CHILDREN'S LITERATURE - 2021/2

Module Overview

 

The module offers students the opportunity to learn about children’s literature across a variety of genres and ages, as well as about its historical development and social context. Students are introduced to a range of theoretical approaches enabling them to analyse texts, engage with critical concepts, and develop their own writing both creative and critical. Through participating in class discussions and workshops students will be offered an overview of how to write for children.

At the end of the semester students will produce a work of children’s literature alongside a commentary reflecting upon their creative work OR a critical essay that focusses on two works of children’s literature from the module using the theories, concepts and practices studied.

Module provider

School of Literature and Languages

Module Leader

MORGAN Amy (Lit & Langs)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): 80

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None.  

Module content

Indicative content will include:

• Week 1 - Introduction


• Week 2 - Beginnings: Fairytales


• Week 3 - Beginnings: Classics


• Week 4 – Early Years: Picturebooks


• Week 5 – Early Years: Short Stories


• Week 6 – Intermediate: Historical Fiction


• Week 7 – Intermediate: Fantasy


• Week 8 – Young Adult: Mystery


• Week 9 – Young Adult: Dystopia/Speculative Fiction


• Week 10 – Young Adult: Romance


• Week 11 – Revision and Conclusion

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate achievement of the module learning outcomes.

 

Seminar discussion with ongoing tutor feedback is designed mainly to assess transferable skills in working as part of a group and practical/professional skills in expressing ideas and critical analysis in oral communication. It also assesses subject knowledge in the different forms of children’s literature and cognitive/analytical skills in critical thinking and in developing writing for children.

 

The essay OR the creative piece plus critical commentary assess subject knowledge in the different forms of writing for children and cognitive/analytical skills in critical thinking and in using the theories of children’s literature to analyse texts. They also assess practical/professional skills in expressing ideas about children’s literature AND/OR writing their own creative work for children and in written communication and transferable skills in working independently and as part of a group. 

 

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

 

End of semester Creative Piece (2400 words or equivalent in poetry) plus critical essay and commentary (600 words) (100%) OR Critical Essay (3000 words) (100%)

 

Formative assessment and feedback

 

Verbal Feedback in class, written and/or verbal feedback on one piece of writing (maximum of 1,000 words).

 

Formative ‘feed forward’ is provided through seminar discussions, tutor feedback in seminars, and a range of other feedback mechanisms agreed between tutor and students in week 1 of the module, such as seminar contribution and writing exercises.

Module aims

• Develop in students a thorough critical understanding of children's literature
• Develop the ability in students to analyse and appraise styles and techniques used in children's literature and to apply these critical insights to their own writing practices OR published works
• Facilitate the acquiring of the detailed knowledge and skills necessary for writing and/or analysing children's literature
• Help students attain the ability to apply critical awareness to their own creative writing OR to the works of others
• Encourage students to work as a group in the production of collaborative work in the workshop context

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• Hone and develop students’ writing skills in academic writing, and/or creative writing (writing for children) by helping students understand the context of children’s literature


• Assist students in locating children’s literature and their own critical and/or creative work in historical and cultural contexts by developing a strong sense of the materials and techniques available, and begin to develop their thinking in the context of writing for children across ages and genres


• Equip students with the research and writing skills they will need to produce critically informed academic writing and/or creative writing (writing for children) and creative criticism by helping them gain significant confidence and ability in critical analysis and thinking and/or an ability to use specific compositional skills that will have practical application to their practices as writers of children’s literature
   

The learning and teaching methods include a combination of lecture materials, seminars, captured content, guided learning and independent learning. There will also be optional sessions with the library archives and a children's literature author.

 

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: ELI3048

Other information

This module has a capped number and may not be available to ERASMUS and other international exchange students. Please check with the International Engagement Office email: ieo.incoming@surrey.ac.uk

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.