ENG306A: Children’s Literature Fall 2015 Course Syllabus Instructor Contact Information Instructor: Brianna Rangel
Email: [email protected]
Class time: In C-10, Wednesdays from 4:10 p.m. to 6:55 p.m.
Office hours: Wednesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and by appointment
Office: West Faculty 160 (Champion)
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White, Charlotte's Web
Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Woodson, Brown Girl Dreaming
Spinelli, Maniac Magee
Selznick, The Invention of Hugo
Munoz Ryan, Pam Esperanza Rising
Curtis, Christopher Paul, The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963
Lowry, Lois, The Giver
Andersen, Little Mermaid and Other Tales
Gaiman, Coraline The Graphic Novel
Haddon, Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime
Craighead, My Side of the Mountain
Additional readings posted on Blackboard and handouts given in class
Blue books will be used for the final
Course Description
Course prerequisites: English 200 or Rhetoric and Writing Studies 200.
English 306A and 306W must be taken concurrently. Satisfies
Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement for students who have
completed 60 units; completed Writing Placement Assessment with a
score of 8 or higher (or earned a C or higher in RWS 280, 281, or LING
281 if score on WPA was 7 or lower); and completed General
Education requirements in Composition and Critical Thinking. Proof of
completion of prerequisites required: Test scores or verification of
exemption; copy of transcript.
This course introduces future teachers, librarians and future parents and teachers to the wide
world of children’s books that can be used from kindergarten through 12th grade. We will
introduce you to ways to use these books to help children become avid readers. The course will
1 help the students become more insightful interpreters of literature. We also will work extensively
on improving writing and speaking skills.
Insistence on not complying with either edict will result in participation points being reduced.
Also not tolerated is rudeness. When the instructor or a fellow student is speaking, there are to be
no side conversations. The instructor abhors rudeness. If students continue to be rude, they will
lose points and get on the bad side of the instructor, which is not an advisable place to be.
If a student is going to miss class or be late, the student should call the instructor to let him
know. The instructor also does not like tardiness because it interrupts the flow of the class. If a
student is continually absent or tardy, the student will be dropped from the class.
Late assignments will be marked down one letter grade per week unless a note on professional
stationery is presented (from a doctor, counselor or someone else equally legitimate.)
GOALS • Provide background in children’s literature
• Explore a variety of ways of introducing literature to young people
• Be able to present literature through storytelling, drama, visual aids and media
• Use literature to help promote students’ appreciation for diverse ethnic groups and
cultures and historical periods
• Learn to incorporate other subjects such as art, music, history and science in
presentations
EXPECTED STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOME Upon completing this class students will be well-versed in children’s literature and
prepared to use that knowledge in their own classrooms.
REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING The format for the course is that we will read and discuss the required texts. Have the text read
before the day it is assigned for discussion. Read the assignments carefully and critically, and be
prepared to discuss them in class. In addition to readings, you will submit two response essays
and a research paper on a topic related to women in literature. There will also be a final exam.
Handouts with more specific guidelines for preparing papers will be given. While some
assignments may have due dates earlier in the semester, I highly encourage you to work on other
assignments during the course, long before the due dates.
A grade of C on an assignment means that you have competently completed it, whereas a grade of A denotes an
outstanding performance in terms of content, organization, and style. A grade of B means a good performance.
Grammatical correctness and clean copy are required for passing work at the upper division level.
Research Paper (at least 1,800 words)
Participation (quick writes, discussion, informal
Writings
Oral Report
Play written and performed (group)
Illustrated Children’s Book
Final exam
20%
30%
15%
15%
10%
10%
100%
2 Grading Rubric 94-100=A; 93-90=A-; 89-88=B+; 87-84=B; 83-80=B-;79-78=C+; 77-74=C; 73-70=C-; 6968=D+; 67-64=D; 63-60=D-; 0-59=F
Course Writing Assignments You will give a ten-minute Oral Report on an assigned book or topic. No more than three
minutes should be spent on plot summary; just hit the high points of the plot--don’t try to cover
every scene and character. Focus instead on the book’s themes and symbols, and on what
assignments you would create to complement the book at a stated grade level. Background
material about the author is not required, but it is always interesting. Make comparisons between
your assigned book and others the class has read, if possible.
