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Course Description
Children's Literary Classics assumes that as students of adult literature,
you have learned to appreciate the pleasure and illumination that good literary texts provide
to readers. With this assumption in mind, you will continue to be rewarded in this class through
the reading, analysis, and discussion of selected traditional and contemporary literary classics.
You will learn to apply standard elements of literature for the close reading of the texts.
Additionally, the course will explore issues relevant to the effective teaching of children's
literature.
Textbooks
- John Griffith & Charles Frey, eds. Classics of Children's Literature (5th ed.)
- Mildred Taylor, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Assignments
In addition to the course texts, handouts will be provided to complement your reading. Occasionally,
you will be required to supplement the texts with resources from our campus library. Please
familiarize yourself with the Juvenile and Curriculum Materials Collections in the
campus library (second floor south).
The assignments require that you manage your time wisely in order to meet the deadlines of our demanding
schedule. You are expected to read the texts with the same attentiveness you devote to other English
courses. Pay close attention to the due dates_I will not accept late assignments.
Check out the past Fall 1999 syllabus for this course.
Formal Paper Guidelines
Write a four to five page essay on one or more of the books identified in the course outline.
The paper is not a "research" essay or mechanical exercise in
analysis. Rather, I value your personal insights, your careful reading of the work(s).
The thesis should reflect your personal interest.
Provide the following:
- A well-thought out introduction with an underlined thesis statement,
- Body paragraphs which support your thesis very directly, and
- A thoughtful conclusion which gives closure to your paper.
General guidelines to follow:
- The paper should be typed and double-spaced.
- Interpret, don't summarize.
- Write about how you read the literary work by expressing your own ideas.
- Avoid long personal anecdotes.
- Check that your interpretation fits the details of the work.
- Make good use of quotations.
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