EDUCATION 465-4 ?
cUT DDREN' S LITERATURE ?
SIJM'IER SESSION, 1985
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INSTRUCTOR: Lissa Paul
Tuesdays and Thursdays,
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LOCATION: MPX 7600
8:30 - 12:20
OBJECTIVES
This course cntres on what children's literature is and on
how to talk about it: that is, on children's literature as
literature--how to explore it and how to share it.
OUTLINE OF TOPICS
The emphasis is on reading a wide variety of primary
material, a lot of stories'. Literary, psychologocial,
historical and sociological contexts will frame the texts and
provide backgrounds for talking about stories with children.
The aim is to make reading an organic experience--to connect
literature with life.
The course proceeds both chronologically and
cross-culturally. Discussions are on genre, structure and
literary conventions. These are skills that make naive readers
into experienced readers.
This is a course about sharing children's literature, about
understanding that it is not just a subject to be taught, but
something much closer to an exploration of what it is to be
human.
TYPICAL REQUIREMENTS
The reading of a wide range of children's literature.
Selected literary and psychological critical material is also
to be read.
The first few classes will be run as participatory lectures.
But as the course progresses we will shift increasinginly to
seminars and discussion groups.
At the end of most classes a short assignment will be handed
out to be completed for the following class (they provide
practical applications to the class discussions). They are
"hands-on" assignments, designed to put theory into practice.
Six of these assignments are to be written up as short papers
(each about two pages long).
One major seminar will be required. This is an oral
presentation of a project you have worked on involving children
and stories.
One major paper (10-12 pages) is due at the end of the
course.
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Grade breakdown:
6 written assignments (2 pages each)
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25%
Oral presentation ?
25%
Major paper (10-12 pages) ?
50%
REQUIRED READING FOR THE FIRST CLASS:
Neil Postman The Disappearance of Childhood.
Eugene Ionesco S^torV Number 1.
