ENG 347

Studies in Young Adult Literature

5 credits
Prereq: Eng 202 or 203
RESTRICTED TO ENGLISH ED MAJORS ONLY DURING PHASE I
Spring 2010 CRN: 21308 TR 02:30-03:50 pm; BH 401

View syllabus from Spring Term 2009 (in PDF format)

CONTENT: The world of young adult literature can be fascinating, sometimes risky and contentious, and often challenge our beliefs, experiences, and values. It usually includes characters (both real and imagined) who wrestle with the underlying questions, “Who am I? Where do I fit in?” This class will focus on literature that is written and published expressly for adolescents – readers in the 12-18 year old age range. We will consider how these books might re-ignite teenagers’ interest in reading and accompany their search to understand, define, and value themselves.
While YA literature is written in all genres, our brief foray into the field will focus mostly on fiction as we move quickly from “classic” YA literature to more recent publications. Young adult literature is as diverse and exciting as books published for children and adults; it’s my hope to introduce you to a myriad of books and authors you may not have read in middle, junior, or senior high school and to kindle your enthusiasm for reading and response. Because of this, you will find this course reading and response intensive with a selection of both required and personal choice reading and an exploration of various ways to respond to books. You are invited to read with an appreciative eye, an eye toward the development of your own aesthetic criteria, and an eye that examines and negotiates the critical judgments determined by reviewers, award committees, and other readers in this class. Throughout the course we will explore the interrelationship of taste and quality as we talk about what makes a “good” book for teenage readers.

ASSIGNMENTS: Assigned readings as well as oral, written, and art-response activities and assignments.

TEXTS:
[Required]
--THE CHOCOLATE WAR (R. Cormier) or FOREVER (J. Blume) or
THE OUTSIDERS (R. Cormier)
--CRISPIN: THE CROSS OF LEAD and either NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH or
THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF CHARLOTTE DOYLE (Avi)
--HATTIE BIG SKY (K. Larson)
--BREAKING THROUGH (F. Jiménez) or THE BURN JOURNALS (B. Runyan) or
HOLE IN MY LIFE (J. Gantos)
--SPEAK (L. Halse Anderson)
--FEED (M.T. Anderson) or HOUSE OF THE SCORPION (N. Farmer)
--FROM THE NOTEBOOKS OF MELANIN SUN (J. Woodson) or
WHALETALK (C. Crutcher) --Plus three books for YA author study project

EVALUATION: Grading is based on the satisfactory and timely completion of all Learning Activities/Projects, as well as the quality of the work produced. Projects will be read and evaluated on thoroughness, clarity of thought and presentation, timeliness, professional appearance (including grammatical and spelling correctness), and creativity (where appropriate). On time attendance and participation are valued and will be calculated into the final grade.

 

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