Course Outline for English 28
Classic and Contemporary Youth Literature

Effective: Fall 2020
SLO Rev: 12/09/2016
Catalog Description:

ENGL 28 - Classic and Contemporary Youth Literature

3.00 Units

Social-historical context and tools for analyzing literature directed toward young readers. Emphasizes contemporary U.S. texts, classic works, and the origins of youth literature (including fables, folk tales and fairy tales). Explores subgenres and literary elements common to children’s and young adult literature, including fantasy, journeys, and animal characters. Emphasizes literature from diverse authors and communities, and the impact of this literature on the psychological, sociological, and cultural growth of young readers.
Strongly Recommended: ENGL 1 or ENGL 1A.
1501.00 - English
Letter Grade Only
Type Units Inside of Class Hours Outside of Class Hours Total Student Learning Hours
Lecture 3.00 54.00 108.00 162.00
Total 3.00 54.00 108.00 162.00
Measurable Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. demonstrate familiarity with the socio-historical and/or cultural context of works of young adult
    fiction;
  2. identify and discuss key authors and works in the area of youth literature, including European American, Asian American, African American, and U.S. Latino/a authors, as well as global authors who write in English, or literature in translation;
  3. demonstrate familiarity with major archetypes, themes, and motifs of young adult literature;
  4. apply literary concepts such as narrative structure, characterization, theme, diction, and symbolism to primary texts written for young readers;
  5. critically evaluate and compare works of fiction based on their literary qualities and offer critical responses to the writings of others;
  6. demonstrate an understanding of and an appreciation for young adult literature in its many forms and styles.
Course Content:
I. Lecture, critical reading, and discussion of the history, development and contemporary breadth of youth literature. 
II. Critical reading and in-depth exploration of representative works of youth literature, including:
A. literature by writers reflecting diverse American communities
B. global authors who write in English, or whose work has been translated into English.
III. Critical analysis of common archetypes, themes and motifs of youth literature, including:
A. the interplay of realism and fantasy/mystical elements
B. the “journey tale,” and thematic sensitivity and attention to the life-cycle,
C. the individual in society,
D. the school environment,
E. sexuality and relationships
F. the family
G. the need for personal expression.
IV.Application of literary concepts to texts for young readers, including focus on:
A. narrative structure
B. voice
C. characterization
D. symbolism
E. setting
F. plot development
V. Comparisons and critiques of texts based on their literary elements.
VI. Study of popular subgenres in children and young adult literature, such as:
A. picture books
B. graphic novels
C. fantasy
D. poetry.
Methods of Instruction:
  1. Lectures
  2. Class and group discussions
  3. Online Assignments
  4. Presentation of audio-visual materials
  5. Guest speakers
  6. Research project
  7. Field Trips
  8. Community activities/civic engagement projects
  9. Group Presentations
  10. Oral and Written Analysis
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
  1. Write an essay describing and analyzing the confluence of realism and fantasy in Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and/ or Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time. (1,000 words)
  2. Group project: Analyze the thematic commonalities and differences between S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders and Walter Dean Myers’ Monster. Find a way to visually and/or dramatically represent this and create two discussion questions for the class. (30 minutes)
  3. Using the film Spirited Away or Princess Mononoke by Hayao Miyazaki as a counterpoint, discuss “the journey” as it appears in classic young adult works such as Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland or Norton Juster’s The Phantom Tollbooth, as well as contemporary works. (1,500 words)
  4. Final project: Research and present a critical analysis of two works of children’s or young adult literature from the American Library Association booklist that connect to the experiences of Latinos in the U.S. In your presentation, make comparisons to Julia Alvarez’s Before We Were Free (class text) but also refer to at least two critical sources, and incorporate at least one interview. Especially consider the use of Spanish and/or Spanglish, and whether or not the texts regress into stereotypes or subvert stereotypes. (2,000 words)
  1. Homework
  2. Online Assignments
  3. Projects
  4. Oral Presentation
  5. Class Work
  6. Quizzes
  7. Midterm Examination
  8. Papers
  9. Final Examination or Project
Upon the completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. identify and discuss key authors and works in the area of youth literature
  2. demonstrate familiarity with major themes and motifs of young adult literature
  3. apply literary concepts such as narrative structure, characterization, theme, diction, and symbolism to primary texts written for young readers; compare/contrast literary strategies used in various texts
Textbooks (Typical):
  1. L'Engle, Madeleine (2007). A Wrinkle in Time Square Fish Press (original published in 1962).
  2. Carroll, Lewis (2010). Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Cosimo Classics (original published in 1865).
  3. Alvarez, Julia (2004). Before We Were Free Laurel Leaf.
  4. Paterson, Katherine (2004). Bridge to Terabithia Harper Teen.
  5. Dahl, Roald (2011). Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Puffin (original published in 1964).
  6. Chli, Sook Nyul. Dugan, Karen M. ill. (1993). Halmoni and the Picnic Houghton Mifflin.
  7. Rushdie, Salman (1990). Haroun and the Sea of Stories Viking.
  8. Woodson, Jacqueline (2010). I Hadn't Meant to Tell You This Puffin.
  9. Myers, Walter Dean (2001). Monster Amistad.
  10. Hinton, S.E. (1982). The Outsiders Viking Juvenile.
  11. Juster, Norton (1961). The Phantom Toolbooth Random House.
  12. Konigsburg, E.L. (1998). The View from Saturday Atheneum.
  13. Rita Williams (2011). One Crazy Summer Amistad; Harper Collins.
  14. Elizabeth Acevedo (2018). The Poet X Harper Teen.
Abbreviated Class Schedule Description:
Course focuses on reading and analyzing literature written for, or directed toward, children and young adults. Emphasizes contemporary U.S. texts, classic works, and the origins of youth literature (including fables, folk tales and fairy tales).
Strongly Recommended: ENGL 1 or ENGL 1A.
Discipline:
English*