and] succeeded in convincing us of the reality of [his] vision."--Kansai Time Out (read the entire KTO review)
"A wonderful novel about that last love/lust journey some of us take before we segue into middle age, acceptance and stability. It is a dangerous journey, not for the weak of heart. Along the way are demons lying in ambush, and false trails which can lead to madness, suicide and even murder. Robert W. Norris has created characters we will grow to love, despite their many flaws, characters who, we hope and pray, will make it through, characters we will always remember. Be prepared to stay up nights as you follow their progress. A number one read!"--Paul Clayton, author of Calling Crow
"Intriguing...absorbing...holds the reader from the opening page.... The line between eccentricity and losing your marbles is a fine one. As Norris tellingly shows, often it is just a matter of luck as to which side of the line you exist on."--Mainichi Daily News (read the entire Mainichi review)
"Toraware goes beyond the gaijin experience.... [Norris] manages to evoke the rootlessness felt by young Japanese uncertain about their future."--The Japan Times
"Human emotions, dark pasts, trials and tribulation, and complicated relationships are nothing new in literature. These are all common themes in countless novels, and we've seen the same scenario play out time and time again. Every now and then, an author comes along and makes these themes special, though, and strikes the right notes with his or her readers. Robert W. Norris has done this with his novel Toraware."--Chris Howard, Curledup.com (read the complete review)
Looking for the Summer Blurbs
"A graceful autobiographical novel that breathes life into a perennial genre: the spiritual bildungsroman. The theme of a questing expatriate who renounces Western materialism in favor of an exotic pilgrimage to the East will be familiar to anyone who has fallen under the spell of W. Somerset Maugham's The Razor's Edge or Jack Kerouac's The Dharma Bums....
"Although published prior to the events of 9/11, it is impossible to pick up Norris's novel without a heightened interest in its vividly depicted locales in a part of the world where our attentions are now so intensely focused. Several fascinating chapters are devoted to [the protagonist's] stay in Afghanistan. Written with a novelist's eye for characterization and a reporter's skill for observation, Looking for the Summer is the kind of small press gem that is often overlooked but is well worth seeking out."--Bob Wake, CultureVulture.net (read the entire CultureVulture.net review)
"In the hands of any author, Looking for the Summer would probably be a compelling read due to the inherent intrigue in the story's setting. But Norris is a masterful writer and storyteller, and he uses his craft to elevate this tale above mere 'compelling' or 'interesting' to the realm of uplifting and insightful. He deftly paints a portrait of his locations using a visual poetry that is neither self-conscious nor affected.... This is a fascinating novel, told in spellbinding English. I can't recommend it enough."--Christine Hall, Alternative Approaches Magazine (read the entire Alternative Approaches Magazine review)
"Looking for the Summer brings to light the turmoil going through the mind of a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War...a powerfully written novel....Highly important in its message about standing up for what one believes and about the personal growth one experiences while on a soul-searching journey as a result of taking such action...certain to have a profound impact on the reader. It is a must-read, unforgettable novel."--Jeanne Allen, Knowbetter.com (read the entire Knowbetter.com review)
"Looking for the Summer is a stunning novel of a metaphorical and physical journey across the Middle East. Though set during the 1970's, this story of war and pacifism and redemption is as pertinent to today's global struggles as tomorrow's news. Fashioned in exquisite language and bolstered with some of the most beautiful descriptive passages I've ever read, Looking for the Summer takes us on a voyage over deserts and mountains and through cities as his protagonist pursues spiritual, intellectual, political, and psychological enlightenment. This is a remarkable book and a must read for anyone seeking insight into the historical precedents for our post September 11 world."--Marnie Mueller, author of Green Fires, The Climate of the Country, and My Mother's Island
Norris's Podcasts
Two books: (1) an ESL novella-textbook about a Vietnam War conscientious objector''s 14-year search for identity and (2) an hallucinogenic mid-life crisis/adventure novel, and homage to Malcolm Lowry and Hermann Hesse.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byNorris's Published Research Papers
Click on the titles to read the papers
1."Errors, Humor, Depth, and Correction in the Eisakubun Class." 1992. In Cross Currents Vol. 19, No. 2: 192-195. (A presentation of a simple and effective error-marking system for English composition classes.)
2. "Raising Japanese Students' Consciousness of English Article Usage: A Practical View." 1992. In Fukuoka Women's Junior College Studies Vol. 44: 95-104. (A presentation of a possible solution for helping students overcome their problems in acquiring a working knowledge of the English articles "a" and "the.")
3. "Using Creative Dictation to Manage, Motivate, and Activate Large Groups of False Beginners." 1993. In Fukuoka Women's Junior College Studies Vol. 45: 71-82. (New ways of using an old technique. In a teacher-fronted class most students are passive learners, but creative use of dictation can involve the entire class in many ways.)
4. "Teaching Reduced Forms: An Aid for Improving Lower-Level Students' Listening Skills."1993. In Fukuoka Women's Junior College Studies Vol. 46: 49-56. (An examination of what changes take place in native speaker speech, the effects of stress and non-stress, and useful ideas for improving "bottom-up" processing skills.)
5. "Keeping up with Native Speaker Speed: An Investigation of Reduced Forms and Deletions in Informal Spoken English." 1994. In Studies in Comparative Culture, No. 25: 72-79. (What reduced forms and deletions are, how they are formed, implications for teaching, and tips for improving students' listening skills.)
6. "Getting Students More Personally Involved: An Alternative to the Yakudoku- and Lecture- Dominated Methods of Teaching Literature and Reading." 1994. In Fukuoka Women's Junior College Studies Vol. 48: 25-38. (An examination of the deficiencies of word-by-word translation and lecture-dominated teaching methods; a summary of current research on ESL/EFL reading; and suggestions for improving the teaching of literature and reading in Japanese colleges.)
