English 315
Adolescent Literature
Spring 2002
Instructor: Susan Swords Steffen, Director of the A.C. Buehler Library
(630) 617-3172
susanss@elmhurst.edu
A survey of adolescent literature. This course emphasizes extensive reading
and evaluation of literature appropriate for adolescents for grades 6 through
12 or ages 11-18, developing criteria for selecting and using literature
with adolescents at various stages in their development, and analysis and
discussion of issues in the field of adolescent literature. This course satisfies
a teacher certification requirement for the secondary education English major.
This is a half course.
Course Goals
Anderson, Laurie Halse. Speak.
Cormier, Robert. Chocolate War.
Matas, Carol. Greater Than Angels.
Myers, Walter Dean. Monster.
Pullman,Phillip. Golden Compass.
(Note: You may use any edition of these novels.)
Reading Their World: The Young Adult Novel In the Classroom . 2nd edition. 2000. Edited by Virginia Monseau.
Course Requirements:
As a class, we will read and discuss five adolescent novels (Chocolate War,
Speak, Monster, Greater Than Angels, and Golden Compass). In addition, each
student will be responsible for selecting and reading a number of other novels
while completing a reading contract (more on that later). We will also read
a selection of essays on issues in the study and teaching of adolescent literature.
There will be brief informal in-class writing and quizzes concerning
this reading.
Each student will be responsible, as a member of a working group, for the
presentation and discussion of one of the novels. Groups will be formed and
guidelines for this project will be distributed during the first week of
class.
55% Reading Contract
35% Teaching Project
15% Class Participation
Course Logistics
Because this course is a half course which is required for English Education majors, it has been scheduled to meet at 11:45-12:50 MWF from January 29-March 9. Since this schedule only allows for six weeks of class, there will be two reading discussions held in April and May to make up the additional three contact hours.
It is expected that every student enrolled in this class will attend every class meeting. Class periods will provide a variety of experiences with adolescent literature that cannot be made up by simply reading the textbook or borrowing someone else’s notes. Engaged participation in the novel discussions is essential to your success in this course. If you must miss a class because of a genuine emergency, it is your responsibility to contact me to find out what you missed.
In addition to regular class attendance, students can expect to spend additional time in the Young People’s Department of the Elmhurst Public Library locating and reading adolescent literature. You must have a current public library card valid at the Elmhurst Public Library. In addition, a selection of children’s and young adult books from my personal collection will be available for browsing and check out at the Circulation Desk in the Elmhurst College Library. The Elmhurst College Library also has a growing collection of adolescent novels in the Children's Literature collection located in the Curriculum Room on the lower level.
Increasing your skills and comfort with technology is another goal of this course. This course has a Blackboard site which provides you access to a collection of resources you need to study adolescent literature. And, the materials prepared for group presentations will be published on a web page.
Although I do not have regularly scheduled office hours, I will be available for consultation on an as-needed basis. You may contact me in the Library, via telephone or voice mail, or via e-mail to ask questions or arrange a time for a conference.
You may reach me at (630-617-3172) or at susanss@elmhurst.edu.
The course syllabi, assignments, and supplemental materials can be found on Blackboard at bb.elmhurst.edu.
January 28, 2002