Children's Literature Writing Assignment due at the Conclusion of for Week TWO
ESSAY ASSIGNMENT:
This week, you have no formal writing requirements due beyond your work on the Discussion Threads--but at the conclusion of Week TWO--by Midnight Sunday, 19 June--you will complete a short--2.5- 3.0, double-spaced essay over the significant reading material for this week.
This assignment requires that you offer an analysis of a contemporary Alphabet Book in the context of what you learned from the first week's reading and discussion. In your analysis, you will make use--where appropriate for your critical analysis--of material about the history of not only Alphabet Books but also of Children's Literature (Preface); the story of Chapbooks; and the issues involved in Primers and Readers all in the context of what you see as significant, both traditional and contemporary, about the text on which you choose to write.
Thus, for example, you will not talk about, say, Primers and Readers if that information does not tie in with your discussion of what you see as traditional about your text and what marks the book, in your opinion, as contemporary.
Do not offer a summary, in other words, of the huge amount of material discussed in the introductions in our anthology; use only information that fits in with the discussion of your chosen text. You will find that all alphabet book pursue tried and true formulas; however, contemporary alphabet books also do more than lay a foundation for literacy, for they often teach about, say, flowers or endangered species or different cultures.
You will come to realize that alphabet books point to many kinds of literacy.
All these texts offer both education and entertainment.
At this site, you will find an example of a successful essay about a Walt Disney Alphabet Book. Study carefully this fine essay. For your own essays, make sure to choose a book not included in our anthology.
Among other things, you want to talk about the dynamic connections between images and words in children's literature; the subject matter of the material covered; the interplay between education and enjoyment; the quality of the illustrations; and your text's place the history of this genre of Children's Literature.
This essay will require that you use at least a couple quotations from the text and from your alphabet book to illustrate your main ideas. Make sure to introduce all your quotations and use them to illustrate your ideas: your write an analysis and not a summary.
In the introduction to the essay, reach conclusions about how your particular book fits in the context of the issues raised in the reading material.
Each paragraph of your analysis must focus primary attention on the alphabet book of your choice.
This essay is due at the appropriate link located in "Assignments" no later than midnight Sunday, June 19; the earlier you get the work in, the quicker I can get the essay back to you for a revision.
As the syllabus notes, you want to try to get revisions done within a week so that you do not forget the work and so that work does not pile up for all of us; but I will accept revisions until the term's conclusion.
A revision will not lower your grade; but you need to do more on a revision than simply correct grammar, so read my comments carefully.
If you get a higher grade, that grade replaces the former grade.
And you will use the preceding organizational strategy for all your Book Analysis Reports.
Make sure that you do your own work; avoid all forms of plagiarism.
DISCUSSION THREADS
Each week you will respond to two discussion threads.
At a minimum, you must respond twice to each thread in paragraph form, that is to say, in a number of sentences. In one response, for instance, you can offer your comments on the matter at hand, and in another, you can respond to something one or more people have offered.
Twice is the minimum for each thread for each week. To get maximum credit requires significant contributions.
Begin early in the week and add to the discussion as frequently as you like. I will monitor and comment as much as possible. Bear in mind, however, that some sixty people take this class in two sections, so my time will, at times, be rather stretched; nonetheless, I will read EVERYTHING you all have to say. As a rule, I do not respond to material posted after Saturday afternoon.
Try in the discussion threads to make use of the material from the readings, quoting especially the introductions, for they contain some excellent information. And extend the conversation beyond the text, finding and sharing links related to the readings.
Do not wait until Saturday or Sunday to post your two comments, a minimum, for your grade will reflect this weak effort.
See Netiquette on the Internet in Class Documents; even if you have taken on-line classes in the past, you will find this information interesting. Read how to send an E-mail to your instructor and how best to take part in a discussion.
BOOK ANALYSIS REPORTS:
Read over the description of Book Analysis Reports.
Look over the examples of various book analysis reports. Emulate them, which is to say, aim for something more, for they are all good but can be made better. You first essay is not one of the three required Book Analysis Reports--see the preceding description of the essay due in two weeks; however, you will use the identical model when you write your Book Analysis Reports: in these reports, you will offer an analysis of a text we have not discussed in class.
And the organization of these essays works as well for the essays you will write on your midterm and final exams.
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