LIT4334 The Golden Age of Children's Literature CRADDOCK

My office is Turlington 4332; office hours are Monday 1:00-3:00 and Tuesday fourth period; I am also willing to see you at any other time provided you make and keep an appointment.

Office phone: 293-0757x259. My email address is pcraddoc@english.ufl.edu, and I will post the syllabus and other useful information at: http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/pcraddoc/lit4334.htm.

Books are available at Goerings Books and Bagels, NW 1st Avenue at 17th street. You may use other copies provided they are not abridged--be careful! You will also need a pack of 3 x 5 index cards, any color. PLEASE USE CORRECT SIZE.

Required books, with publication dates:

Purpose of the Course:

The primary work of this course will be the reading of children's fiction, both as works of literary art in their own right and as mirrors of an age, especially its attitude or attitudes toward childhood. The books in question were written in a period, approximately 1860-1910, which has been called the first "Golden Age" of children's fiction, especially English-language children's fiction. In this period, both British and American writers had become aware that books for children could give pleasure as well as instruction and information, and that the literary skills necessary to write such books might be similar to those required for writing books for adults. On the other hand, if one were writing books specifically for children, as opposed to books that both children and adults might read, what special requirements and opportunities might one have? They had to experiment to find out.

The books we will read represent successful experiments; some of them established "sub-genres", some of them became classics in their own right, and some did both. In addition, all the authors we will read had "careers" as children's authors, that is, they wrote other books for children as well as the one we will consider. In addition, all or almost all the books have been adapted for other media--picture books, plays, television, films, etc. Why, and how?

Adult fiction in this same period was formally realistic. The same is true of children's fiction, even though magic, in some form, is a component of many books, and some would argue that both plots and characters of some books depart from the probabilities of everyday life. This will be another focus of our discussions.

Grading: (check below reading assignment list for further information.

Two Papers: 25% each (50%) (letter grades).

Students may rewrite papers, though an improved grade is not guaranteed. Students may submit drafts of papers before turning them in. Students may write papers on all three topics and count the best two grades. In other words, you've got lots of opportunities to do well, but there are no free lunches in this class. Topics are explained below.

Two Quizzes: 15% each (30%) (numerical scores)

Class Performance (attendance, preparation, contributions): 10%

Everyone starts with 74 on this; good comments on attendance cards (to be explained) and good class contributions will raise your grade; unexcused absences will lower it (3 points off for each absence after the first two; note that Tuesdays count as two absences, or six points off); lack of preparation, rudeness to other students (such as avoidable lateness, talking, etc.) will also lower it.

Projects for Points: 10%

A reading journal and other "point projects," as explained below, also contribute to your grade.  In addition, you may raise your final grade by up to ten points by extra-credit projects. However, no one can pass the course by means of extra-credit projects who is otherwise failing by 5 points or more; no one can raise his/her grade to an A unless s/he is already at the B+ level.

SYLLABUS CHANGES:  Note that you are responsible for checking the website for possible changes and to download a new copy if you lose your printed syllabus.  I will tell you if changes are made, but if you are absent, don't forget to check to make sure nothing has changed.

Reading Assignments, Paper and Quiz dates:

The dates below are the dates on which the work assigned will be discussed; therefore, you must finish reading what is assigned before class on that day. When the assignment is the "First Part", you should find a good stopping place about one-third through the book (if the date is a Thursday) or two-thirds through (if the date is a Tuesday). The reason, of course, is that on Tuesdays, we have two-thirds of a week's classes. If you fall behind on the reading, however, come to class anyway--it will help you to catch up.

JANUARY

FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL PAPER TOPICS

(Choose two, or, optionally, write on all three and the best two will count. Note that each of these topics is stated very generally and includes two or more options; thus, your actual paper will have a much more focused topic. Topics may be selected in any order.)

POINT PROJECTS  (Note that you "need" 10 points)

You may earn up to 20 project points for your reading journals, which must include entries for all sixteen works to receive full credit, and which will receive no more than 14 points (C) if they do not show evidence of your own thought and reactions.  The "Template for Analyses," below, suggests the kinds of things you might want to comment on in the reading journal (and, in expanded form, in papers).  Note that the only place for "plot summary" is in the brief "TV Guide summary" paragraph you might wish to include.

