ENG 229H - Honors Young Adult Literature

Credits: 3
3 Lecture Hours

Prerequisites: ENG 102

Description
This course invites students to examine young adult literature including genres such as poetry, folktales, myths, realistic and fantastic fiction, creative nonfiction, graphic novels, comic books, drama, film/television, blogs, websites and games aimed at adolescents. Scientific, journalistic or autobiographical commentary on the nature of adolescence and young adult literature is also included. A reading knowledge of contemporary, historical and notable young adult texts and their evaluative review is emphasized.

This course includes a selection of diverse authors, historical contexts, styles and genres with emphasis on interpretation and attention to representation. Students examine and debate critical issues in young adult literature.

Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, the student will:

Identify the conventions of young adult literature by writers across various cultures and historical contexts.
Examine historic and contemporary young adult literature, including literature from diverse authors and illustrators.
Analyze principal issues and more recent scholarship in young adult literature, such as censorship, didacticism, feminism, multiculturalism and post modernism.
Devise strategies for introducing adolescent learners to larger social, political, cultural and historical contexts, necessary for literary interpretation and analysis.
Apply literary terminology appropriately.
Develop written and oral communication skills through research projects, academic and creative writing, discussions and presentation.

Listed Topics

Poetry, folktales and myths
Realistic and fantastic fiction
Creative nonfiction
Graphic novels and comic books
Additional genres may include film and television aimed at adolescents, websites, blogs, fanfiction, games and other non-traditional young adult formats
Literary terminology
Attention to diversity and representation
Literary criticism: critical issues of debate and recent scholarship

Reference Materials
Current recognized texts, handouts, internet resources and multimedia.

Students who successfully complete this course acquire general knowledge, skills and abilities that align with CCAC’s definition of an educated person. Specifically, this course fulfills these General Education Goals:

Communication
Culture Society & Citizenship

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