Course Information Overview
- Eng. 428 # 14072 -NOTE to any/all students who might be committed to an agenda of political correctness, you may find some of the course material offensive; there are perhaps other classes that would better suit your needs!
- Listserve: sp24.engl428.02-c@csun.edu To minimize the potential of receiving spam, it has been configured as a "closed" list. USE only your respective CSUN email address to communicate with this list, rather than sending from a Gmail or Hotmail type account. They will bounce.
- M/W 2-315pm JR 304
Course Description
This course presents an overview of children's literature, examining its history as well as its social and psychological dimensions. We will explore how the "discovery of childhood" in the Late Renaissance became a stimulant to the literary and visual imagination. From a variety of critical and cultural perspectives, we will attempt to understand what distinguishes children’s literature from other literatures, examine representative texts of various genres, consider the way these texts present cultural and pedagogical issues pertinent to the classroom, and develop an understanding of what constitutes a “good” text for children.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Pre-requisite: One lower-division course in literature.
Students will become familiar with the general field of children's literature, the major genres, themes, and issues so as to be able to communicate and share these works. Students will also understand the extraliterary dimensions of this field as they become aware of the powerful cultural and historical forces shaping it.
Requirements
Essays- All must be submitted to turnitin.com via Canvas in a timely manner for credit.
The secret to being successful in this course is to attend class, complete the reading assignments, complete the writing assignments, and actively participate in discussions and presentations.
| Journals | 20% | Presentations | 20% |
| Analytical Essays | 50% | Class Participation/Electronic or otherwise & Attendance | 10% |
ANALYTICAL ESSAYS:50%
Two essays argumentative in nature.
Learning Resource Writing Center click here!
LRC visits are strongly recommended for all essays this semester.
Extra Credit will be given with proof of attendance for each essay!
The writing center is located in the Oviatt Library 3rd floor east wing and graduate students or instructor are available to assist you with various steps in the writing process such as brainstorming, revising and editing. You may call for an appointment: (818) 677-2033. You can also attend on a walk-in basis.
Presentations: 20%
PRESENTATIONS of 10-20 minutes in length (must leave time for questions 5 min) --by selected groups/individuals in charge of presenting/writing about a variety of assigned topics throughout the semester. The purpose of your oral presentations is to expand the boundaries of our class by discussing books, authors, and topics that we can’t fit into the regular schedule. This means you will be “teaching” your topic area to us.. See Projects above.
Journals: 20%
See Projects above
Participation: 10%
ATTENDANCE--
see My Classroom Policies above.
QUIZZES--
Unannounced quizzes on the readings are always a possibility, especially if the readings are not being kept up with by classmembers. Come to class prepared to discuss the assigned readings and you will be prepared for all quizzes. Quizzes missed due to absence cannot be made up. No quiz grades will be dropped.
PRESENTATION RESPONSES--
Written responses to oral presentations.
ONLINE TASKS--
On-line tasks such as postings on our class forum in Canvas or listserve assignments on email are to be completed as assigned.
CLASS PARTICIPATION will also be based on:
1. Since a significant part of this class will be based on active student participation in class discussion, and/or assigned presentations, it is essential that students attend class regularly, ask questions, and offer their impressions, ideas and opinions for classroom dialogue. In order to participate effectively, students must come prepared.
2. You are assessed on how your interact with your peers and me in class discussion, individual presentations, email, posts in Canvas, and group work of any kind.
3. Reading Assignments--You are expected to do all conscientiously and in a timely fashion.The reading assignments are to be done by the day due. "I have not been able to purchase my textbook yet" is NOT an acceptible excuse. The library may have copies of our text(s) in the Reserve Room to enable you to access the material freely. You are required to participate in the discussions and you cannot do so if you have not read the assignment. In order to earn full participation credit, students will need to participate every time class meets.
4. Assignments are due on the date stated on the syllabus during the class period. A computer problem is not an excuse for a late paper; campus labs are open late into the night and Kinko's is open 24 hours. Do your work early in the week so that you're not late to class because you're printing something out. Keep extra copies of hard copies, or duplicate flash drives or CDs, OR better yet, email your papers to yourself.
5. Make sure your name, my name, our course & session number, and the date, per MLA format, with 1 inch margins all around, left justified, is on "everything" you turn in.
6. You are responsible for obtaining assignments when you miss class either from accessing them from our course syllabus page OR asking your classmates for a copy. I am not a delivery service.