Course description:  The literature written for and read by today's adolescents is often intense and edgy. Many contemporary young adult novels grapple not only with the serious issues faced when coming of age, but how that experience has changed given our turbulent times. This course will examine the development of young adult literature, examining the way various novels from multiple genres have made significant connections with this age group, as well as examining the literary merit of these works.

Required Texts: ( any edition is acceptable; all are available as paperbacks)

Students are expected to arrive at class sessions on time. If you cannot make a class, please contact the instructor by e-mail. Missing classes without providing acceptable reasons will affect your grade. If you miss a class session, it is your responsibility to obtain any outlines or articles that were distributed. Only one makeup quiz will be permitted, and that quiz will be different from the one administered during the class session.

Please make sure all cell phones and beepers are turned off during class time. If you have an emergency situation that requires otherwise, please speak to the instructor ahead of time.

Grades will be determined as follows: 1 unannounced quiz- 10 points ,  contributions to discussion board, 10 points-2 response papers, 15 points each, 1 creative project- 15 points, 1 five minute book talk, 15 points, final exam, 20 points.

COURSE SYLLABUS

September 5- history and definition of Young Adult Literature

September 12- Hinton, S.E. - The Outsiders

 September 19- Cormier, Robert- The Chocolate War

 September 26- Anderson, Laurie Halse- Speak

October 3- Book Talk due ( Group 1 , last names A-M)-

Guidelines for the Book Talk are at the end of the Syllabus

October 10-Book Talk due ( Group 2 -Last names N-Z) -

October 17- Napoli, Donna Jo, Spinners and Block, Francesca Lia- The Rose and the Beast

                    Konigsburg, E.L - Silent to the Bone

October 24-  Farmer, Nancy- The Eye, the Ear and the Arm

First Response Paper Due

Response paper topic: Explore the PBS Frontline website found at : http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/teenbrain/  Then , using one ( or more) of the novels we have shared so far, discuss how a young adult's reactions and responses to this (these) book(s) might differ from an adult's because  of these brain differentials. Make specific reference to incidents in the books as well as comments found in the various segments of the website.

October 31- no class- please see the Discussion Board- Beginning of Spinelli, Jerry-  Stargirl Discussion

Nov. 7- continuation of Stargirl,  Spiegelman, Art- Maus

Creative Project

"And indeed there will be time

To wonder,"Do I dare?" and "Do I dare?"

Time to turn back and descend the stair,

With a bald spot in the middle of my hair---

(They will say:" How his hair is growing thin!")

My morning coat, my collar mounting firmly to the chin

My necktie rich and modest, but asserted by a simple pin-

(They will say: "But how his arms and legs are thin!")

Do I dare

Disturb the universe?( excerpt from "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Eliot)

The last line of this excerpt is on the poster Jerry Renault keeps in his locker, but it is certainly relevant to many of the other books we have  explored- how would you choose to illustrate this particular sentiment?- original artwork is always appreciated, but not necessary- you can find things in magazines, on the net, etc.

Nov. 14- Myers, Walter Dean- Monster

Nov. 21-no  class meeting, please see the discussion question in WebCampus

Nov. 28- Crutcher, Chris- Whale Talk

(Howl's Moving Castle,part one- to be shown in class on DVD)

Third Response Paper Due

Response paper topic: "Although the primary purpose of the adolescent novel  may appear to be a depiction of growth, growth in this genre is inevitably represented as being linked to what the adolescent has learned about power. without experiencing gradations between power and powerlessness, the adolescent cannot grow. Thus, power is even more fundamental to adolescent literature than growth. During adolescence, adolescents must learn their place in the power structure. They must learn to negotiate the the many institutions that shape them: school government, religion, identity politics, family , and so on. They must learn to balance their power with their parents' power and with the power of the other authority figures in their lives..... Foucault tells us it is in the very nature of power to be both enabling and repressive because it is omnipresent:" power is everywhere, not because it embraces everything but because it comes from everywhere>" His words can be modified to fit books about adolescence: In adolescent literature, power is everywhere." Trites, Roberta Seelinger Disturbing the Universe: Power and Repression in Adolescent Literature Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 2000.

How does the issue of power impact the lives of the characters in the books we have shared?

Dec. 5- exam review- Young adult poetry, Howl's Moving Castle part two- shown in class on DVD)

Dec. 19- final exam

FDU Young Adult Literature- Booktalk Guidelines

Maximum time allowed : 5 minutes

Students with last names beginning with the letters A-M will present  October 3rd-; Students with last names N-Z will present October 10th

Your booktalk should include but is not limited to the following:

A brief description of the plot- those series of events that tell the story, actions that are linked by cause and effect, so that the pieces of the story are all tied together by a narrative. What kind of narrative structure does your book have? Linear? Flashbacks? Is the story told from the point of view of more than one person?

What is the conflict in your book? Character vs. character, character vs. nature, character vs. society, character vs. self? How is the conflict resolved?

What about the characters? Are the primary characters well developed? How does the author go about accomplishing this?

How does the setting function in your book? Is it integral to the plot, or merely a backdrop?

How would you describe the author's style?

What are the themes in the book- the significant, underlying truths that the author was trying to get across to readers in the first place.

Your opinion- backed up with specifics- as to why you liked or disliked the book