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Nathalie op de Beeck
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English 271: Literature for Young Children
Course Description For experienced readers, the picture book and children’s literature can make for quick reading. Rarely do we pause to think about how a children’s text works and why we can scan its words and images with such ease. This course explores our ability to read children’s texts, things we take for granted about our reading skills, our nostalgia for and delight in playful literature, and the ways in which we develop our beliefs about children and childhood. This is a course in literary and visual analysis, based on critical theories of children’s literature. It is not a teaching methods course, although some of you are becoming teachers and will benefit from a careful interpretation of the texts you encounter every day in the classroom or library. Throughout the semester, we will investigate the interdependent writing, illustrations, and packaging of picture books and other children’s literature. Through close study of children’s publications and media, we can discover how creators communicate sophisticated ideas in words and pictures, how readers (ourselves and children alike) make meaning from verbal and visual symbols, and why even the simplest children’s texts tell us a great deal about our cultures and developing identities.
Required Books All of these texts are required. Everyone needs to acquire the editions specified here so that we all have the same texts, introductory essays, and pagination.
Due to the prohibitive cost of picture books and our need to read numerous titles, there will be regular library assignments and requirements to bring borrowed texts to class. Additional readings including critical essays and picture books are listed in the course schedule and will be made available as photocopies, online documents, and/or course reserves at Milner Library. Read all assigned texts before class and bring them to class on the day for which they are assigned. If for financial reasons you do not buy books, you need to plan ahead to have a copy for classroom use. You will need your own copies of texts while writing papers and doing exams independently of classmates. Without books and other materials at hand, you might fail the tests and essays. Texts may be borrowed from local libraries or through interlibrary loan. Let me know if you do not understand the interlibrary loan system.
Course Requirements Ten one-page, informal writings. These include nine journal entries, written during or outside class (depending on the week’s assignment), plus a final short writing to introduce the portfolio at the end of the term. The journals provide a basis for the longer essays you write. I will not collect the journals every week, but you do need to save them for the portfolio, when I will read over them and give you credit. 15% of the grade. Reading Circle bibliographical and informational reports. Five times this semester, you and revolving members of a group will read select picture books, bring them in, and discuss the texts with the class. You will complete reports to indicate your involvement in this work, and I’ll keep track of your attendance and participation during class. The midterm and final exam will include questions about the Reading Circle reports, so it’s important that you do the readings, present the material comprehensively, take notes, and pay attention to others’ presentations. 25% of the grade (5% each time). Four essays based on course readings, discussions, and ideas generated in the journals and Reading Circles. Each essay evolves out of the work we complete in class. Essays must be a minimum of 1000 words (3-4 pages) and should demonstrate your critical engagement with the assigned texts and group work. Details of the assignments will be announced in class. 40% of the grade (10% each). Final portfolio. Keep all of your materials in a folder. You’ll need them at the end of the term, when you’ll hand in your journal writings and essays in a final portfolio with an introductory written statement. I will not accept final portfolios unless they are organized in chronological order and submitted in a folder (that means no paper clips, please). I will determine your journal and Reading Circle participation based on the portfolio contents. Midterm exam. 10% of the grade. Final exam. 10% of the grade. Attendance and participation. Passing this course depends heavily on your attendance and classroom participation, including your cooperation in the Reading Circles. Each person may have two unexcused absences. Four percent of the final letter grade is deducted for each additional unexcused absence. Students who miss eight or more meetings automatically fail the course, so make an effort to be in class and involve yourself with the readings. Please remember that plagiarism and cheating of any kind will result in your failing the course. If you do your own work diligently, attend class, and speak to me about any concerns that arise with your writing or other efforts, you can succeed in this course! Remember that I am available during my office hours and by appointment, and I will be happy to work with you outside class.
Course Schedule Jan 18 Introduction and assignment for Thursday
Part 1: Isn’t That Cute? An Intervention Jan 20
Jan 25
Jan 27
Feb 1
Feb 3
Fri, Feb 4
Feb 8
Part 2: Sequential Pictorial Narrative
Feb 10
Feb 15
Feb 17
Feb 22
Feb 24
Mar 1
Mar 3
Mon, Mar 7 ISU’s 2005 Lois Lenski
Lecture: University of Pittsburgh Professor Valerie Krips
Mar 8
Mar 10 Mar 12-20 Spring Break
Mar 22
Mar 24
Mar 29
Mar 31
Mon, Apr 4
Part 4: Representing Diversity in Words, Pictures, and Narratives
Apr 5
Apr 7
Apr 12
Apr 14
Part 5: Political Attitudes and the Picture Book
Apr 19
Apr 21
Apr 26
Apr 28
Apr 29
May 3
May 5
May 9 – 13 Finals Week
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Please email me with any questions or comments! dbop@ilstu.edu |