Try to speak rather than read from a script; use eye contact and vocal variation to keep your
audience interested. Bring copies of your handout about your book for each person in the class;
save these to use in later TE classes. If you use sources other than your assigned book, put your
references at the end of your handout in a Works Cited list to avoid plagiarism.
Final Exam essays should be analytical, avoiding plot summary. You will write about four of
the books our class read during the semester. Use MLA format to cite quotations and avoid
plagiarism, as in “The secret garden was no longer secret” (Burnett 182). Exams are open-book,
but no notes may be used; bring blue books. We will discuss sample questions at the class
meeting before the first exam.
In groups of up to four students you will write a 15-20 minute Play based on a work of children's
literature studied in our class. You will arrange to present the play to at least six children, and
will also present it to our class. You may use scenery, props, puppets, and costumes to the degree
you feel that they're helpful, and you may provide a Spanish summary of the play if the children
you present it to primarily speak Spanish. You may invent your own dialogue, and/ or quote
from the book.
Please turn in your typed, double-spaced play when you present it to our class, including a list of
the written sources you used. Evidence (i.e. photos etc.) that you performed your play for at least
six children needs to be brought to me by the final exam for you to get credit for the play
assignment.
You will write and illustrate a children’s book based on a story you invent. Your book
should be at least 500 words long, with at least five illustrations. You may paper clip your book
together, or hand bind it with a cover, like a real book.
Essays: You will be required to write an essay for this course. The essay will require at least one
rough draft. All pre-writing and rough drafts are due in class on the day specified. Final drafts
are due to TurnItIn on the date specified, and a printed copy given to me during our class
session. Specific criteria for each essay will be given along with the prompt. I will not accept late
work. If there are extreme circumstances or emergencies, they will be addressed on a case-bycase basis before the due date.
3 Your essay should make an argument about a central theme in one or more of the assigned texts.
The thesis (main idea) should be supported by sub-points that are proven through quotes,
paraphrase, comparison/contrast, and other literary techniques. Write to me as an informed
reader; don’t include the plot summary you would for a general audience. Don’t focus upon the
same text that you discussed during your oral report, or the essay will receive a failing grade.
Your essay must draw upon at least two peer-reviewed, scholarly sources from our library’s
databases such as MLA, Project Muse, and LION. Your essay should be typed double-spaced,
using MLA format. You must participate in the peer review, or the grade of your essay will be
lowered by one letter. The peer review will teach you to be better critics of your own writing, as
well as preventing procrastination and promoting revision. Also, you may get excellent help for
free with your writing at the Learning Center at the back of the campus library.
Participation: You will be expected to attend all classes and be on time. You are to come to
class having done the assigned reading and other assignments listed in the syllabus on the day we
are discussing them. You are allowed two absences before your grade becomes impacted by your
lack of attendance. You are not allowed to make up any informal writings due on the day of your
absence.
Final Exam, Informal Writings and Participation:
The Final Exam will primarily be composed of open-book (no notes) essay questions over texts
you did not cover in your paper.
Informal writings will be done in response to my instructions both out of class and in class.
Informal writings cannot be made up as they are meant to encourage you to come to class
regularly, on time, and well-prepared. To get points for an informal writing, you must attend the
class in which it is due.
The participation component of your grade will be measured through a combination of
attendance, willingness to speak during discussion and thoughtful completion of informal
writings.
POLICIES Classroom etiquette: Students are expected to participate actively in class. You are expected to
be engaged in most class discussions, ask questions and be respectful when listening and
speaking to others. I encourage you to express your opinions, which will often inspire interesting
and compelling discussions.
