ENGL 511 Special Topics in Writing: Young Adult Literature
TENTATIVE SYLLABUS
Need to be in touch with me?
Lee Torda, PhD Interim Dean of Undergraduate Studies 200 Clement C. Maxwell Library 508.531.1790 Teaching Website: www.leetorda.com |
OFFICE HOURS: By appointment. Email me at [email protected] with times/days you'd like to meet, and I will respond within 24 hours.
“Let’s save pessimism for better times” --Eduardo Galeano |
ZOOM link to attend class: https://bridgew.zoom.us/j/91202035302?pwd=akVFQ4cdIaHX77ttkfZFFM10iTdtmW.1
28 January 2025
Introduction to the course. Getting to know each other and what you hope to get out of this class. Class Profile page explanation and Partner interview. In-Class work on drafting and workshopping class profile. Explanation of Mentor Text Memoir assignment.
4 February 2025
READ: This short essay by Ray Bradbury (a sample mentor text memoir). Read, also, the following short (and not scholarly but popular) articles about Young Adult Lit: "Torn Apart: The Viscious War. . . ", "YA Isn't Just for Young Adults", "Against YA", "A Brief History of YA", "How YA Fiction Came of Age", "Memo on School Book Bans". DUE AT CLASS TIME: Copy of your mentor text memoir for workshopping. Make sure you’ve created a link to share that gives readers permission to edit. Overview of Reader’s Notes assignment, in-class practice.
11 February 2025
READ: This mix of critical and popular articles about the history and present state of banned books: "Memo on School Book Bans". BE "American's Views on Banned Books in Public Schools.", "Banned in the USA: Beyond the Shelves", "The History (And Present) of Banning Books in America", "Book Bans in Political Context", "Book Bans and the Librarians Who Won't be Hushed". READY TO POST BY CLASS TIME: Reader’s Notes. IN-CLASS: Discussion Board Discussions, overview and practice. DUE: Mentor text memoir to me.
18 February 2025
READ: Little Women. Read, also, this scholarly piece about the novel. BE READY TO POST BY CLASS TIME: Your first set of Reader’s Notes. Explanation of online Book Clubs. IN-CLASS: First Book Club meeting. IN-CLASS: Discussion Board Discussion.
25 February 2025
READ: To Kill a Mockingbird. BE READY TO POST BY CLASS TIME: Reader’s Notes. IN-CLASS: Discussion Board Discussion. IN-CLASS: Second Book Club Meeting.
4 March 2025
READ: Your assigned Reading Theory Article. Articles assigned (below) by book club group. IN-CLASS: Overview of Final Project and Reading Theory Group Pecha Kucha.Reading Theory Group Pecha Kucha.
11 March 2025 Spring Break No Classes
18 March 2025
READ: For Lamb. BE READY TO POST BY CLASS TIME: Reader’s Notes. IN-CLASS: Discussion Board Discussion. IN-CLASS: Third Book Club Meeting. DUE: Midterm Portfolio. Sign up for Final Project Whole Class workshops.
25 March 2025
READ: The following poems, available on this website. BE READY TO POST BY CLASS TIME: Reader’s Notes. IN-CLASS: Discussion Board Discussion. IN-CLASS: Fourth Book Club Meeting.
1 April 2025
READ: The Catcher in the Rye. BE READY TO POST BY CLASS TIME: Reader’s Notes. IN-CLASS: Discussion Board Discussion.IN-CLASS: Fifth Book Club Meeting.
8 April 2025
READ: Dear Medusa (A Novel In Verse). BE READY TO POST BY CLASS TIME: Reader’s Notes. IN-CLASS: Discussion Board Discussion. IN-CLASS: Sixth Book Club Meeting.
15 April 2025
READ: Saints of the Household. BE READY TO POST BY CLASS TIME: Reader’s Notes. IN-CLASS: Discussion Board Discussion. IN-CLASS: Seventh Book Club Meeting. DUE: Group One’s Draft of Final Project to classmates
22 April 2025
READ: Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir. BE READY TO POST BY CLASS TIME: Reader’s Notes. IN-CLASS: Discussion Board Discussion. IN-CLASS: Eighth Book Club Meeting. DUE: Group Two’s Draft of Final Project to classmates IN-CLASS: Group One Workshop. Your comments to me and the folks getting workshopped due at class time.
29 April 2025
READ: Warrior Girl Unearthed. BE READY TO POST BY CLASS TIME: Reader’s Notes. IN-CLASS: Discussion Board Discussion. IN-CLASS: Final (ninth) Book Club Meeting. DUE: Group Three’s Draft of Final Project to classmates IN-CLASS: Group Two Workshop. Your comments to me and the folks getting workshopped due at class time.
