This course aims to provide participants with an overview of the development of texts intended for children from the 18th century to the present day. Texts provide the organizational focus for exploring wider issues related to language and literacy learning.

Weekly seminars (2 hours) in person throughout semester 1.

Part A: Students submit an extract from the Reading Log they maintain during the course that evidences their critical engagement with texts for children and young people. (1000 words, LO1, 2 & 4, 25%)

Part B: Students write a 3000-word critical, comparative essay that analyses two children's texts in relation to one or two themes explored on the course and with reference to the social and cultural issues impacting young people's lives. (3000 words, LO1-4, 75%)

This course will provide students with opportunities to:

Examine in detail a range of texts that illustrate the development (historical and current) of literature for children.

Evaluate assumptions, values and beliefs about texts that are intended for children.

Demonstrate awareness of how theories of children's literature illuminate concepts of childhood and texts.

Examine the relationship between children's texts, literacies and their potential for leaning.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

LO1 Demonstrate an understanding of how to analyse texts for children in relation to relevant theories.

LO2 Critically engage with the ideologies underpinning texts for children and young adults..

LO3 Evaluate the potential of children's texts as vehicles for learning across a range of contexts, including the social and cultural issues impacting young people's lives.

LO4 Present work according to academic conventions.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components of the course's summative assessment. They must achieve 75% attendance and participate in required online sessions.