Course Assignments Performance Objectives Sp 08

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Performance Objective #1 Complete assigned readings and responses to selected literature. Complete journal responses as assigned for each novel scheduled on syllabus. Performance Objective #2 Locate and evaluate professional resources (a) on the WWW and (b) in professional publications. (a) WWW Locate several sites on the WWW for children’s and/or young adult literature. The ALAN Review (http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/ALAN/alan-review.html) will frequently include such a list; the TSU library provides a link to the “Children’s Literature Page.” Take some time to examine several sites and evaluate the information provided there. Is it easy to access? Is it reliable? Accurate? Who is the audience for the site? ENG 6643: Select three sites, one for teachers and two for students. Prepare a report identifying the name and location of each site. Then write a brief critique (50-75 words), explaining how teachers could use one as a resource and how students could use the other two. RED 6643: Select three sites as resources for teachers, one for each of the following grade levels: k-3, 4-6 and 8-12 Select sites that will be useful to teachers in your school system. Prepare a report identifying the name and location of each site. Then write a brief critique (50-75 words), explaining how teachers and/or students could use each one as a resource. Record your report on the Blackboard discussion board. When everyone has contributed, this list will serve as an annotated bibliography for the class; therefore, you should try not to duplicate sources. (b) Professional Publications Read three articles from current (no earlier than 2000) professional journals. Select useful articles focusing on children’s and/or young adult literature; look for topics such as literary theory, classroom practices, authors, and recommended literature: classical, contemporary, easy-reading (high interest/low vocabulary). At least one report should discuss multicultural literature. Recommended journals and texts: The ALAN Review English Journal Horn Book Magazine Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy Language Arts The New Advocate The Reading Teacher Voices from the Middle Adolescent Literature as a Complement to the Classics, Volume One or Two (on reserve in TSU library) Bibliographic citation (MLA or APA). Due on Blackboard discussion board by 5:00 p.m. on the Monday before reports are due in class: Bibliographic citation Concise summary (3-5 sentences) Do not duplicate sources; check the citations already posted before submitting your own.

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Oral report Prepare a brief oral report (2-3 minutes) summarizing and critiquing the article you have read. Present to the class on the assigned dates. Performance Objective #3 Demonstrate appropriate strategies for incorporating children’s and young adult literature into the classroom. Teach a 25-30 minute lesson, based on one of the assigned novels in ENG 6643. Demonstrate strategies for encouraging a response to the literature, strategies that integrate reading, writing, speaking, listening, viewing, and/or presenting. Encourage active participation. You do not need to teach the entire book. You might prepare an introductory or a culminating lesson or one that would occur while the class is reading the novel. Performance Objective #4 Conduct research on a selected trend; analyze synthesize, and present findings. The final product of your research may be in the form of a traditional research paper, but you may also consider other options. Each research project will include an oral presentation as well as the written product. As you consult the WWW and read professional journals, consider the various trends you discover in regard to teaching children’s and young adult literature. Suggestions are listed below, but you may select another “trend” that appeals to your area of interest. 1. Multicultural literature for children and young adults How would you define it? Must it be written by a member of a particular ethnic group? Should it be incorporated into the curriculum? If so, how should it be incorporated? Would some traditional classroom literature need to be omitted? 2. Genres and children’s and young adult literature How can the concept of genre be used effectively in teaching children’s and young adult literature? Should a unit be arranged by genre? Do different genres require different teaching strategies? 3. Interdisciplinary connections for children’s and young adult literature How can children’s and young adult literature be taught across the curriculum? Why should it be? 4. Censorship of children’s and young adult literature What is the impact of censorship in the classroom? How can teachers be prepared to prevent it? to handle it? 5. Self-selected or independent reading of children’s and young adult literature How can it be encouraged? Monitored? Assessed? 6. Responding to children’s and young adult literature How can reader response theory be incorporated into the classroom? It is important or essential that readers engage with and identify with the literature? What is the teacher’s role? Can engagement lead to higher level thinking skills? You may use either APA or MLA documentation, but the format must be consistent and accurate.