6 May 2025
FINAL EXAM MEETING. IN-CLASS: Group Three Workshop. Your comments to me and the folks getting workshopped due at class time. IN-CLASS: Reading Theory Group Pecha Kucha.
13 May 2025 by 5:00
Last day to turn in the Final Portfolio. You are welcome to turn it in early.
Introduction to the course. Getting to know each other and what you hope to get out of this class. Class Profile page explanation and Partner interview. In-Class work on drafting and workshopping class profile. Explanation of Mentor Text Memoir assignment.
4 February 2025
READ: This short essay by Ray Bradbury (a sample mentor text memoir). Read, also, the following short (and not scholarly but popular) articles about Young Adult Lit: "Torn Apart: The Viscious War. . . ", "YA Isn't Just for Young Adults", "Against YA", "A Brief History of YA", "How YA Fiction Came of Age", "Memo on School Book Bans". DUE AT CLASS TIME: Copy of your mentor text memoir for workshopping. Make sure you’ve created a link to share that gives readers permission to edit. Overview of Reader’s Notes assignment, in-class practice.
11 February 2025
READ: This mix of critical and popular articles about the history and present state of banned books: "Memo on School Book Bans". BE "American's Views on Banned Books in Public Schools.", "Banned in the USA: Beyond the Shelves", "The History (And Present) of Banning Books in America", "Book Bans in Political Context", "Book Bans and the Librarians Who Won't be Hushed". READY TO POST BY CLASS TIME: Reader’s Notes. IN-CLASS: Discussion Board Discussions, overview and practice. DUE: Mentor text memoir to me.
18 February 2025
READ: Little Women. Read, also, this scholarly piece about the novel. BE READY TO POST BY CLASS TIME: Your first set of Reader’s Notes. Explanation of online Book Clubs. IN-CLASS: First Book Club meeting. IN-CLASS: Discussion Board Discussion.
25 February 2025
READ: To Kill a Mockingbird. BE READY TO POST BY CLASS TIME: Reader’s Notes. IN-CLASS: Discussion Board Discussion. IN-CLASS: Second Book Club Meeting.
4 March 2025
READ: Your assigned Reading Theory Article. Articles assigned (below) by book club group. IN-CLASS: Overview of Final Project and Reading Theory Group Pecha Kucha.Reading Theory Group Pecha Kucha.
11 March 2025 Spring Break No Classes
18 March 2025
READ: For Lamb. BE READY TO POST BY CLASS TIME: Reader’s Notes. IN-CLASS: Discussion Board Discussion. IN-CLASS: Third Book Club Meeting. DUE: Midterm Portfolio. Sign up for Final Project Whole Class workshops.
25 March 2025
READ: The following poems, available on this website. BE READY TO POST BY CLASS TIME: Reader’s Notes. IN-CLASS: Discussion Board Discussion. IN-CLASS: Fourth Book Club Meeting.
1 April 2025
READ: The Catcher in the Rye. BE READY TO POST BY CLASS TIME: Reader’s Notes. IN-CLASS: Discussion Board Discussion.IN-CLASS: Fifth Book Club Meeting.
8 April 2025
READ: Dear Medusa (A Novel In Verse). BE READY TO POST BY CLASS TIME: Reader’s Notes. IN-CLASS: Discussion Board Discussion. IN-CLASS: Sixth Book Club Meeting.
15 April 2025
READ: Saints of the Household. BE READY TO POST BY CLASS TIME: Reader’s Notes. IN-CLASS: Discussion Board Discussion. IN-CLASS: Seventh Book Club Meeting. DUE: Group One’s Draft of Final Project to classmates
22 April 2025
READ: Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir. BE READY TO POST BY CLASS TIME: Reader’s Notes. IN-CLASS: Discussion Board Discussion. IN-CLASS: Eighth Book Club Meeting. DUE: Group Two’s Draft of Final Project to classmates IN-CLASS: Group One Workshop. Your comments to me and the folks getting workshopped due at class time.
29 April 2025
READ: Warrior Girl Unearthed. BE READY TO POST BY CLASS TIME: Reader’s Notes. IN-CLASS: Discussion Board Discussion. IN-CLASS: Final (ninth) Book Club Meeting. DUE: Group Three’s Draft of Final Project to classmates IN-CLASS: Group Two Workshop. Your comments to me and the folks getting workshopped due at class time.
6 May 2025
FINAL EXAM MEETING. IN-CLASS: Group Three Workshop. Your comments to me and the folks getting workshopped due at class time. IN-CLASS: Reading Theory Group Pecha Kucha.
13 May 2025 by 5:00
Last day to turn in the Final Portfolio. You are welcome to turn it in early.