7. "Getting Students More Personally Involved in Their Reading and Literature Classes: A Case Study." 1995. In Fukuoka Women's Junior College Studies Vol. 49: 35-48. (A detailed look at the planning rationale, the actual teaching, and the results obtained in a class taught in the manner prescribed in the previous paper.)
8. "Teaching Reduced Forms: Putting the Horse before the Cart." 1995. In English Teaching Forum, Vol. 33: 47-50. (The importance of presenting reduced forms to the students and giving the students practice in "bottom-up" processing before requiring them to engage in higher-level listening practice.)
9. "Introducing Discussion Skills to Lower-Level Students: Can It be Done?" 1996. In Bulletin of Fukuoka Women's Junior College Vol. 51: 21-32. (An examination of some key characteristics of Japanese communicative style; a summary of the current state of Communicative Language Teaching research; and a description of a step-by-step approach to introduce discussion skills to lower-level students.)
10. "Introducing Discussion Skills to Lower-Level Students: Practical Lesson Plans." 1997. In Bulletin of Fukuoka Women's Junior College Vol. 52: 9-23. (Based on the approach outlined in the previous paper, a series of detailed lesson plans are given for teaching basic discussion skills to lower-level students.)
11. "Cued, Form-Focused Dialogues: A Systematic Approach to Active Discussions." 1997. In Kyushu Academic Society of English Language Education, No.25: 139-142. (A presentation of a step-by-step approach to introduce discussion skills to lower-level students. The emphasis is on practical activities to be used in the classroom.)
12. "An Easy-to-Use Writing Program and Error-Marking System." 1999. In Bulletin of Fukuoka International University No. 1: 41-48. (A revised, updated, and more detailed presentation of paper number 1 listed above.)
13. "Civilian Public Service Conscientious Objectors in World War II." 2000. In Studies in Comparative Culture, No. 49. (An historical background of conscientious objection in the U.S and how it led to the formation of the CPS; the religious backgrounds of the men in the CPS and where they came from; the kind of work they had to do and where they had to do it; some of the problems they faced; what happened to them after the war was over; and their influence on subsequent generations)
14. "Learning to Think Backwards: Japanese Students and the Acquisition of English Relative Clauses." 2000. In Bulletin of Fukuoka International University No. 4: 41-47. (This first paper of a two-part series examines specific structural differences between English and Japanese RCs, summarizes research that has been done on Japanese learners' acquisition and production of English RCs, and proposes that consciousness-raising (CR) and "noticing" activities provide the most effective classroom instruction for Japanese learners at the university level. An explanation of the rationale behind the use of CR activities and why they are suitable for Japanese learners is also included.)
15. "Teaching Relative Clauses to Japanese University Students: Practical Lesson Plans." 2001. In Bulletin of Fukuoka International University No. 6: 35-45. (Based on the premises outlined in the previous paper, a series of detailed lesson plans are given for teaching relative clauses to Japanese university students.)
16. "How do We Overcome the Difficulties of Teaching Conditionals?" 2003. In Bulletin of Fukuoka International University No. 9: 39-50. (This paper examines the major difficulties inherent in the teaching and learning of English conditional sentences. Relevant research concerning the many types of conditionals, grammatical forms, semantic nuances, and frequency of usage is summarized, then followed by a proposed model for introducing "if" conditionals to ESL/EFL students.)
17. "Practical Lesson Plans for Teaching "If" Conditionals." 2003. In Bulletin of Fukuoka International University No. 10: 33-40. (Based on the earlier proposed model for introducing "if" conditionals to ESL/EFL students, this paper presents a variety of lesson plans for teaching these troublesome forms.)
18. "On the Difficulties of Classroom Management Faced by Foreign Teachers at Japanese Universities." 2004. In Dai 52 Kai Kyuushu Chiku Daigaku Ippan Kyouiku Kenkyuu Kyougikai Gijiroku (pp. 70-77).
19. "Some Thoughts on Classroom Management Problems Faced by Foreign Teachers at Japanese Universities." 2004. In Bulletin of Fukuoka International University No. 12: 23-30. (This paper examines examples of Japanese university student classroom behavior that often irritate foreign teachers, the characteristics of Japanese communicative style, and the role of the university in Japanese society. It concludes by suggesting some ways that foreign teachers can, in order to promote active learning, adapt their own cultural expectations in order to accommodate and take advantage of the expectations of their students. An extended and revised version of paper number 18 listed above.)
20. "Franklin Roosevelt and the Civilian Conservation Corps." 2004. In Hotokugaku, No. 1: 94-97. (This paper suggests "the spirit of altruism" as an appropriate translation of Ninomiya Sontoku's houtoku seishin. It also cites the CCC program as an example of houtoku seishin in American history.)
21. "Dealing with Plagiarism at a Japanese University: A Foreign Teacher's Perspective." [PDF link] 2007. The East Asian Learner, Vol. 3, No. 1: 1-20. (The first section of the paper covers my experiences and difficulties in coping with an increasing amount of plagiarism in my classes conducted in Japanese. The next section summarizes the research I did on the definition of plagiarism, on the question of cultural influences, and on reasons students plagiarize. The following section reviews recommendations and measures that schools and researchers in the West are trying to implement to combat the problem. The purpose is to look for possible implications for the situation in Japan. The final section discusses the results of my reflective practice.)
22. "A Foreign Teacher's Thoughts on Plagiarism at a Japanese University." 2007. In Bulletin of Fukuoka International University No. 18: 1-12. (A modified version of paper number 21 listed above.)
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