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English 2330
Children’s Literature
Course Syllabus
Fall Semester, 2006
Instructor: Kathleen Pope Office: McDonald 219 Home Phone: 673-3158 e-mail: pope@dixie.edu Cell Phone: (435) 669-0667 Office Hours: 12:00-1:00 TR; other times by appointment
"A vast treasure of thoughts, deeds, and dreams lies waiting to be discovered in books. Literature begins with Mother Goose. It includes Sendak as well as Shakespeare, Milne as much as Milton, and Carroll before Camus. Children's literature is a part of the mainstream of all literature, whose source is life itself." (Huck, Charlotte S., Susan Hepler, and Janet Hickman.Children's Literature in the Elementary School. 5th ed. Orlando, Florida: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1993. [p. 5]).
I. TEXTS:
Jacobs, J. S. & Tunnell, M. O. (2004). Children’s Literature, Briefly. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey:
Pearson.
White, E. B. Charlotte’s web. New York: HarperCollins, 1980. (Cost: $6.99)
NOTE: There is a copy of the text on reserve in the library.
II. OBJECTIVES:
At the conclusion of a literature course, the successful student will be able to
● enjoy, appreciate, and evaluate selections from various literary genres; ● think critically and write about the various readings; ● understand and use in literary analysis the aspects of fiction, including plot, setting, characterization, theme, and point of view; ● understand the use and importance of figurative language—including symbols, metaphors, similes, and image—in analyzing the readings; ● use the tools of literature in oral and written literary analyses.
More specifically, the successful student of Children’s Literature will also be able to
● name major authors and illustrators of children's literature, past and present; ● identify changes which have occurred in children's literature and discuss the kinds of literature which are currently being published; ● describe children's response to literature based upon an understanding of their development, growth, and needs; ● name and apply literary criteria in evaluating children's literature; ● identify the literary genre of children's literature and name representative samples of each; ● discuss current issues relating to children and children's books.
III. COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Your grade in Children's Literature will be dependent on the following:
Completed Card File 100 Ten Card File assignments @ 10 points each........................................ 100 Comprehensive Final ................................................................................... 75 Ten quizzes on reading assignments @ 5 points each ........................ 50
Test onCharlotte’s Web .......................................................................... 25
Literary Elements Paper............................................................................ 75 Author/Illustrator Report 50 Ungraded Assignments .............................................................................. 25 TOTAL 500 GRADE EQUIVALENTS
95%-100% = A 80 - 82 = B- 70 - 72 = C- 59 and below = F 90 - 94 = A- 77 - 79 = C+ 67 - 69 = D+ 87 - 89 = B+ 73 - 76 = C 63 - 66 = D 83 - 86 = B 70 - 72 = C- 60 - 62 = D-
IV. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1. CARD FILE — See handout on Card File requirements
2. COMPREHENSIVE FINAL — The comprehensive final will include multiple-choice, true/false,
and short answer questions and will cover information in the text, on handouts, on videos and films seen in class, and on in-class lectures. You will need a Scan-Tron sheet (available at the college bookstore) and a soft-lead (#2) pencil.
3. QUIZZES
(A) CHARLOTTE’S WEB Test
A 25-point test will be given onCharlotte’s Web. If you miss this test, you can make it up, but 5 points will be deducted from your score--regardless of the reason for missing the test.
- (5 points) Watch on video or read the Alder Faculty Honor Lecture, “Babies, Brains, and Books: Reading Makes a Difference,” that I gave on January 22, 2002. Write a 2–3 page report telling what you learned from the lecture and how it might affect you as a parent or a teacher. The video is available in the library; a written copy of the lecture is on reserve in the library, or you may obtain a copy from me.
- (5 points) Watch a movie version of one of the books you have read. Write a 2–3 page paper comparing and contrasting the movie and the book. Consider such questions as the following:
- Was the plot changed in any way? If so, how, and what was the effect on the story? Why do you think the movie makers chose to make this change?
- Were the characters realistic and believable? Why or why not?
- Were there stylistic touches in the book that could not be duplicated in the movie? If so, what effect did that have on the enjoyment of the story?
- Did you prefer the book or the movie? Why?
VIII. COURSE SCHEDULE
Every effort will be made to adhere to the attached schedule. However, changes invariably occur as the course progresses, and those changes will be announced in class. If you do miss a class, it your responsibility to contact another student who can fill you in if changes are made. You are expected to be prepared by reading the assigned pages prior to the beginning of the discussions.
Work hard, but ENJOY what you are reading!!
