ENGL 293: Children's Literature
Citrus College Course Outline of Record
| Heading | Value |
|---|---|
| Effective Term: | Fall 2021 |
| Credits: | 3 |
| Total Contact Hours: | 54 |
| Lecture Hours : | 54 |
| Lab Hours: | 0 |
| Hours Arranged: | 0 |
| Outside of Class Hours: | 108 |
| Strongly Recommended: | ENGL 101. |
| District General Education: | C2. Humanities |
| Transferable to CSU: | Yes |
| Transferable to UC: | Yes - Approved |
| Grading Method: | Standard Letter |
Catalog Course Description
This course is designed to give the student a knowledge and an appreciation of children's books, both fiction and non-fiction. Special emphasis is given to the quality of writing and illustration of award-winning books and selected classics. 54 lecture hours.
Course Objectives
- Discuss and interpret representative classic texts from the late eighteenth century through the late twentieth century and drawn from the genres of fairytale, myth, novel, and poetry in order to understand their contribution to the development of children’s literature as demonstrated by a final in-class written exam.
- Analyze the style, structure, language, and literal content of these texts in their historical context in order to master all that they offer to the contemporary reader as demonstrated by a formal research paper.
- Explore interpretations of the text from a variety of critical perspectives (including formalist, historical, sociological, biographical and psychological) in order to defend the richness, layers, depth, complexity, and universal appeal as demonstrated by a final in-class written exam.
- Evaluate the texts in order to appreciate the scope and history of children’s literature as demonstrated by a final in-class written exam.
- Identify current writers, books, controversies and trends in the field as demonstrated by a final in-class written exam.
Major Course Content
- History, Trends and the Future of Children's Literature since the late 17th century through the 20th century
- Evaluation of Books for Children
- Artist's and Children's Books
- Poetry, Ballads and Nursery Rhymes for Children
- Folktales, Fairy Tales and the Oral Tradition
- Myths and Epics Children Read
- Modern Fantasy for Children
- Realistic Fiction including Animal Stories, Historical Fiction and Modern Fiction
- The novel for young adult readers
Suggested Reading Other Than Required Textbook
Supplementary readings on the historical and cultural contexts of the literature under discussion in class.
Interpretive applications of the literature under discussion in class.
Interpretive applications of the literature under discussion in class.
Examples of Required Writing Assignments
From our readings of stories by Charles Perrault, the Brothers Grimm and Madame Beaumont, what do we learn about the culture of the times that produced this literature for children and adults?
Compare and contrast the child's perspective on the world as developed in the poetry of Robert Louis Stevenson and Edward Lear.
Using instructor approved resources from the library and the Internet, develop a 5-10 page research paper, following the MLA format, on the following topic: Discuss the influence of the American Civil War on the thinking and artistic achievement of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women (which is set during the War but written by Alcott four years after the War) and Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (which is set before the War but written four decades after the War).
Compare and contrast the child's perspective on the world as developed in the poetry of Robert Louis Stevenson and Edward Lear.
Using instructor approved resources from the library and the Internet, develop a 5-10 page research paper, following the MLA format, on the following topic: Discuss the influence of the American Civil War on the thinking and artistic achievement of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women (which is set during the War but written by Alcott four years after the War) and Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (which is set before the War but written four decades after the War).
Examples of Outside Assignments
Students will be required to complete the following types of assignments outside of the regular class time:
In preparation for class discussion, read the assigned fairy tales by Charles Perrault and identify ten features of style and content that qualify these as classic stories (e.g. has stood the test of time).
In preparation for class discussion, read Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and identify the major plot elements that make up each of four interwoven narratives in the novel.
In preparation for class discussion, identify the clues for how to read the novel that Mark Twain, author of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, leaves for his readers (hint: consider the title, the dedication, the content and date of the Preface, and the chapter titles).
In preparation for class discussion, read the assigned fairy tales by Charles Perrault and identify ten features of style and content that qualify these as classic stories (e.g. has stood the test of time).
In preparation for class discussion, read Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and identify the major plot elements that make up each of four interwoven narratives in the novel.
In preparation for class discussion, identify the clues for how to read the novel that Mark Twain, author of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, leaves for his readers (hint: consider the title, the dedication, the content and date of the Preface, and the chapter titles).
Instruction Type(s)
Lecture, Online Education Lecture
IGETC Area 3: Arts and Humanities
3B. Humanities