WR 250 Writing for Children

Lecture Hours: 4
Credits: 4

Introduces the basic elements of children’s literature writing, including picture books, nonfiction books, and young adult fiction. Includes the process of creating children’s literature and the workshop system used to share and discuss the work of peers. Covers creating and revising one new work of children’s literature.

Prerequisite: WR 121Z, WR 122Z, WR 227Z, WR 240, WR 241, WR 242, WR 243, or WR 244; or consent of instructor. (All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.)
Repeatable: Course may be repeated once for credit.
Student Learning Outcomes:

Identify the use of general narrative techniques within published works of children’s literature writing.
Identify the use of techniques specific to children’s literature writing within published works.
Apply the use of general and genre specific techniques within short exercises.
Apply the use of general and genre specific techniques in an original work of children’s literature 2,000 to 5,000 words long.
Identify and evaluate the use of general and genre specific techniques within peer writing and communicate thoughtful responses to peer work, both in written summaries, and within small-group discussions.
Revise original work based on peer responses.

Statewide General Education Outcomes:

Read actively, think critically and write purposefully and capably for academic and, in some cases, professional audiences.
Locate, evaluate and ethically utilize information to communicate effectively.
Demonstrate appropriate reasoning in response to complex issues.

Content Outline

Introduction of Children’s Literature Writing as an Emerging Literary Form
Introduction of General Narrative Techniques
- Plot structure
- Characterization
- Setting
- Point of view
Introduction of Techniques More Specific to Children’s Literature Writing
- Use of graphics and images
- Age specific audiences
- Conventions of sub-genre children’s literature writing
Exploration of General and Genre Specific Techniques Through Short Writing Exercises
Introduction of the Workshop Process for Sharing and Responding to Student Work
- Submitting original work for review by other students
- Providing written summaries of peer work for other students
- Participating in discussion of the techniques observed in peer work and the effects of these techniques upon readers
Introduction to the Process of Submitting Work for Publication
Revision of Student Work for Possible Submission for Publication