Never talk, text or do anything other than pay attention when others are speaking. Cell phones
are to be turned off before entering class. Do not text or read texts in class, I will ask you to leave
for the remainder of that class period. Our classroom assignments rarely will warrant the use of
electronics, so unless I have approved it, keep your laptops tucked safely in your bags. Failure to
comply with the rules for electronic use in the course will drop your participation grade (30% of
your course grade) by half a letter grade (i.e a B becomes a B-).
Plagiarism: You’d think we wouldn’t have to go over this, but we still do. Using other people’s
work, including work found on the Internet, without crediting those people is plagiarism. All
4 sources must be credited and the writer must acknowledge any piece of writing, thinking or
research used in a paper. Use MLA style in this class to credit sources. At SDSU-IV, plagiarism
can result in expulsion of two years, failure of a course or of that particular assignment. I have
and will punish plagiarists to the greatest extent -possible. Confused? Come see me or read up on
academic dishonesty at http:csrr.sdsu.edu.
Turnitin Policy: Turnitin (integrated within Blackboard) will be used in this course for
assignments. Students in this course agree that papers are subject to submission for textual
similarity review to Turnitin.com for the detection of plagiarism, as well as for online evaluation,
feedback and grading by the instructor, and peer review by fellow class members. All submitted
papers will be included as source documents in the Turnitin.com reference database solely for
the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers. Students may submit their papers in such a
way that no identifying information about them is included. Another option is that a student may
request, in writing, that his/her papers not be submitted to Turnitin.com. However, this option
requires the student to provide documentation to substantiate that the papers are the original
work of the student and do not include any plagiarized material.
Regularly, on time, and well-prepared. To get points for an informal writing, you must attend the
class in which it is due.
The participation component of your grade will be measured through a combination of
attendance, willingness to speak during discussion and thoughtful completion of informal
writings.
Students with Disabilities DISABLED STUDENTS’ STATEMENT
If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this
class, it is your responsibility to contact Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473. To
avoid any delay in the receipt of your accommodations, you should contact Student
Disability Services as soon as possible. Please note that accommodations are not
retroactive, and that accommodations based upon disability cannot be provided until you
have presented your instructor with an accommodation letter from Student Disability
Services. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Reading schedule subject to change at instructor’s discretion.
Date
Topic
Sept. 2
Theory and history
Sept. 9
Fairy tales
Readings to be completed prior
to class
Assignments /
Activities
Bring book from
home and memory
of its teachings
The Little Mermaid
5 Date
Topic
Sept. 16
Friendships, road trips,
identity crisis
Sept. 23
Feminist theory; female
tradition
Short stories
Sept. 30
Readings to be completed prior
to class
The Myth of You and Me completed
Readings from Feminist Theory
Reader: Eagleton, “Finding a
Female Tradition” (Eagleton,
pp. 1-8); Woolf, Excerpt A
Room of One’s Own (9);
Forrester, “What Women’s
Eyes See” (50);
Woolf, Excerpt A Room of
One’s Own (70); Woolf,
“Professions for Women” (75);
Lovell, “Writing Like a
Woman” (90)l Moers,
“Literary Women” (145);
Eagleton, “Towards
Definitions. . . .” (191);
Coward, “‘This Novel
Changes Lives’. . . .” (199).
Selections from Family
Furnishings
“My Mother’s Dream,” “Family
Furnishings,” “The Bear Came
Over the Mountain,” “Runaway,”
“Working for a Living”
Assignments /
Activities
Required
participation
Bring one page of
typed notes and 3
discussion
questions.
Bring a page of
notes on one story
and 3 discussion
questions. Proposed
paper topic for
response due.
Oct. 7
Film
Bring three copies of draft for
peer review
Required
participation
Oct. 14
Friendships
Who Will Run the Frog Hospital?
Bring a page of
notes and three
discussion
questions.
