English (ENGL) 305

Overview

This course introduces the student to children’s literature, its history and development, and its rich variety of forms and techniques. The required reading is not exhaustive but acquaints the student with some of the more important and representative forms, authors, and works of children’s literature.

Note: Since this is a senior course, we expect students to have good reading and writing skills as well as the basic critical tools and knowledge of literary forms and techniques that are acquired in an introductory university English literature course like Athabasca University’s English 211 and 212. Students who do not have the recommended credits in an introductory English literature course may experience significant difficulty with the essay assignments and examinations.

Outline

• Lesson 1: Historical Background
• Lesson 2: The Folktale
• Lesson 3: From Folktale to Literary Tale
• Lesson 4: The Evolution of Fantasy
• Lesson 5: High Fantasy
• Lesson 6: Alternatives to High Fantasy
• Lesson 7: The Realistic Novel
• Lesson 8: Period and Historical Fiction
• Lesson 9: The Cultural Context
• Lesson 10: Nonfiction
• Lesson 11: Nursery Rhyme, Poetry and Nonsense Verse
• Lesson 12: The Picture Book and Illustration
• Lesson 13: Who Classifies the Classics?
• Lesson 14: Looking Back and Looking Ahead

Evaluation

To obtain credit for English 305, you must submit three essays of varying lengths and write two examinations, each of three hours duration. To receive credit for the course, you must obtain a minimum grade of D (50 percent) on each exam and a course composite (or final) grade of at least D (50 percent)

The weighting of the course assignments is as follows

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Etext

Registration in this course includes an electronic textbook. For more information on electronic textbooks, please refer to our eText Initiative site.

A print version of the eText may be available for purchase from the publisher through a direct-to-student link provided on the course website; you can also acquire the textbook on your own if you wish.

Textbooks

Other Material

The course materials include a Course Information, a Study Guide, and online readings.

Challenge for Credit Overview

The Challenge for Credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.

Full information about Challenge for Credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

Challenge Evaluation

To receive credit for the ENGL 305 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least D (50 percent) on each part of the examination.

Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Course Registration Form

• Challenge for Credit Form