The Writing Side of Children’s Literature, ISHU 3130, Summer 2014

This is an undergraduate, credit course, offered as a traditional face-to-face class through the University of Virginia’s Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies Program. We will meet Mondays, June 2-August 9 from 6:00-9:45 p.m. plus one Saturday morning, June 7, from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 at the Northern Virginia Community College Alexandria campus.

Instructor: Kathy May
Email: km4w@Virginia.edu. I will respond to email within 48 hours, usually sooner.

Required Technical Resources and Technical Components:

Access to UVA email
Access to a word processor and printer. Ability to make paper copies.

Class Description:

In this course, students will immerse themselves in the best of children’s literature while learning the basic tenet of effective writing for any age: easy to read, hard to write. Students will read within several genres of children’s literature, examine how nonfiction writers for children research, organize, and document information, and examine how fiction writers create setting, plot, tone, voice, dialogue, and characters. Students will also learn how published writers self-edit and revise. We will use children’s literature as a model while completing short writing exercises.  By the end of this course, students can expect to become masters of compression as they write and revise one piece of nonfiction and one piece of fiction. 

Required Texts (any edition is fine and all texts should be readily available in most public libraries):

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

An Egg is Quiet or A Seed is Sleepy by Diana Aston

Ruby by Michael Emberley

Thomas Jefferson Builds a Library by Barb Rosenstock

My Name is Maria Isabel by Alma Flor Ada

Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl

Fire in the Sky by Candice Ransom

Learning Outcomes:

One of the goals of this course is to get you reading and thinking critically about children's literature, a body of work you may be familiar with, but which you may also have taken for granted. Another goal is to introduce you to the world of professional writing and publishing for children in both fiction and non-fiction.

You will emerge from this course with a greater familiarity with contemporary children’s literature; with a sharpened ability to analyze a text; with the ability to continue writing for children in fiction, non-fiction, or both; and, hopefully, with a heightened delight in children’s books. Each student should find ample opportunity to explore children’s literature and writing for children in a way that is personally meaningful and relevant to him or her.

At the end of this course, you should be able to

1. identify and discriminate between the different types of children’s books—picture book, easy reader, chapter book, middle grade novel, young adult novel, etc.
2. understand and recognize the major genres of children’s literature—fiction, poetry, and non-fiction as well as subgenres such as fantasy, historical fiction, realistic fiction, etc.
3. analyze the important elements of children’s picture books
4. recognize and understand the elements of fiction—character, setting, plot, conflict, climax, theme, etc. and be able to identify these elements in children’s fiction
5. understand how to research, organize, and document non-fiction
6. understand, appreciate, and analyze the technical and thematic elements of at least 15 fiction and non-fiction pieces of contemporary children’s literature.
7. recognize and appreciate children’s books that have won major awards such as the Newbery Award, the National Book Award for Young People, and the Children’s Choice Award.
8. write the beginnings of both fiction and non-fiction pieces for children
9. know how to locate additional resources in children’s literature and in writing for children
   
   Other issues we may explore include:

17. Distinguishing between traditional versions of a folk or fairy tale and its literary variants
17. Differences between books for different age groups of children and adolescents
17. Differences between children’s books and those for adults
17. Books that seem to straddle genres or categories
17. The relationship between text and illustrations
17. The relationship between books and other media
17. The steps involved in creating a book from author/illustrator to final published book
17. Evaluating the style and illustrations of contemporary picture book illustrators

Assessment Components:

You will be expected to read the assigned 10 texts plus additional texts (4 short books and 2 magazine pieces) as stated on the schedule. All texts may be found in any public library. Writing assignments will include 10 brief summaries of the works, 10 brief evaluative personal responses to the works, 10 brief creative writing exercises, one major fictional piece, and one major non-fiction piece. You will give very brief (five minute) oral reports on the 4 additional children’s books and two brief magazine pieces. You will be expected to participate in class discussion and to share your creative work in class, giving and receiving constructive comments and suggestions.

Class Requirements:

1. All written work must be typed and is due on the day we discuss the book in class. Late written work will have points deducted. If you are absent, you may turn in your work on the day you return.
2. You must be able to provide at least 15 copies (or fewer depending upon enrollment) of each of your creative writing exercises for 9 class meetings. These should be mostly brief one or two page pieces. You do not have to provide copies of your major fiction and non-fiction pieces for the class, but, of course, the instructor needs a copy.