LIS 404LE: LITERATURE AND
Instructor: Christine Jenkins
Phone: 217-244-7452 / fax:
217-244-3302
Email: cajenkin@uiuc.edu
Class meetings: DAY
/ TIME / LOCATION
Wednesday/
Syllabus | Assignments | Texts
Catalog description: Evaluation, selection and use of books and other resources for young adults (ages 12-18) in public libraries and school media centers; explores standard selection criteria for print and nonprint materials in all formats and develops the ability to evaluate and promote materials according to their various uses (personal and curricular) and according to young adults' various needs (intellectual, emotional, social and physical). 2.0 or 4.0 credits.
Course objectives:
To arrive at a working definition of young adults and young
adult literature and materials
a) identify characteristics, developmental tasks
of young adults
b) identify characteristics of young adult
literature and materials
To gain an understanding of the history of young adults and of young adult
literature
To understand the developmental processes associated with young adult and adult
literacy
To become familiar with (read, view, listen) a range of authors, works, genres,
and media for young adults
To gain experience in discussing young adult literature/resources
To gain experience in evaluating young adult literature/resources
To become familiar with techniques for introducing literature/resources to
young adults
To demonstrate ability to stimulate interest in several young adult books
through a booktalk presentation and handout
To demonstrate ability to promote young adult literature/resources via the development
of an original website
To identify and discuss literary and societal trends and issues, including
intellectual freedom, affecting young adult literature/resources and work with
young adults in libraries and schools
To gain an understanding of and familiarity with forms of popular culture
oriented toward and appealing to young adults
For 4.0 credits:
To complete a final research project on a self-selected topic relevant to YA materials and/or literacy that demonstrates student's course synthesis of course material and concepts. Students may choose between a final paper and a book discussion project.