Module Information

Module Identifier
EN37820
Module Title
Forms Of Children's Narrative Prose
Academic Year
2013/2014
Co-ordinator
Dr Helena Grice
Semester
Semester 2
Other Staff
 

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Seminars / Tutorials 10 x 2 hour seminars
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Supplementary Assessment In the event of failure in the essay assignment, an essay on a new topic is to be submitted. In the event of failure in the oral presentation element, a 15 minute written script on a new topic, written as if for delivery, with accompanying visual aids, to be submitted. 

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

Demonstrate a critical understanding of the generic, historical and cultural contexts of the texts studied on the moudle.

Demonstrate an ability to analyse the texts coherently in terms of the appropriate critical approaches offered on the module.

Produce informed and well-argued written work that seeks to discuss the texts with refeence to their generic, historical and/or cultural contexts and relevant theoretical and/or other debates.

Demonstrate through oral presentation a critical understanding of the themes, forms and contexts of selected children's narratives.

Aims


 
 The module will add diversification to the portfolio of options within the department.

Content

The module is structured as 10 x 2 hour seminars, which will address the themes of the course as they arise, as follows:
Seminars:
1. Stories, fairy-tale and the tradition of children's literature: selections from Grimm, Perrault, Anderson and Wilde.
2. Classic Realist Fiction for Children I: Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island.
3&4 Classic Realist Fiction II: L. M.Montogomery, Anne of Green Gables / Frances Hodson Burnett, The Secret Garden.
5&6 Animal Stories: Richard Adams, Watership Down, selections from Rudyard Kipling, The Jungle Book.
7&8 High Fantasy and Domestic Fantasy: J.R.R. Tolkein, The Hobbit and J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
9&10 Autobiography for children: Judith Kerr, When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, selections from Hi-Li Liang, Red Scarf Girl.

Brief description


 
 This module examines the uniqueness of children's narrative prose, from "classic realist" texts to contemporary fantasy. It seeks to introduce students to some of the thematic crossovers between adult and child literature, and the forms of children's literature in which identiy-formation takes centre stage, such as fictional and non-fictional autobiography and coming of age stories.

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number Not applicable
Communication Written: sustain an arguement for written work. Listen effectively and make coherent oral contrubutions to seminars. Oral presentation.
Improving own Learning and Performance Through independent reading and research
Information Technology Not applicable
Personal Development and Career planning Develop awareness of personal skills.
Problem solving Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of bodies of ideas and critical arguments pertaining to children's literatures, including identity formation, trauma and the role of narrators; Construct a rational argument to a critical problem; undertake critical or evaluative work.
Research skills Understand a range of research methods. Plan and carry out an analytical piece of writing. Produce suitably academically referenced and structured work.
Subject Specific Skills Use appropriate critical and/or evaluative skills in preenting a written argument.
Team work Play an active part in group activities in the seminar workshop.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6