English 315

English 315
Adolescent Literature
Spring 2001

Instructor: Susan Swords Steffen, Director of the A.C. Buehler Library

(630) 617-3172

Elmhurst College Adolescent Literature Web Site: http://www.elmhurst.edu/library/adolescentlit.html

Adolescent Literature WebBoard: http://206.68.119.120/~English315

Course Description
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

Read widely in all areas of adolescent literature.
Become familiar with the major genres of young adult literature.
Gain skill and confidence in identifying, selecting, and evaluating books for adolescents.
Become familiar with tools for selecting and learning about adolescent literature including professional books, journals, and the Internet. Increase library, research, and technology skills.

Required Texts:

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Speak.

Cormier, Robert. Chocolate War.

Matas, Carol. Greater Than Angels.

Pullman,Phillip. Golden Compass.

Woodson, Jacqueline. I Hadn't Meant To Tell You This.

(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:

Reading Adolescent Literature

As a class, we will read and discuss five adolescent novels (Chocolate War, Speak, I Hadn't Meant To Tell You This, 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).

Teaching Adolescent Literature

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.

Sharing Adolescent Literature

Each student will be responsible for sharing the books read for the reading contract by either attending one or more reading discussions in April and May (dates to be arranged) OR by posting response commentaries on the Adolescent Literature Web Board. Grading:

50% Reading Contract

40% Teaching Project

10% 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.

Increasing your skills and comfort with technology is another goal of this course. This course has a web page 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 the web. In order to take full advantage of the computer resources at Elmhurst College, you need an Elmhurst College email account. If you do not already have an account, you need to get one from Computer Services by February 2. You will also need access to the Internet, which is available in the Library and in the computer labs. Instruction in the use of Web Board will be provided.

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 the Adolescent Literature Course Web Page (http://www.elmhurst.edu/adolescentlit.html).

January 29, 2001