Syllabus

This course consists of 9 modules. Each module will include assigned readings and discussion of those readings. Four major assignments (*) (Not all the same value) will be required.

TOPICS:

Module 1: Getting Acquainted

Module 2:   Investigating Young Adult Resources

Module 3: Out of Childhood and into the World of Teen/Pop culture (Pop Culture Paper [mini-expert paper] *)

Module 4: Getting to Know Teen Literature (FIVE Top Book Assignment*)

Module 5: Booktalk: Motivating Young Adults to READ (*)

Module 6:  Adult Books taken by Young Adults/Picture Books for Young Adults

Module 7:  Multicultural & Ethnic Diversity and Censorship

Module 8: Final Project (*)

Module 9:  Final Reflection (*)

1. Mini-expert paper (pop culture paper)
2. List of five top books
3. Booktalk
4. Final project
5. Final reflection

And every two weeks a very brief discussion summary must be submitted to the instructor, in the dropbox, reflecting the student's participation during that specific two week period.

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Perhaps the most vital aspect of this class are the discussions -- the exchange of ideas that can occur among participants.

You are encouraged to share your discoveries and successes with other participants via the class discussion board. Participants may share drafts of works-in-progress for peer feedback and discuss ideas and suggestions before submitting the final reflection and final project. 

The reading on the discussion board can get very cumbersome if personal greetings and simple "I agree" types of comments are posted on the discussion. Every comment made on the discussion board should strive to "add value" to the discussion and not merely express agreement per se.  Everyone who opens a message you post should feel that they have gotten an added idea, a reference to another book, a bit of information about a book or author, and so forth.  Try to be careful about not clogging up the discussion postings with messages directed to one participant.  If the message is in response to one person's post but meant as general information for all class members, that is certainly part of general classroom discussion.

A good way to judge your conversation is to think of the discussion board as a discussion in the classroom with everyone listening.  If you would not  make the comment /ask the question  in a face-to-face classroom with everyone listening, then you probably will not want to make everyone "listen in" on your comment on the discussion board.

Class participants are encouraged to find creative ways to share their thoughts and questions related to each module and to collaborate with peers in the class to create outstanding teaching projects.

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You will be asked to complete a minimum of three postings per week during the course; these may be reactions to readings, discussing the topic/issue of the week, sharing information and resources with classmates, or responding to a problem posted by peers or your instructor. 

You are expected to check the discussion board regularly (at least three times a week) to check for new postings and to react to other's discussion points throughout the week. 

The criteria is not to post three messages (all at one sitting), but to interact three different times during the week, reading and posting during each of those visits to the discussion board.

Discussion Postings Rubric
Evaluation of participation is cumulative and subjective based on the discussion rubric and notes the instructor records each week.

Reflections
At the conclusion of the course each participant will write a concise (450-500 words) reflection that summarizes the understanding/information that has been gained from the readings and activities. The response/reflection should include responses to the following questions:

• What are some significant ways in which you will now use books in your classroom -- new ideas, new authors/illustrators, new knowledge?
• What were the most valuable concepts/ideas gained during the course?
• What was the most valuable, most fun, or most interesting activity during the course?
• How will the information impact your classroom/library?
• What questions/concerns do you have about the topics?
• Where will you go to answer these questions/concerns?

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The final grade will be based on 400Total Points for Course

Discussion/Book Summaries Posted200 pts
(20 pts per week)

Pop Culture Paper (Mini-expert Paper) 30 pts

Top FIVE Young Adult Books of the Past Five Years 30 pts 

Book Talk Plan 40 pts

Final Project 80 pts

Final Reflection 20 pts

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ORDER FROM:
LMC Source  www.lmcsource.com
358 South 700 East #B305
Salt Lake City, UT 84102
lmcsource@comcast.net
800-873-3043
801-225-0540 fax
936-271-4560 secondary fax

Readings will be assigned from this book.

Supplemental - Recommended textbook:
The Best Teen Reads for 2007 by Sharron L. McElmeel.  Hi Willow Research & Publishing; 2007; ISBN:  1-933170-24-7.  $18.00

ORDER FROM:
LMC Source    www.lmcsource.com
358 South 700 East #B305
Salt Lake City, UT 84102
lmcsource@comcast.net
800-873-3043
801-225-0540 fax
936-271-4560 secondary fax

In addition to the textbook and supplemental textbook, participants will be asked to read widely in the area of Young Adult literature. Specific titles will not be required, but readings on each topic or genre will be required to successfully participate in the class discussion.

Additional recommended and optional readings will be available via databases on the WWW and provided via class lectures linked in the course materials.