Response essay due with two
peer review sheets
6 Date
Topic
Oct. 21
Feminist theory
Oct. 28
Mother/Daughter
Readings to be completed prior
to class
Warhol, “Having a Good Cry” (161);
Register, “American Feminist
Literary Criticism. . . .” (210);
Kolodny, “Dancing Through
the Minefiled. . . .” (219);
Showalter, “Toward a
Feminist Poetics” (222);
Kristeva, “Woman Can Never
Be Defined” (261); Jacobus,
“Reading Woman. . . .” (282);
Fetterly, “The Resisting
Reader” (288); Culler,
“Reading as a Woman” (291);
Scholes, “Reading Like a
Man” (294); Alcoff, “Cultural
Feminism. . . .” (352);
Lauretis, “Upping the Anti…”
(355).
Assignments /
Activities
Bring a page of
questions and
comments.
First half of Anywhere But Here
Page of question
and comments and
proposed research
paper topic.
Peer review (if deciding to
do second response)
discussion
Second half of Anywhere But
Here
Bring three copies
of your draft for
review of doing
second response.
Oct. 18
Film, peer review
Second response paper due, as
well as draft of research paper for
peer review
Bring three copies
of your draft.
Oct. 2
Short Stories
Family Furnishings
Bring page of
comments and
questions for
discussion.
Journey
Oct. 4
Peer review for second response
“The Children Stay,” “Jakarta,”
“Post and Beam,” “Passion,”
“Soon,” “Home”
7 Date
Topic
Readings to be completed prior
to class
Assignments /
Activities
Dec. 9
Review for final, turn in
research paper
Final research paper due, with
two peer review sheets and works
cited
No other written
homework due.
Dec. 16
Final exam
Bring blue books, a pencil, and
the novels you didn’t write about
in your paper.
Course Activities and Schedule Topics
Talking animals, fables
Fairy tales
Fairy tales, continued
Fairy tales and talking
animals
Graphic novels
Realistic fairy tales
American historical fiction.
Racism. Humor.
Gothic fantasy
Learning disabilities, bullies,
weight
Poem-novel, diary
Chinese immigrants, racism
8 Topics
Latina historical fiction,
racism
Science fiction, utopias and
dystopias
Final essay exam
Storytelling
Oral Report Schedule (use unabridged versions of books)
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Dr. Seuss picture books
Maurice Sendak picture books
Simon Silva picture books
9/16 Milne. Winnie the Pooh (no adaptations)
Almond, David Skellig
Cleary, Beverly Ramona books (choose your favorite)
St. Exupery, Antoine. The Little Prince
9/17 Norton, Mary The Borrowers
Lewis, C.S. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Gardner, Sally. I, Coriander
9/24 Alexander, Lloyd. The Book of Three
Henry, M. King of the Wind
Hartnett, Sonya. The Silver Donkey
10/1 Curtis, C.P. Bud, Not Buddy
Gant, John. Dead End in Norvelt
Lindgren, A. Pippi Longstocking
10/8 Hoban, Russell. The Mouse and His Child
Nesbit, E. The Railway Children
Boyne, John. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
10/15 Dahl, Roald. James and the Giant Peach
Spyri, J. Heidie
Anderson, Laurie. Chains
10/22 Sachar, L. Holes
L’Engle, M. A Wrinkle in Time
Stead, Rebecca. When You Reach Me
10/29 Blume, Judy Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret
Konigsberg, E.L. The View from Saturday
Twain, Mark Tom Sawyer
11/5 Tolkien, J.R.R. The Hobbit
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Langrish, Katherine. Troll Fell
11/12 Ness, Patrick. A Monster Calls
Anaya, Rudolfo. Bless Me, Ultima
11/19 Snyder, Zilpha K. The Velvet Room
Farmer, Nancy. The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm
12/3 Jarrell, Randall. The Animal Family
Pullman, P. The Golden Compass
12/17 London, Jack. Call of the Wild or White Fang
Schlitz, Amy. Splendors and Glooms
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