For short projects, you may earn 1-5 points per project, roughly proportional to the amount of work required, as listed below.  For each two project points, your final grade will rise one point (on a scale of 100); thus, earning 20 project points will raise your grade one full letter, EXCEPT as follows: a grade can not be raised from F to D by extra credit alone; a grade cannot be raised from B to A by extra credit alone (but it could be raised from B+ to A). Point projects may be handed in at any time and 3-5 point projects may be presented orally as well as in writing.

TEMPLATE FOR ANALYSES (for use in reading journals and papers)  CLASS PERFORMANCE (ATTENDANCE CARDS). Class preparation and attendance count as 10% of your grade in the course. Everyone starts with a high C--74--in class performance. At every class meeting, except those on which we have a quiz, you will turn in a 3x5 index card. On this card, in addition to your name and the date, you will state how far you have gotten with the assigned reading. There is no penalty for being behind in the reading, except that if you don't catch up, it will be harder to earn points for good preparation. To raise your grade in this aspect of the course, or to make up for unexcused absences, you will add a comment or question on what you have just been reading. Good comments or questions on current work will receive 2 points on Tuesdays, 1 on Thursdays.  Late comments or questions, if of good quality, will receive half credit.  If you turn in a card without a question or comment, or with one that does not indicate that you are really reading the material, you will receive credit for being present only, i.e., 0 points.  An unexcused absence will count -3 points, or -6 points on Tuesdays. If you earn all the possible points, you will receive 36 points.  Since you need only 26 to earn a perfect grade in this aspect of the course, any points above 26 count as extra credit, on the 2-for-1 basis described for point projects.

Hot Links

CLWG (Children's Literature Web Guide)
Children's Literature: A Guide to Criticism (1987)
Morality and spirituality in children's literature Contributed by Brandi Brown.
Parents' guide to children's literature.  Contributed by Brown.
Federation of Children's Books Groups
On Thomas Hughes  Contributed by Kyla Scelzi
Twain--pictures, quotations, links. Contributed by Bartley.
On Tom Sawyer  Contributed by Marisa Martino  Pictures by Norman Rockwell
On Treasure Island  (Teaching plan--middle school--long project)  Contributed by Marisa Martino.
Stevenson web.  Contributed by Bartley.
On Kipling's life and works Contributed by Martino.
Kipling page--bio, e-text, quiz, images, links.  Contributed by Bartley.
Stevenson's poetry. Contributed by Martino.
On Oz. Contributed by Jennifer Bartley.
Oz Encyclopedia (with links).  Contributed by Scelzi.
Alice Fan page--games, graphics, recipes. Recommended by Jennifer Bartley.
"Another cool site about Alice"--illustrations, etext, history of book and author, links. Recommended by Bartley.
Alice background. Contributed by Scelzi.
Alcott Web.  Contributed by Bartley.
Nesbit page--biography, picture.  Contributed by Bartley.
Grahame biographies onetwo Contributed by Kelly Reed.
Biography of Grahame with quotations about him.  Contributed by Martino.
Children's Literature commercial site--well-organized link list, but is essentially intended to sell their product.
    Contributed by Brown.
Alcott web Contributed by Lauren Bartoy.
Alcott books listing  Contributed by Bartoy.
Twain quotations and other resources Contributed by Bartoy.
Twain books and information  Contributed by Bartoy.
Comparison of use of nature in Wind in the Willows and Secret Garden.  Contributed by Bartley.
Academic Oz page, with pictures, by Dr. J. D. Chaston, Southern Methodist University (under construction)
        Contributed by Martino.
Baum chronology, with links. Contributed by Brown.
Oz links and pictures  Click on the Emerald City to enter.  Contributed by Brown.
Summary of a book-length biography of  Baum. Contributed by Brown.
More Baum. Resource for teachers.  Contributed by Martino..
Oz as Populist Parable; Hollywood Misses the Oz Point
The Secret Garden and other classic books in html format. Contributed by Scelzi.
Burnett biography and links.  Contributed by Scelzi.