Academic Catalogs

ENGL A143H: Children's Literature Honors

Course Outline of Record
Item Value
Curriculum Committee Approval Date 12/02/2020
Top Code 150300 - Comparative Literature
Units 3 Total Units 
Hours 54 Total Hours (Lecture Hours 54)
Total Outside of Class Hours 0
Course Credit Status Credit: Degree Applicable (D)
Material Fee No
Basic Skills Not Basic Skills (N)
Repeatable No
Grading Policy Standard Letter (S), 
  • Pass/No Pass (B)
Associate Arts Local General Education (GE)
  • OC Humanities - AA (OC1)
Associate Science Local General Education (GE)
  • OCC Humanities - AS (OSC2)
California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)
  • Cal-GETC 3B Humanities (3B)
Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)
  • IGETC 3B Humanities (3B)
California State University General Education Breadth (CSU GE-Breadth)
  • CSU C2 Humanities (C2)

Course Description

Read, analyze, and write on important texts of children’s literature. Explore the historical, cultural, philosophical, and aesthetic implications of representative works. Formulate and produce written analyses of assigned works. Enrollment Limitation: ENGL A143; students who complete ENGL A143H may not enroll in or receive credit for ENGL A143. ADVISORY: ENGL C1000. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC. C-ID: ENGL 180.C-ID: ENGL 180.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

  1. Explain significant historical, philosophical, cultural, and aesthetic implications of representative works of Children’s literature, including defining traits and major themes..

Course Objectives

  • 1. Read and demonstrate an understanding of no fewer than 4 long works of childrens literature, supplemented by either more long works or enough shorter works or excerpts of works to constitute an introductory survey course.
  • 2. Identify and examine the philosophical, cultural, mythic, religious, and/or historical elements that are represented in childrens literature or that provide a background context for childrens literature.
  • 3. Learn to read closely in order to recognize and interpret the literary devices and writing styles evident in individual texts of childrens literature.
  • 4. Examine the influence of different gender, economic, cultural, racial, and/or ethnic groups on childrens literature.
  • 5. Recognize how individual works of childrens literature reflect and comment on moral, social, and aesthetic issues.
  • 6. Write a minimum of 3000 words (15 pages, 12 pt. double spaced typed) about childrens literature: (a) a minimum of 2000 words (10 pages) of the writing must be in the form of analytical essays, (b) the other writings may be in the form of tests requiring primarily short and/or long essay responses, journal writings, creative modeling of the literature, written notes outlining oral presentations, written scripts for film/video presentations, or other types of writings that demonstrate an understanding of the literature.
  • 7. Compare and contrast the psychological difference in certain works.
  • 8. Discuss how each work is a representation of an individuals authors artistic sensibility of a particular set of circumstances.

Lecture Content

Fairy Tales and Folk Tales Survey representative tales from Europe, Africa, Asia, and America Compare/contrast Grimm and Andersen Read selections from Arabian Nights Analyze the social and cultural values transmitted by these tales Analyze the psychological values expressed in these tales Appreciate the importance of style and language Survey Greek mythology Historical Fiction Appreciate the fictional characters who undergo and give expression to the impact which historical events had upon people living through those events, with the result that a picture of a bygone age is given in immediate and personal terms.  Examples: Sir Walter Scott   Ivanhoe Alexander Dumas   Three Musketeers Victor Hugo   Hunchback of Notre Dame James Fenimore Cooper   The Spy, Last of the Mohicans Robert Louis Stevenson   Kidnaped Mark Twain   Huck Finn Arthurian Legend and the Chivalric Tradition Survey the major elements of the Arthurian legend Appreciate the use of those elements in later works of art and fiction: John Steinbeck   Tortilla Flats Animal Stories Develop an awareness of the ways in which people of different ages and cultures respond to animals in the world around them: Black Beauty, The Incredible Journey, Call of the Wild and e="text-decoration: underline;"> Where the Red Fern Grows Compare fiction with true stories of animal adventures and works introducing children to the natural world such as Charlottes Web by E.B. White Fantasy and Realty Introduce the great works of fantasy which represent the highest peaks of originality in all literature, e.g., Alice in Wonderland Compare with a realistic tale of another girl who learns about herself and her world as she grows from self centeredness into adult responsibility

Method(s) of Instruction

  • Lecture (02)
  • DE Live Online Lecture (02S)

Instructional Techniques

Lecture and application of ideas, discussion, instructor feedback on written papers and discussion, peer feedback.

Reading Assignments

Reading:  Approximately 2-4 per week/ 32-54 per semester--students are expected to spend on course reading, outside of class reading an Anthology of childrens stories, Grimms Fair tales, indidvual novels for children, teens, young adults and secondary sources on childrens literature.  For Honors Reading there may be 1-2 hours per week devoted materal required for honors.

Writing Assignments

Writing Assignments  Approximately 2-4 hourss per week/4 32-54 hours per semester on out of class assignments.  Most writing for this class in performed outside of class with the exceptions of exams, midterms and short reading responses.  For Honors section, may devote  1-2 hours per week producing special Honors project.   Write a minimum of 3000 words (15 pages, 12 pt. double spaced typed) about childrens literature: (a) a minimum of 2000 words (10 pages) of the writing must  be in the form of  analytical  essays,  (b) the other writings may be in the form of tests requiring primarily short and/or long essay responses, journal writings, creative modeling of the literature, written notes outlining oral presentations, written scripts for film/video presentations, or other types of writings that demonstrate an understanding of the literature.

Out-of-class Assignments

Out-of-Class Assignments:  2-4 hourss per week/4 32-54 hours per semester on out of class assignments. As this course is lecture/discussion, nearly all the writing for the class is performed outside of class and is described below.  Writing for this class includes, but is not limited to Essays, summaries, repsonses, research papers using secondary sources, take-home exams.  Honors students may devote some time meeting with instructor out of the class to discuss Honors projects.

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

Written papers, class discussion, examinations.

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Write a minimum of 3000 words (15 pages, 12 pt. double.spaced typed) about childrens literature: (a) a minimum of 2000 words (10 pages) of the writing must  be in the form of  analytical  essays,  (b) the other writings may be in the form of tests requiring primarily short and/or long essay responses, journal writings, creative modeling of the literature, written notes outlining oral presentations, written scripts for film/video presentations, or other types of writings that demonstrate an understanding of the literature.

Eligible Disciplines

English: Masters degree in English, literature, comparative literature, or composition OR bachelors degree in any of the above AND masters degree in linguistics, TESL, speech, education with a specialization in reading, creative writing, or journalism OR the equivalent. Masters degree required.

Textbooks Resources

1. Required Bloom, Harold. Stories and Poems for Extremely Intelligent Children of all Ages, latest ed. New York: Scribner, 2002 Rationale: - 2. Required Butler, Francelia. Sharing Literature with Children, latest ed. Prospect Heights, Illinois: Waveland, 1989 Rationale: - 3. Required Zipes, J., Paul, L., Vallone, L., Hunt, P. The Norton Anthology of Childrens Literature, Latest ed. W. W. Norton Company, 2005 Rationale: . 4. Required Lukens, R.J., Smith, J.J., Coffel, C.M. A Critical Handbook of Childrens Literature, 9th ed. Pearson, 2012