| ENG231Z, Children’s Literature
COURSE OUTLINE
Week #1, April 3-7:
Introductions:
Definitions of literature
Genre
History of children’s literature
Reading:
Lukens, Chapter 1, “Literature”
Lukens, Chapter 2, “Genre”
Margaret Mahy, The Seven Chinese Brothers
Weblinks: Kay Vandergift’s Facsimiles of Historical Children’s Books
http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/special/kay
Seminar #1 (Journal Response #1): Re-read a book or a story that you remember from childhood. This may be a favorite story or a book that scarred you for life. In your journal write a short summary of the book or the story to share with the class. Then write about what you notice as an adult reading the story that you didn’t notice as a child. Also, identify the genre to which the book belongs, and briefly say why you think it fits that category.
Week #2, April 10-14 :
History of children’s literature, cont.
What makes this a U.S. cultures class?
Picture books
Quiz #1: Definitions of literature, genre, The Seven Chinese Brothers
Reading:
Lukens, Chapter 3, “Picture Books”
Margaret Wise Brown, Goodnight Moon
Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are.
Web links: Wally Hastings, “Creation of Where the Wild Things Are”
http://www.northern.edu/hastingw/wildthings.html
Caldecott Medal Winners, http://www.ala.org/alsc/caldecott.html
Seminar #2: What illustrative and design elements do you notice in the two picture books you read this week?
Week #3: April 17-21
Literary Elements: Character (Lukens, Ch. 4)
How to do the annotated bibliography
Quiz #2: Illustrative and design elements in picture books; Goodnight Moon;
Where the Wild Things Are
Reading: Lukens, Chapter 4
E. B. White, Charlotte’s Web
Seminar #3: Describe a character in Charlotte’s Web.
Week #4: April 24-28
Literary Elements: Plot
Quiz #3: Character, Charlotte’s Web
Reading: Lukens, Chapter 5
Louis Sachar, Holes
Seminar #4: Diagram the plot of Holes
Week #5: May 1-5
Literary Elements: Theme
Quiz #4: Plot and Holes
Reading: Lukens, Chapter 6
Katherine Paterson, The Great Gilly Hopkins
Weblinks: Official Katherine Paterson Web Site and Katherine Paterson
Seminar #5: Identify a theme of The Great Gilly Hopkins, and write a response to the book.
MID-TERM JOURNALS (1-5) are due Friday, May 5.
Week #6, May 8-12
Literary Elements: Setting
Quiz #5: Theme and The Great Gilly Hopkins
Reading: Lukens, Chapter 7
Scott O’Dell, Island of the Blue Dolphins
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY is due Wednesday, May 10
Seminar #6: Write about the importance of setting in Island of the Blue Dolphins.
Week #7, May 15-19
Literary Elements: Point of View
Quiz #6: Setting and Island of the Blue Dolphins
Reading: Lukens, Chapter 8
Lois Lowry, The Giver
Seminar #7: Write a response to The Giver.
Week #8, May 22-26
Literary Elements: Style
Quiz #7: Point of View and The Giver
Reading: Lukens, Ch. 9
Gary Soto, Chato’s Kitchen
Week #9, May 29-June 2
Literary Elements: Tone
Nonfiction
Quiz #8: Style and Chato’s Kitchen
Reading: Lukens, Chapters 10, 12 and 13
Christopher Curtis, Bud, Not Buddy
Seminar #9: Write a response to Bud, Not Buddy
Week #10, June 5-9
Poetry
Quiz #9: Tone and Bud Not Buddy
Reading: Lukens, Chapter 11
Sharon Creech, Love that Dog
Seminar #10: Write free verse in response to Love that Dog.
ANALYTICAL ESSAY is due Wednesday, June 7.
END-OF-TERM JOURNALS (6-10) are due Friday, June 9.
Week #11, June 12
Censorship
FINAL EXAM is Friday, June 16, 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
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