PRINCE
GEORGE’S COMMUNITY COLLEGE
English 223: Children’s Literature
Professor Kramer
Spring 2006 Syllabus
Office: M-3073
Office Phone: 322-0579
English Dept.: 322-0563
Office Hours: T/TH:
E-mail Address: kramerol@pgcc.edu (Required code in “Subject” heading: NM 231)
Required Texts
Lukens, Rebecca. A Critical Handbook of Children’s Literature, 7th. ed. Allyn & Bacon, 2003
Course Packet (available in the
College Bookstore, listed with your other required
Required Tradebooks
These tradebooks which everyone in class is required to read, are available in any library and have been ordered for this course through the College Bookstore.
White, E.B. Charlotte’s Web
Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Freedman, Russell. Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery
Lowry, Lois. The Giver
Lowry, Lois. Number the Stars
Van Draanen, Wendelin. Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief
Konigsburg, E.L. A View From Saturday
Objectives of Children’s Literature
1. To familiarize students with the major writers, illustrators and works in the five primary genres.
2. To enable students to develop standards and understanding about judging the literary value of children’s books.
Expected Course Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the course will be able to:
Requirements
1. 3 partially open-book tests for 30% of the grade. The tests are challenging and will contain questions from all reading in the texts, from all handouts which I distribute, from the assigned tradebooks, and possibly even videos viewed in class. It is important to carefully study and organize your information before you come to class on the day of a test, as you will only have one hour and fifteen minutes to complete each test. The last 30 minutes of the class I will allow you to open up your books and consult your notes and the Supplemental Reading guide. I do not give makeup tests.
2. 11 Portfolio entries totalling 25% of your grade. I will drop the lowest one, and you may revise two to improve your overall average. In order to revise two entries, you must visit me on your own time (either during office hours or in the Writing Center). You must bring both the originals and the revisions and I’ll reassess based on content improvement. You cannot simply turn revisions in to me, but must see me in a conference format. Portfolio entries should be written in essay format; every portfolio entry should begin with an introductory paragraph and thesis statement to focus the entry, and coherent and unified paragraphs should develop your major points. These short essays must by typed and double-spaced with a standard 12 inch font and one inch margins (including the top margin). The minimum length requirement for each entry is 1 and ½ pages; anything shorter will receive a “0.” These short essays make up the bulk of your writing in this course, and should be comprehensively developed with strong examples from the reading. They should be focused, organized and polished. They will be assessed on a four point scale:
v++=4 points (A)
v+ =3 points (B)
v =2 points (C)
v- =1 point (D)
0 = 0
3. Annotations of 20 readings which you will find in almost any public library (these include the tradebooks), totalling 10% of your grade. I do not accept late annotations. These are an easy “A” for 10% of your grade as long as you do the assigned reading and write comprehensive plot summaries. In other words, you should briefly summarize the sequence of events in the book from beginning to end. You should also include information from the book in your plot summary that demonstrates you indeed read the book, such as little details, as opposed to a general plot summary I might read on the back of the book. If I feel your plot summary is incomplete, you may not receive credit for the annotation, and these cannot be made up. If you complete at least 17 annotations and do a comprehensive job on them, you will receive an “A” for 10% of your grade. Students who complete less than 17 annotations will not receive a passing grade for the allotted 10%. In other words, you will earn either an “A” or an “F” on the annotations. I will provide you with a form to use for your annotations; I will only accept annotations completed on the form sheet.
4. Group Projects/Tradebook Presentations on 5 out of 7 tradebooks will total 15% of your grade. You will be given some time in class to work together in your groups, but it is imperative that you begin working together early in the semester and manage your time as a group. Details of the Group Projects will follow.
5. Illustrators Reports will comprise 10% of your grade. You will be expected to present an illustrator and his/her work orally to the class. Your report will be a timed presentation where you will be expected to provide concrete biographical information and discuss his/her contributions to Children’s Literature, along with awards earned. You should also define his/her artistic style through examples, and provide visuals of the artist’s illustrations, either through book illustrations, a brief slideshow, etc..
6. Attendance and Class Participation will account for 10% of your grade. You are allowed to miss six classes without penalty, but you are still required to meet submission deadlines or make other arrangements for any work due on those days. Students who miss a class and wish to make up any work must contact me prior to the class missed and request an extension, except in cases of emergency; otherwise a “O” is assigned to any work not submitted on the day it is due. I do not give makeup tests. Missing more than six classes will result in the loss of a letter grade from your final grade in the course and may result in failure of the course. If you are late you will be marked “tardy,” and 3 tardies equals one absence. If you miss more than 1/3 of the class it is considered an absence. In other words, if you are more than 25 minutes late to class or you leave class with more than 25 minutes remaining, you will be marked absent.
Professionalism
Your professional behavior is expected, and improper behavior cannot and will not be tolerated. You are all adults who pay good money for your education, and class time belongs to all students. It is part of my responsibility to insure that the classroom climate remains conducive to learning at all times. Therefore disruptive behavior of any kind will be dealt with in strict accordance with college wide policy. Please remember to turn your cell phones off; answering a phone call or text messaging in the middle of class is both rude and disruptive. Although I don’t mind if you eat during class, please do so without being loud and disruptive, and be sure to clean up after yourself. When someone else is talking, whether it is me or a classmate, you should be respectful and not talk at the same time. There are other “givens” about conducting yourself in a professional manner that I will assume you are aware of and will follow as adults.
DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES
Students requesting academic accommodations are required to contact the
Disability Support Services Office (M-1042) or call (301) 322-0838 (voice) or
(301) 322-0122 (TTY) to establish eligibility for services and
accommodations. Students with documented
disabilities should discuss the matter privately with their instructors at the
beginning of the semester and provide a copy of their Student/Faculty
Accommodation Form.
CODE OF CONDUCT
The
CODE OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
The college is an institution of higher learning that holds academic
integrity as its highest principle. In
the pursuit of knowledge, the college community expects that all students,
faculty, and staff will share responsibility for adhering to the values of
honesty and unquestionable integrity. To
support a community committed to academic achievement and scholarship, the Code
of Academic Integrity advances the principle of honest representation in the
work that is produced by students seeking to engage fully in the learning
process. The complete text of the Code of
Academic Integrity is in the 2004-2005 Student Handbook (pages 41-43) and
posted on the college's website.
Delayed
When the college announces a
delayed opening, all classes with at least 45 minutes of class time remaining
at the time of the opening will be held.
For example, in the event of a
Where to turn for help
I have an “open-door” policy, and
should you need help outside of class, you should feel free to see me during
office hours. These operate on a
“first-come, first serve” basis, and you need not schedule an appointment. When I am not in my office, you can slip a
note in my faculty mailbox located in
Tutoring and
(www.pgcc.edu/students/tutoring_writing_grammar)
Bladen Wing, Room 107. Stop by or call 301-322-0748 to make an appointment.
If you have the feeling that something is
missing from your studies, the Tutoring
Center can help you put the pieces of the puzzle together with free one-on-one or
group
tutoring.
The
any writing assignment in any course.
Student Development Services 301-322-0886
(www.pgcc.edu/pgweb/pgdocs/student_services/index-sds.htm)
Student Development Services has various programs that provide students with mentoring, advising and individual counseling. Call or check the website for more information.
Library (www.pgcc.edu/library)
Accokeek Hall General information: 301-322-0105
Circulation services: 301-322-0475
Reference services: 301-322-0476
The Learning Resources Division provides a range of library and media services.
Refer to the web site for hours and more information about the services.
Campus Bookstore (www.pgcc.edu/pgweb/pgdocs/bookstore.html)