Syllabus for English 8: CHILDREN’S LITERATURE
Fall 2011
Instructor: Scott Goldstone
Meets:
Classroom:
MW 10:00-11:50
1401
Office Hour:
6007 W 12-1
Or by appointment
Email:
goldstonescott@fhda.edu
Welcome to English 8! The focus of this class is on reading and evaluating books published
specifically for children. Over the course of the quarter we will examine and analyze the history
and trends of children’s books and the different genres, motifs and archetypes that distinguish
them. As we read and discuss a wide range of cross-cultural children’s literature, we will aim to
establish criteria for selecting and evaluating good books for children. The assignments you will
complete and the papers you will write seek to engage and sharpen your analytical skills so that
you can transcend simple personal responses and write well-articulated, thoughtful evaluations
others can use when seeking to find good books for children.
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Children’s Literature, Briefly (5th edition) by Michael O. Tunnell and James S. Jacobs. Pearson
Prentice Hall, 2012 ISBN: 9780132480567
20th Century Children’s Book Treasury by Janet Schulman. Random House, 1998 ISBN
9780679886471
PLAGARISM POLICY
Any student who plagiarizes any written work in English 8 will automatically receive an F for
the assignment and the Language Arts Dean will be notified.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
• Attendance:
Because this is an interactive class where we will be reading, writing, and engaging in class
discussions, punctual attendance is mandatory. More than three absences (excused or
unexcused) throughout the quarter may lower your final grade: upon the fourth absence, your
final grade may be lowered one full letter grade. Your final grade may continue to be lowered if
you miss additional classes. Please be responsible and attend class regularly. If you miss a class,
you are responsible for any material covered. Arrival in class without an assignment due that
day counts as an absence. Check the syllabus and call or e-mail a classmate to obtain
information you missed. Two tardies (arriving late to class) count as one absence; continual
tardies may lower your final grade. If you are tardy to class, it is your responsibility to check
with me to make sure you have not been marked absent that day.
CLASS WEBSITE
In addition to the readings in your textbook, the literature you are responsible for reading can be
found in PDF/JPEG files at the class website: http://foothillenglish8.pbworks.com/
GRADES
Major Assignments
In-class essays
Quizzes
Reading Journals
Cross Cultural Analysis
45%
15%
10%
15%
15%
A = excellent
B = good
C = satisfactory
D and F = not passing
I accept no work after the time of the final exam. An incomplete contract must be filled out
by both the instructor and the student PRIOR to the final exam in order to receive an
incomplete grade in the course.
A List of Major Assignments:

Focus Statement for the Annotated Bibliography (1 page)

Annotated Bibliography (15 books)

Newberry Book Presentation

Illustration Analysis
You will also complete the following:

Cross-Cultural Analysis of Two Parallel Folktales (CCAF) (4-6 pages)

Reading Response Journal Entries (roughly 1 page per 10 read)
Summaries of Assignments
(Rubrics and prompts will be distributed for each of these can be found at the class website)
Focus Statement of the Annotated Bibliography
This assignment should:
 Describe a unique theme that you will focus your annotated bibliography around
 Provide enough specific description for us to understand the "boundaries" of the focus
 Give a detailed rationale for your choice of this focus
Cross-cultural Analysis of Two Folktales (CCAF)
In this assignment, you should:
 Demonstrate a sophisticated choices of folktales
 Provide an arguable assertion that summarizes the similarities and differences of the
folktales




Minimize plot retelling
Emphasize analysis of the cultural values and influences of the two folktales
Capture the culture, language, flora and fauna of the cultures in the two tales
Provide ample specific evidence from the two folktales to support your assertions
Newberry Award Winning Book Presentation
 Introduce a Newberry Award winning (or nominated) book to the class through a 4 - 5
minute book presentation. Complete a book talk form as a guide to assist you with your
presentation. After the book talk and audience questions, you will then present possible
activities and ideas that would enrich the experience of reading this book for a young
reader. The total presentation will be 7- 10 minutes. A list of Newberry winners can be
found on the back page of your Children’s Literature, Briefly textbook.
Annotated Bibliography
This assignment should:




Demonstrate careful choices of books within the chosen focus
Provide correct bibliographic information for each book
Provide brief summaries of the 15 books chosen.
Evaluate the literary merit, the age appropriateness, the interplay of illustration and text of
each book


Suggest interesting applications or "gifts" each text provides its readers.
Please be sure to ask any questions about any of these rubrics BEFORE you embark on the
assignment.
Reading Response Journals

For every homework assignment with assigned literature (not counting your textbook) you
are to write a journal response of roughly one page per ten pages read. Responses should not
be retellings or summaries of the book, but your honest and considered reactions to the
books. Good responses make connections to other texts, raise questions, make predictions
and analyze key or confusing passages in detail.
Major Assignments/Due Dates
October 12
Illustration Analysis
October 17
October 24
November 16
November 30
December 7
December 12
FOCUS of your Annotated Bibliography
In Class Essay #1
Newberry Presentation
In Class Essay #2
Cross-Cultural Analysis of Two Archetypes of Folktales
Annotated Bibliography, class ends
ENGLISH 8 TENTATIVE DUE DATES AND OTHER IMPORTANT DATES
Writing assignments are due each day of class unless otherwise specified. If you miss a class, it
is your responsibility to call or e-mail a classmate in order to understand the full nature of what is
due. Please do not e-mail me asking what the homework was.
9/26: Intro to class, course overview
HW: complete biographical paragraph
9/28: History and Trends of Children’s Literature
HW: CLB Ch. 5
10/3: Why We Read, Good Books
HW: CLB Ch. 1-3
10/5: Picture Books, Caldecott Winners
HW: CLB Ch. 4 & 7
Illustration Analysis criteria
10/10: Folktales: archetypes, motifs and authenticity
HW: “How Many Donkeys”, “Of Ships and Trees”, “How Spider Got a Thin Waist”, write
journal entry
10/12: Illustration Analysis due
Fairy Tales
HW: Pinocchio, “Cinderella,” “Little Red Riding Hood,” “ The Ugly Duckling”, write journal
entry
10/17: Focus Statement Due
Traditional Fantasy
HW: “The Little Mermaid”, write journal entry for “Little Mermaid”
10/19: Watch and discuss Disney’s The Little Mermaid
HW: CLB Ch. 9
10/24: In Class Essay #1
10/26: Modern Fantasy
HW: CLB Ch. 10, The Hobbit, The Wizard of Oz, “Laughing Gas,” write journal entry
10/31: Newberry presentations signup, Individual Meetings signup
Contemporary Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction
HW: CLB Ch. 11-12, From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, Harriet the Spy,
write journal entry
11/2: Individual Meetings (We do not meet as a class)
11/7: Individual Meetings (We do not meet as a class)
11/9: Biography and Informational Books
HW: CLB Ch. 13-14
11/14: Caldecott and Newbery Award Winners
Preparation for Newbery Award Presentations
HW: Continue to prepare for presentations
11/16: Newbery Award Winners Presentations
11/21: Newbery Award Winners Presentations
11/23: Poetry
Discuss Cross Cultural folktale analysis
HW: CLB Ch. 8, Toucans Too,” “The Tiger and the Zebra,” “The Rainy Day,” “The Acrobats,”
“The Battle,” “A Poem on the Neck of a Running Giraffe,” “Clouds,” “Who Has Seen the
Wind?”, write journal entry
11/28: Controversial Books
HW: CLB Ch. 16, Are You There, God, It’s Me Margaret, Harry Potter, Bridge to Terebithia,
write journal entry
11/30: “Harry Potter and Witchcraft,” In-Class Essay #2
12/5: Multicultural Books
HW: CLB Ch. 15
12/7: YA Literature
Cross Cultural folktale analysis due
12/12: Begin Annotated Bibliography presentations
12/14: FINAL EXAM
11:00AM-1:00 PM