LIT 4333:   Literature for the Adolescent
Wednesdays, Periods 9-11 (4.05 p.m. – 7.05 p.m.)

Dr. Anastasia Ulanowicz
aulanow@english.ufl.edu
Office:  4412 Turlington Hall
Office Hours:  Tuesdays, 1-4 pm and by appointment

Course Description

In this course, we will account for major themes and trends in American “young adult” (or “YA”) literature. As we analyze each of the assigned texts, we will pay particularly close attention to the ways in which works of YA literature draw on culturally-constructed notions of adolescence to shape the adolescent characters within them – and how, in turn, they seek to draw in and interpellate the adolescents who read them. Additionally, we will address issues of class, race, gender, sexuality, national identity, and consumerism implicit within the assigned texts.

Required Texts (available at Goering’s Bookstore)

J.D. Salinger, Catcher in the Rye
S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders
Paul Zindel, The Pigman
Robert Cormier, The Chocolate War
Judy Blume, Forever
Anonymous, Go Ask Alice
Katherine Paterson, Jacob Have I Loved
Francesca Lia Block, Weetzie Bat
Francine Prose, After
Walter Dean Myers, Monster
Sherman Alexie, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Meg Cabot, The Princess Diaries
M.T. Anderson, Feed

Course Requirements

 Attendance/Participation: 10%
Discussion Question: 5%
Reading Quizzes:  10%
Three formal papers:  75% (25% each)

 
Attendance/Participation

 Since this class meets only once a week, and since it is a discussion-based class rather than a lecture-based class, your regular attendance and participation is crucial.  If you miss more than one class, your final grade will be lowered by one letter-grade per additional absence.

 I will excuse an absence so long as you provide me with proper documentation (e.g., a doctor’s note or a letter from a professor or coach).  If you plan to be absent for a religious holiday, please let me know in advance so that I can fill you in on what you’ll be missing.

Discussion Question

 In the beginning of the semester, I will ask you to sign up to present a discussion question on the book of your choice.  On the Monday before we meet to discuss the book of your choice, you will be responsible for emailing me your question as well as a brief response to your own question.  You should be prepared to ask your question aloud in class and to engage with any responses it elicits.

 Reading Quizzes

 Each week, you will take a brief quiz that measures the degree to which you’ve read closely the assigned text.  Quiz questions will address points of plot, character, narrative perspective, and major themes.  Often, I will use quiz questions to jump-start class discussion.

 Formal Papers

 Over the course of the semester, you will be required to compose three (3) formal papers of at least five (5) pages in length each.   For each assignment, I will give you a list of essay questions from which to choose – and for the last assignment, I will give you the option of crafting your own essay topic.

 I will evaluate papers based on the following criteria:  clarity of central thesis, strength of argumentation, solid work with textual support, organization, and sophistication of prose.  I will not grade an essay that does not include proper in-text citation as well as a works cited list.  You may use the citation style of your choice (e.g., MLA, Chicago style, Turabian) as long as you use it consistently.

 Plagiarism is unacceptable and is punishable by failure.

 
Note on Disabilities

 If you have a disability or any other special need of which I should be aware, please contact me and supply me with appropriate documentation.

 Tentative Schedule

 27 August:  Course Introduction

  3 September:  Salinger, Catcher in the Rye

 10 September:   Hinton, The Outsiders

 17 September:  Zindel, The Pigman

 24 September:  Cormier, The Chocolate War

                        First paper topic given

 1 October:  Blume, Forever

 8 October:  Anonymous, Go Ask Alice

 15 October:  Paterson, Jacob Have I Loved

 22 October:  Block, Weetzie Bat

                      First paper due

                      Second paper topic given

 29 October: Prose, After

 5 November:  Myers, Monster

 12 November:  Alexie, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian 

 19 November:  Cabot, The Princess Diaries

                         Second paper due

 26 November:  No Class – Happy Thanksgiving!!!

 3 December:  Anderson, Feed

                        Third paper topic given

 10 December:  No class – work on your third and final paper.

                       
Third and final paper due in my office no later than noon, Thursday, 18 December, 2008!