ENGL 293H: Children's Literature - Honors

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

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
Prerequisite: ENGL 101 or ENGL 101E or ENGL 101H; also, student must be eligible for the Citrus College Honors Program or obtain a recommendation from an Honors instructor.
Strongly Recommended: ENGL 103 or ENGL 103H.
District General Education: C2. Humanities
Transferable to CSU: Yes
Transferable to UC: Yes - Approved
Grading Method: Standard Letter

Catalog Course Description

This honors course is designed to give the student a knowledge and an appreciation of children's books, both fiction and nonfiction. Critical analysis of such works from various perspectives is exemplified through research and written analysis. Special emphasis is given to the quality of writing and illustration of award-winning books and selected classics. 54 lecture hours.

Course Objectives

  • identify the newer literature as well as the classics which belong to children
  • identify current writers, books, controversies and trends in the field
  • understand the scope and history of children's literature
  • identify special resources available to the student's of children's literature
  • define children's literature, understand how it differs from other kinds of literature, and identify its distinguishing characteristics
  • identify and understand the qualities of style, theme and illustration in order to be able to judge and evaluate books written for children
  • understand the role that books may play in the intellectual and emotional development of the individual from childhood through early adulthood
  • demonstrate critical thinking skills

Major Course Content

  1. Introduction
    1. History, trends, and future of children's literature
  2. Early Children's Literature
  3. Children's Rhymes
    1. Nursery rhymes
    2. Street rhymes/games
    3. Nonsense rhymes
  4. Children's Poetry
    1. Poetry
    2. Ballads
  5. Children's Fiction
    1. The oral tradition
    2. Folktales
    3. Fairy tales
    4. Myths and epics
  6. Art
    1. Classic illustrated children's stories
      1. Dr. Seuss
      2. Maurice Sendak
  7. Sociological and Historical Context
    1. Realistic fiction
    2. Animal stories
    3. Historical fiction
    4. Contemporary fiction
  8. Critical Analyses
    1. Biographical and historical criticism
    2. Cultural criticisms
      1. Feminist criticism
      2. Queer theory
      3. Latino studies
      4. African American studies
      5. Native American studies
    3. New historical criticism
    4. Marxist criticism
  9. The Future of Children's Literature
    1. Video
    2. Graphic Novels
    3. Gaming

Suggested Reading Other Than Required Textbook

Dobie, Ann. Theory into Practice: An Introduction to Literary Criticism. Cengage. 3rd ed. 2011

Examples of Required Writing Assignments

1. CHOOSE A TOPIC FROM THE CHILDREN'S LIT TERM PAPER LIST PAGE: http://www.englit.org/eiland_shared/resource/paperlistkid.htm you must apply a minimum of four critical perspectives
9-14 pages 5-9 secondary sources works cited annotated works peer review
2.
In no less than 5 paragraphs, discuss the children's lit story you have chosen in the context of ANY THREE CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES EXCEPT FORMALISM. Use at least one secondary source, quoted, per body paragraph in addition to quoting the primary source. Use a pen. You have 80 minutes.
story/ textbook secondary sources blue book pen

Examples of Outside Assignments

1. For an 8 minute live presentation in class, prepare a single critical perspective analysis of a work of your choice, including a brief synopsis of the story, the application of a critical perspective, and support from secondary sources.
2. Each student will analyze one of the literary works from the course calendar, preparing a biography of the author, a historical context, and at least one critical perspective to be applied to the text. This student will present this information to lead the discussion on the day that that particular literary work is to be discussed in class.

Instruction Type(s)

Lecture, Online Education Lecture

IGETC Area 3: Arts and Humanities

3B. Humanities