Syllabus for LIT-221-OL

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Introduction to Children's Literature is a course designed for adults who care deeply about children and children's books. Recognizing the crucial role adults play in introducing children to the joys of literature, the course encourages and promotes sharing books with children, including infants. The course text, Through the Eyes of a Child, shares this perspective and provides a wealth of information about the history and diversity of children's literature.

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COURSE OBJECTIVES

After successfully completing all course assignments, you should be able to:

• Answer knowledge-based questions about the history and importance of children's literature.



• Identify criteria for evaluating children's literature.



• Evaluate a wide variety of books available today for children, from newborns to adolescents, according to stated criteria.



• Recognize and describe the artistry in children's books.



• Discuss issues surrounding children's literature.



• Compose essays on various themes related to children's literature.

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COURSE MATERIALS

You will need the following materials to complete the work of the course.

Required Textbook

Through the Eyes of a Child: An Introduction to Children's Literature, 8th ed., by Donna E. Norton and Saundra E. Norton (Boston: Pearson Allyn & Bacon, 2011; ISBN-10: 0-13-702875-X).

The course textbook includes a CD-ROM that allows you to find books quickly in a database containing thousands of titles accessible by title, author, reading level, and key words. The software allows you to browse as much or as little of this information as you want; view a complete record of information for any book on a list; search for specific key words (such as names, titles, topics, etc.); print a summary or complete record of all of the books in a list; annotate books of interest with your own user comments; and add your own list of books to the database.

Menus and buttons allow you to proceed with just a few mouse clicks or keystrokes. All of the frequently used commands have shortcut keys that are displayed in the menus for easy reference. Online Help guides you through the more complex commands. An Undo command allows you to undo the most recent actions.

Additional learning resources include the textbook's companion Web site (http://wps.prenhall.com/chet_norton_through_7). A link to this Web site is provided in each study assignment of the course.

Access to Children's Books

Beginning in module 2, each study assignment requires you to select, read, and evaluate 3–6 children's books. It is imperative, therefore, that you determine where you'll find access to the many children's books you'll be required to read and evaluate during the semester. Typically, a local library will provide all the necessary materials.

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COURSE STRUCTURE

Introduction to Children's Literature is a three-credit online course. It consists of eleven study assignment topics grouped into six assignment modules:

Each study assignment includes a brief overview, a list of learning objectives, a reading assignment, and one or more chapter self-tests. Writing assignments in each module include essay assignments and book evaluations. The course also requires you to take two examinations: a proctored midterm examination and a proctored final examination.

For the course's assignment modules (study assignments and writing assignments), go to the Assignment Modules area of the course Web site. (See also the course Calendar.)

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ONLINE DISCUSSIONS

In addition to posting an introduction to the class in module 1, you are required to participate in five graded online discussion forums, each focusing on contemporary issues in children's literature.

Communication with the mentor and among fellow students is a critical component of online learning. Participation in online discussions involves two distinct activities: an initial response to a discussion question and subsequent comments on classmates' responses. Meaningful participation is relevant to the content, adds value, and advances the discussion. Comments such as "I agree" and "ditto" are not considered value-adding participation. Therefore, when you agree or disagree with a classmate, the reading, or your mentor, state and support your agreement or disagreement. You will be evaluated on the quality and quantity of your participation. Responses and comments should be properly proofread and edited, professional, and respectful.

For additional information on online discussions, see the Online Student Handbook in the General Information area of the course Web site.

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WRITING ASSIGNMENTS

Introduction to Children's Literature has eleven (11) writing assignments. Six assignments (one per module) consist of essay questions based on your textbook reading; five assignments comprise book evaluations based on the 5–10 books you read for each module.

Grading Criteria
The grading criteria used to evaluate your written work include:

1. Correct language mechanics (spelling, capitalization, punctuation, etc.).
2. Correct essay style (introduction, body, conclusion).
3. Specific substantiation to support all claims and ideas—in other words, give specific examples to illustrate your points.
4. Effective use of language (words used correctly and appropriately).
5. Correct sentence structure and paragraph structure.
6. Interesting ideas—there are no anticipated "right" answers; all ideas are valid as long as they are substantiated and clear.

With respect to your evaluations of children's books, you'll be expected to:

1. Address specific evaluation criteria drawn from the textbook.
2. Comment on development levels (language, cognitive, personality, and social).
3. Incorporate specific examples to illustrate the book's appropriateness at a particular level.
4. Present a careful assessment.

Preparing and Submitting Assignments
Prepare your written assignments using whatever word processing program you have on your computer. Include your name at the top of the paper, as well as the course name and code and the semester and year in which you are enrolled.

Before submitting your first assignment, check with your mentor to determine whether your word processing software is compatible with your mentor's software. If so, you can submit your work as you prepared it. If not, save your assignment as a rich-text (.rtf) file, using the Save As command of your software program. Rich text retains basic formatting and can be read by any other word processing program.

When satisfied that your assignment represents your best work, submit it to your mentor by means of the

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