ENGLISH 112C: Multicultural Childrenís Literature
San José State University
Professor Carolyn Sigler
Office: FO 111

Phone/Voicemail: 924-4457

E-mail: csigler@email.sjsu.edu

Web Page: www.sjsu.edu/faculty/csigler and by appointment
 
 

"Only the rarest kind of best in anything can be good enough for the young."

--Walter de la Mare

Required Texts
Edward Bloor, Tangerine
Eve Bunting, Smoky Night
Sook Nyul Choi, Yummi and Halmoni's Trip
Barbara Cohen, Molly's Pilgrim
Christopher Paul Curtis, The Watsons Go to Birmingham -1963
Virginia Hamilton, The People Could Fly
Roberto Innocenti, Rose Blanche
Francisco Jiménez, The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child
Bette Bao Lord, In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson
Anne Mazer, America Street: A Multicultural Anthology
Scott O'Dell, Sing Down the Moon
Faith Ringgold, Tar Beach
Alan Say, Grandfather's Journey
Mildred Taylor, The Road to Memphis
Yoshiko Uchida, A Jar of Dreams

Recommended Texts
Frances Ann Day, Multicultural Voices in Contemporary Literature: A Resource for Teachers
David L. Russell, Literature for Children, 4th ed.

Course Purposes and Philosophy
The following passage is taken from Richard E. Ishler's "The Preparation of Elementary School Teachers," which appeared in the Spring 1995 Phi Kappa Phi Journal:

Persons who will spend their professional lives as elementary school teachers must be liberally and broadly educated, more so than individuals with other careers, because of their positions as role models for our children - positions that are crucial not only to the students whose lives are directly affected, but to the general society as well. Other than a student's parents, no other person has such an opportunity to influence, to motivate, and to inspire a child to value the intellectual life. In fact, acting as an intellectual role model may well be the single most significant aspect of the teaching profession. (4) As a means of developing your "intellectual life," this course will introduce you to the history, forms and functions of literature for children, as well as provide you with a variety of critical tools for reading, discussing, and writing about literary as well as pedagogical discourses. Our survey of multicultural childrenís literature will cover both classic and popular texts, including discussion of film and television, as both have a profound influence not only on books for children but on the very ways that children read books. Through the readings, lectures and our class discussions you will develop your awareness of social and pedagogical issues that impact the use of childrenís literature both in and outside of the classroom, your ability to read texts carefully and with attention to their literary merit, and your ability to write clear, thoughtful and persuasive prose.

Each of the literatures covered this semester contains enough material to occupy one or more courses on its own, so this is merely an introduction to and (incomplete) survey of the field of multicultural literature for children. Through our readings, we should gain a keener understanding of childrenís life on the margins of the dominant American culture. Classes will include lecture and discussion, in large and small groups, as well as group presentations by students. This class will also have a computer component: syllabus updates and daily assignments will appear on our Web page; students will participate in online discussions on a class listserv.

I have linked our readings along the following categories:

 Course Requirements
Faithful class attendance, quizzes, and active participation in class discussions (20%).
Two four-page essays (20% each).
Internet research project (10%)
Group presentation (10%)
Final Examination (20%) Grading policy
The following statement has been adopted by the English department for inclusion in all greensheets:

In English Department Courses, instructors will comment on and grade the quality of student writing as well as the quality of ideas being conveyed. All student writing should be distinguished by correct grammar and punctuation, appropriate diction and syntax, and well-organized paragraphs.

The department of English reaffirms its commitment to the differential grading scale as defined in the official SJSU catalogue ("The Grading System"). Grades issued must represent a full range of student performance: A = excellent; B = above average; C = average; D = below average; F = failure. Courses graded according to the A,, B, C, No Credit system shall follow the same pattern, except that NC (No Credit) shall replace D or F. In such classes, NC shall also substitute for W (Withdrawal) because neither grade (NC or W) affects studentsí GPA.

Plagiarism
Plagiarism is literary theft, and consists of using the ideas, phraseology or work of another without giving that person credit. Plagiarists will fail the course, and will be reported to their college for possible further action.
 
 
SYLLABUS
Week 1 Introduction. Virginia Hamilton, The People Could Fly
Week 2 Virginia Hamilton, The People Could Fly

bring discussion questions to class

 Traditional folk and fairy tales:

bring picture book to class
Week 3 Christopher Paul Curtis, The Watsons Go to Birmingham -1963 Christopher Paul Curtis, The Watsons Go to Birmingham -1963

bring discussion questions to class
Week 4 Mildred Taylor, The Road to Memphis Mildred Taylor, The Road to Memphis

bring discussion questions to class
Week 5 Alan Say, Grandfather's Journey Sook Nyul Choi, Yummi and Halmoni's Trip
Week 6 Writing Workshop 

bring draft of paper 1 to class (4-5 p.)

 Francisco Jiménez, The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child

bring discussion questions to class
Week 7 Francisco Jiménez, The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child

PAPER ONE DUE IN CLASS (4-5 p.)

 Bette Bao Lord, In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson
Week 8 Bette Bao Lord, In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson

bring discussion questions to class

 Barbara Cohen, Molly's Pilgrim

Jeff Taylor, Molly's Pilgrim (short film)
Week 9 Anne Mazer, America Street: A Multicultural Anthology Anne Mazer, America Street: A Multicultural Anthology
Week 10 Steve James, Hoop Dreams (film)

PAPER TWO DUE IN CLASS (4-5 p.)

 Steve James, Hoop Dreams (film)
Week 11 Discussion of Steve James, Hoop Dreams

bring discussion questions to class

 Yoshiko Uchida, A Jar of Dreams
Week 12 Roberto Innocenti, Rose Blanche

Barbara Bryant, White Socks Only (short film)

bring discussion questions to class

 Eve Bunting, Smoky Night
Week 13 Edward Bloor, Tangerine

INTERNET RESEARCH PROJECT DUE

 Edward Bloor, Tangerine
Week 14 Scott O'Dell, Sing Down the Moon Scott O'Dell, Sing Down the Moon
Week 15 Ntozake Shange, Whitewash (short film) Group Reports
Week 16 Group Reports Conclusions