Course syllabus

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(Please read everything carefully) 

This course has three 'course occasions'

  1. Distance (for those who applied to take this course as distance course)   
  2. Campus (for those who apply with the intention of studying on campus)  
  3. Erasmus Campus Course (for international Erasmus exchange students who must study on campus).  

 

What is the Course about? 

 This course treats a selection of modern and contemporary children’s and young adult works from the English-speaking world. It introduces basic literary terminology for the analyses of the works as well as theoretical perspectives to childhood and the study of children’s and young adult literature. These broaden the understanding of the genre and increase the awareness of how the perception of children is created and transformed, and the implications of this for debates over both childhood and children’s and young adult literature.

All teaching is conducted in English.

Learning outcomes that you must successfully demonstrate throughout the course  (key skills are in bold)

  • demonstrate a good understanding of modern as well as contemporary children’s and young adult literature in English by critically analysing and interpreting a selection of texts
  • orally and in writing communicate and argue for their own interpretations of the texts making use of basic literary concepts.
  • orally and in writing explain and discuss scholarly arguments on the study of childhood and children’s and young adult literature.

Assessment Methods  for this Course. 

  • Active participation in seminars
    • while not specifically stated in the syllabus,  the implication is regular seminar attendance and consistent effort in demonstrating the key skills highlighted in the learning outcomes 
    • Clarification of the term 'active'  is given in "modules"
  • Written pre-seminar assignments
    • in the form of discussion forums. 
  • Written paper on a children’s or young adult text in English
    • End of term argumentative analytical essay of  2500 - 3000 words.

What books  do I need for the Course? 

You are required to read the reading material in preparation before every seminar.  You must also read the literary text for discussion BEFORE the seminar.  In the seminar module for the text, use the preparatory questions as guides to help in your critical reading of the literature.   This means you must have access to the literature discussed in this course.  You are responsible for making sure you can access the texts on this course's reading/literature list. . 

Supplementary course/seminar material will be provided by the lecturer.  Some  literature texts will be provided - but not all of the texts.  

The literature discussed in this course are: 

Barrie, J. M. (1911). Peter and Wendy. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.   (or any print edition of the novel)

Gaiman, Neil. (2008). Coraline. Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. ISBN: 9780747594062 (or an edition)

Itäranta, Emmi. (2015). Memory of Water. London: Harper Voyager. ISBN: 9780007529940 (or any English language print edition)

Iweala, Uzodinma. (2005). Beasts of no nation. London: John Murray. ISBN: 0-7195-6843-9 (or any English language print edition)

Jiang, Ai. (2023). I am AI. United States: Shortwave Publishing. ISBN: 9781959565093 (provided by lecturer)

Jiménez, Francisco. (1997). The Circuit. Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child. USA: University of New Mexico. ISBN: 9780826317971.  (provided by lecturer)

Malaeulu, Dahlia. (2022). Teine Sāmoa .Dahlia Malaeulu. ISBN: 9780473527495 (provided by lecturer)

 

NOTE: The list is published on the university website but at the moment but only under the distance occasion of this course.   To find the list  go to https://www.du.se/sv/Utbildning/kurser/kurs/?code=GEN33R   .  Please see the screen shot below to access the literature list on the university website www.du.se 

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Where do I find the Course Schedule? 

Campus seminars will be on Tuesdays 1030 - 1200.   The full schedule will be available before  start of term. 

Distance seminars will be on  Tuesdays 1300 - 1430.  The full schedule will be available before start of term. 

The course schedule will be available clicking on "Modules" in the left menu .    The schedule will be an Excel document and requires Office. 

Access to Microsoft Office 365

If you do not have Office on your computer, use your student account to access Office through www.du.se   You can  access Microsoft Office 365 through the following university web links

Where do I find where my seminars are held?

This course is offered as a distance course and as a campus course.  Each course will have its own application code. 

Campus students

If you applied for the campus (NML) course,  you understand that you have applied to study this course on campus. Your acceptance to the course  is an acknowledgement of your intention to study on campus.  For Erasmus exchange students,  your studying on campus is part of your learning agreement between your home university and Dalarna University. 

All campus seminars are held at Falun Campus.  Please read the schedule carefully to see which campus room your seminars will be held. 

For Distance Students 

If you applied to study this course online, note that the time for all seminars is local Swedish time (Central European Summer time during the summer [till Sun, 26 October]  & Central European Time in the winter). If you live in a country within a different time zone,  you need be aware of the time difference. 

How do I access online seminars? 

All seminars are zoom seminars.    All literature seminars are in zoom room, Zoom 111)   .   You must log in using your university user name and password.    The zoom  room and log in instructions can be found through the following links:

To use Zoom,  you must download the zoom app, have a working camera and microphone/headphone.  The following links will lead you to instructions on how to install zoom as well as information about the zoom platform. 

Where do I find my university email address  to contact my lecturer?  

Dalarna University uses Office 365 for all emails. As a registered student you will be given a university ID and password.  Your university ID will form part of your email address which would be something like  h25abcd@du.se       

Please  use your university email address for all matters related to your study. 

To access Office 365 email, 

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Click on "Webmail" and you will be taken to the "Email" page.  https://www.du.se/en/student-web/services-and-tools/study-tools/email/

Once in the email page (see screen shot below),  click "Email in Office 365" and follow the online instructions. 

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Dalahorse

Course Syllabus

 click on the links below for a full version of the course syllabus 

https://www.du.se/sv/Utbildning/kurser/kursplan/?code=GEN33R (Swedish version) 

https://www.du.se/en/study-at-du/kurser/syllabus/?code=GEN33R    (English version) 

 

 
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Course literature List for Autumn 2025 

click on the link below for the course literature list  

https://www.du.se/sv/Utbildning/litteraturlistor/?applicationcode=H3MWN  (Swedish version)

https://www.du.se/en/study-at-du/course-literature/?applicationcode=H3MWN  (English version) 

 

Course Lecturer and Coordinator 

Dr  Anita Purcell-Sjölund.  aps@du.se  (do not use the canvas email messaging option.  Email me using email in office 365.)

I am responsible for the course regarding course content and seminars as well as enquiries related to assignments.   PLEASE USE YOUR UNIVERSITY EMAIL ADDRESS  for all enquiries regarding your studies.   

I answer emails within working hours 0900 - 1600 during the working week (Mon-Fri).  Please note this if you you email me outside of working hours or working week.  I cannot answer all emails immediately as I am either teaching, at meetings, doing research,  or at an academic conference.  The maximum time I have to answer your email enquiry is three working days.  However,  I do try to answer emails as quickly as I can.   

Enquiries regarding Course Admission and Registration 

Please contact support@du.se 

Enquiries for Technical Issues regarding Zoom 

Please contact support@du.se 

Course summary:

Date Details Due