Students

LIT 848 – Young Adult Fiction

2017 – S1 External

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Victoria Flanagan
W6A 627
By appointment - please email to arrange.
Lecturer
Kim Wilson
By appointment - please email to arrange.
Credit points Credit points
4
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MChildLit or MCrWrit or GradDipChildLit or GradDipCrWrit or MA in Children's Literature
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit examines a range of literature written for adolescents and young adults. Issues which will be addressed include: the idea of a literature for young people, concepts of adolescence, representations of subjectivity, sexuality, gender, ideology and forms of social organisation. The unit also examines a range of genres, including fantasy, realism, experimental and historical genres.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • A broad knowledge of the kinds of literature produced for adolescents.
  • The ability to apply concepts such as ideology, gender and subjectivity to adolescent fiction.
  • An understanding of the various ways in which YA literature is oriented by cultural assumptions, practices and ideologies.
  • The ability to use an effective conceptual and analytic language with which to discuss the genre of YA fiction.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Participation 10% No Weeks 1-12
Early Feedback Critical Review 40% No 22 March, 2017
Major Essay 50% No 7 June, 2017

Participation

Due: Weeks 1-12
Weighting: 10%

A threshold requirement for participation marks is attendance and involvement in all the seminars. Students must prepare for classes by reading and reflecting on the unit readings and will be called upon to contribute to group discussions within the classroom.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • A broad knowledge of the kinds of literature produced for adolescents.
  • The ability to apply concepts such as ideology, gender and subjectivity to adolescent fiction.
  • An understanding of the various ways in which YA literature is oriented by cultural assumptions, practices and ideologies.
  • The ability to use an effective conceptual and analytic language with which to discuss the genre of YA fiction.

Early Feedback Critical Review

Due: 22 March, 2017
Weighting: 40%

Students must select 2 of the set novels for this unit and write a critical appraisal of these texts. Please see the LIT 848 Unit Handbook for further details.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • The ability to apply concepts such as ideology, gender and subjectivity to adolescent fiction.
  • An understanding of the various ways in which YA literature is oriented by cultural assumptions, practices and ideologies.
  • The ability to use an effective conceptual and analytic language with which to discuss the genre of YA fiction.

Major Essay

Due: 7 June, 2017
Weighting: 50%

Please complete an essay on ONE of the topics supplied in the LIT 848 Handbook. Refer to at least two books from the set text list in your answer. You may choose to confine your discussion to books published in one country (for example, Australia, Britain or America) or a particular genre (for example, realism, fantasy, historical realism, etc.).


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • A broad knowledge of the kinds of literature produced for adolescents.
  • The ability to apply concepts such as ideology, gender and subjectivity to adolescent fiction.
  • An understanding of the various ways in which YA literature is oriented by cultural assumptions, practices and ideologies.
  • The ability to use an effective conceptual and analytic language with which to discuss the genre of YA fiction.

Delivery and Resources

Weekly Seminars will involve discussion of the primary and secondary readings. Attendance at all seminars is mandatory (please see ‘Participation’ under the heading Assessment).

Mini Lectures will be provided on the LIT 848 iLearn site (although they not scheduled for each weekly topic). These lectures will not function as comprehensive summaries of the readings, nor should students anticipate that these lectures offer definitive ‘answers’ to many of the big questions we will look at this semester. The lectures are designed to contextualise the readings, suggest multiple approaches to their interpretation, and direct attention to specific aspects of the readings or issues for discussion. In some cases, the lectures will survey an issue or theme and propose working definitions of key terms (definitions which you are encouraged to adapt, elaborate on and contend with). 

Required Reading:

Critical Texts:

  1. Roberta Seelinger Trites, Disturbing the Universe: Power and Repression in Adolescent Literature. University of Iowa Press (1998). ISBN: 087745857X
  2. Robyn McCallum, Ideologies of Identity in Adolescent Fiction. New York: Routledge, 2012. ISBN: 9781135581299

Primary Texts:

  1. M.T. Anderson, Feed, 2002, Candlewick Press. ISBN 0-7636-2259-1
  2. Judith Clarke, The Winds of Heaven, 2009, Allen and Unwin. 9781741757316
  3. Cory Doctorow, Little Brother (available for free download), 2010. ISBN: 9780765323118
  4. Jennifer Donnelly, A Northern Light, (also published as A Gathering Light) 2004, Harcourt
  5. John Green, Looking for Alaska, 2005, ISBN: 9780007523160
  6. Steven Herrick, By the River, 2004, Allen and Unwin. 9781741143577
  7. David Levithan, Two Boys Kissing, 2013. ISBN: 9780307931900
  8. Lauren Myracle, ttyl, 2005. ISBN: 978-0810987883
  9. Patrick Ness, The Knife of Never Letting Go (Book 1 of the Chaos Walking Trilogy, 2008. ISBN: 978-0763676186
  10. Mariko Tamaki, Skim, 2010. ISBN: 9780888999641
  11. Markus Zusak, The Book Thief, 2005, Pan MacMillan. 9780330423304

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html​

Disruption to Studies Policy (in effect until Dec 4th, 2017): http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html

Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

PG - Capable of Professional and Personal Judgment and Initiative

Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • An understanding of the various ways in which YA literature is oriented by cultural assumptions, practices and ideologies.

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Major Essay

PG - Discipline Knowledge and Skills

Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • A broad knowledge of the kinds of literature produced for adolescents.
  • The ability to apply concepts such as ideology, gender and subjectivity to adolescent fiction.
  • An understanding of the various ways in which YA literature is oriented by cultural assumptions, practices and ideologies.
  • The ability to use an effective conceptual and analytic language with which to discuss the genre of YA fiction.

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Early Feedback Critical Review
  • Major Essay

PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • The ability to apply concepts such as ideology, gender and subjectivity to adolescent fiction.
  • An understanding of the various ways in which YA literature is oriented by cultural assumptions, practices and ideologies.
  • The ability to use an effective conceptual and analytic language with which to discuss the genre of YA fiction.

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Early Feedback Critical Review
  • Major Essay

PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability

Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • The ability to use an effective conceptual and analytic language with which to discuss the genre of YA fiction.

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Early Feedback Critical Review
  • Major Essay

PG - Effective Communication

Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • The ability to apply concepts such as ideology, gender and subjectivity to adolescent fiction.
  • An understanding of the various ways in which YA literature is oriented by cultural assumptions, practices and ideologies.
  • The ability to use an effective conceptual and analytic language with which to discuss the genre of YA fiction.

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Early Feedback Critical Review
  • Major Essay

PG - Engaged and Responsible, Active and Ethical Citizens

Our postgraduates will be ethically aware and capable of confident transformative action in relation to their professional responsibilities and the wider community. They will have a sense of connectedness with others and country and have a sense of mutual obligation. They will be able to appreciate the impact of their professional roles for social justice and inclusion related to national and global issues

This graduate capability is supported by:

Assessment tasks

  • Participation
  • Major Essay