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Research Option A. Develop a traditional research paper. Consult at least 8 professional journals and/or scholarly texts as sources. Internet web sites must be credible and reliable (a reputable academic or organizational site). As you conduct your research, develop a thesis statement. 1. Abstract A concise overview (summary) of your final paper (125-175 words). 2. Introduction Identify the trend and the specific question(s) you investigated, and provide your thesis statement. Discuss the significance of this issue. Why is it important to the profession? 3. Summary of the research Include research studies, proposed theories, and/or recommended practices. 4. Conclusions Now that you have completed your research, summarize the conclusion(s) you drawn in regard to your original question(s). You may need to revise your thesis statement when you have finished your research. 6. References or Works Cited Provide an alphabetical list of all works cited within the paper. Develop your paper based upon the following rhetorical situation: Audience: your colleagues in this class, your instructor, and, possibly, a wider audience if you decide to submit this article for publication. Purpose: to interest and inform your readers, to provide reliable information and logical and thoughtful conclusions. Persona: a careful and knowledgeable researcher; a reflective teacher. Length: approximately 2000 words in the body of the paper. Research Option B. Develop a multigenre research paper Select a trend and conduct research, consulting at least 8 professional journals and/or scholarly texts as sources. Internet sources must be credible and reliable (a reputable academic or organizational site). Prepare a list of References (APA) or Works Cited (MLA). This list will come at the end of the multigenre paper. As you conduct your research, develop a thesis statement. This statement may never appear in your final paper, but it will guide the development of the genres. Develop your paper based upon the following rhetorical situation: Audience: Your colleagues in this class, your instructor, and, possibly, a wider audience if you decide to submit this article for publication. Purpose: To offer the reader a unique perspective on your research in the form of a multigenre paper arising from research, experience, and imagination, a paper composed of many genres, with

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each point self-contained and making a point of its own, yet connected by theme or topic, speaking with many voices, not just the author’s, yet coming together as a coherent whole. Persona: A knowledgeable researcher and a creative and thoughtful author. Length: 5-6 pages The paper includes a minimum of five different genres. Documentation: Each genre (each section) of the paper includes documentation in the form of End Notes. All works identified in End Notes are included in the References or Works Cited. Research Option C. Develop a thematic unit Contemporary children’s and young adult literature (published within the last 40 years) may be incorporated into the curriculum along with the traditional/classical literature that is commonly read at specific grade levels. One effective way to do so is to focus the readings around a theme. Include the following elements in a thematic unit. 1. (a) Consult at least four resources (articles or chapters) that provide a rationale for thematic units. (b) Select a specific grade (1-12); then consult the Alabama Course of Study for English Language Arts for characteristics and interests of learners at that grade level. Based on this information, develop a theme for your unit. (c) Develop a rationale of 250-300 words in which you provide the following information: (1) Justify a thematic format as an appropriate way to organize a unit plan. Cite at least four references that support the thematic approach. Include a page of Works Cited or References at the end of your paper. (2) Identify your selected theme and grade level and explain why your selected theme is appropriate for the grade level. 2. Provide an annotated bibliography of 10 or more contemporary tradebooks for children or young adults to be incorporated into the unit. Each annotation should clearly reflect the theme of the unit and be fully developed to provide sufficient information about the text, including both summary and critique (175-225 words). The complete bibliography should reflect a diversity of cultures. You may include books that you are using in your own classroom. Do not include books that are required reading for ENG 6643. 3. Provide a sample lesson plan, using a format you find useful. You may develop your own plan or locate one on the WWW. Copy and include the location. Audience: Your colleagues in this class, your instructor, and, possibly, a wider audience if you decide to submit this article for publication. Purpose: To provide a useful resource for your self and for colleagues Persona: Thoughtful educator who incorporates children’s and/or young adult literature into the classroom and incorporates best practices. Manuscript requirements for Performance Objective #4 Margins at top, bottom, and sides, 1 inch Font size 12 Print, sharp and clear

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Double-spacing throughout Number each page, including the first, in the upper-right corner with last name preceding number. Heading in upper-left corner of page 1 Author’s name, first and last Dr. M. A. Tighe ENG 6643 Date Project is due Do not include a title page. Center the title of the research under the heading on page one. Oral Presentation Prepare a 6-8 minute overview of your research to inform and interest the class.

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