When you finish this course, you should be able to answer the following questions.  How do we define YAL (young adult literature) as distinct from both children's literature and adult literature? Do YA literary texts have the same literary value as adult literary texts?  What constitutes high quality in YAL?   

Requirements:  There is a lot of reading in this class, so the primary requirement is that you keep up with the reading.  Instead of  taking quizzes and tests, you will keep a reading journal and write short essays about the assigned reading during class time in several of the class meetings.  In addition, you will write one research-based paper.

Attendance: Regular attendance and participation are expected.  Two absences will result in a final grade one letter lower than that earned by completing course requirements, three absences in a final grade two letters lower, etc.  If you are ill, be sure to provide me with documentation.

Inclement January Weather (Interterm): If the College cancels classes, of course, we will not meet. If you are commuting and the weather is dicey where you live, please use your best judgment. Leave me a message on my voicemail in the office. (But if you are a timid driver who lives on a back road 40 miles from campus, consider whether you can truly make the commitment to this class in January.) 

Make-up Work: Please make a point of being here for scheduled in-class writing. Interterm goes by so quickly that scheduling make-up work can create a significant problem.

Cell Phones: Please set your phones so that they will not disrupt the class.

Grading:  A reader-response journal will count for 30% of the final grade; in-class writing will count for 40% of the final grade; the paper will count for 30% of the final grade.  In-class papers will be graded on quality of insight and specific references to the reading.  The out-of-class paper, in addition, should show a solid if limited research base and should be thoroughly edited and proofread.  Format and citation will follow MLA style.

The Honor Code: It is expected that the writing each student turns in is her or his own and that material drawn from sources--whether quoted, paraphrased, or summarized--will be clearly documented. For definitions of plagiarism and examples of material that should be cited, see Bridgewater College's Plagiarism Policy.  Instances of plagiarism will be reported to the Honor Council.  If you have questions about plagiarism or need help with citing, please consult a Writing Center tutor.

Alexander Mack Memorial Library:  There is a small but growing collection of literature for young adults and criticism of YA literature.  Journals devoted to literature for children and young adults are the Horn Book Magazine and The Lion and the Unicorn.