ENGL 2640 - Children’s Literature

Credit Hours: 3.00

Objectives: The student will:

1. Read a variety of literary works designed for children and young adults, including works in various genres (such as novels, picture books, fairy tales, poetry, and autobiographies).
2. Identify and apply criteria to evaluate the aesthetic quality of literary works.
3. Identify and apply criteria to evaluate the appropriateness of literary works based on the developmental stages of children and young adults.
4. Apply considerations of cultural diversity to selections of reading material for children and young adults.

Outcome 2:
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to write analytical papers focused on the interpretation and/or evaluation of works of literature for children and young adults.

Objectives: The student will:

1. Write papers that show technical skill in the organization and development of academic arguments.
2. Edit writing to minimize errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and mechanics.
3. Integrate and document any secondary research used according to current MLA formats.
4. Apply current MLA conventions for references to literary works.

Outcome 3:
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to apply concepts of literary interpretation to primary texts designed for children and young adults.

Objectives: The student will:

1. Use accurate terminology for literary concepts (such as “protagonist” or “plot”) both orally and in writing.
2. Use literary concepts to arrive at interpretations of works of children and young adult literature and argue for these interpretations orally and/or in writing.

Outcome 4:
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to use techniques to engage children and young adults in the study of literature.

Objectives: The student will:

1. Use techniques of oral interpretation to present literary works in a clear and interesting way.
2. Link themes of literary works to issues that are significant to children and young adults.

• Communication: The graduate can communicate effectively for the intended purpose and audience.
• Critical Thinking: The graduate can make informed decisions after analyzing information or evidence related to the issue.
• Global Literacy: The graduate can analyze human behavior or experiences through cultural, social, political, or economic perspectives.
• Information Literacy: The graduate can responsibly use information gathered from a variety of formats in order to complete a task.
• Quantitative Reasoning: The graduate can apply quantitative methods or evidence to solve problems or make judgments.
• Scientific Literacy: The graduate can produce or interpret scientific information presented in a variety of formats.

1. Literary Texts
   1. A variety of major genres of literary texts designed for children and young adults, such as autobiography, poetry, novel, picture book, and fairy tales
   2. Literary texts that are appropriate for preschool through high school
   3. Literary texts that reflect variety in their cultural backgrounds, such as books focused on characters of varying historical time periods, varying ethnic backgrounds, and/or varying family makeup
2. Elements of Literature
   1. Structural elements, such as plot, setting and characterization
   2. Stylistic elements such as rhyme, meter, and tone
   3. Evaluative elements such as theme and aesthetic criteria
   4. Visual elements such as page design and drawings in picture books
3. Writing Skills
   1. Methods for writing literary analyses
   2. Review MLA documentation as needed
   3. Conventions for literary references in MLA style
   4. Review academic writing elements such as unity, development, and coherence as needed
   5. Review grammar, punctuation, spelling, and mechanics as needed
4. Developmental Considerations
   1. Major developmental stages from preschool through high school
   2. Criteria for identifying literary works as appropriate for children and young adults based on their developmental stages
   3. Techniques for introducing children and young adults to literary works, such as giving oral presentations of picture books and writing lesson plans