Textbook Assignment Chapters 6-10 LSSL 5385

Chapter 6 Literary Elements

Literary Elements

• ·         Antagonist- a character(s) in opposition to the protagonist/main character.
• ·         Character- a person, a figure, an inanimate object or animal in a story.
• ·         Conflict-  the conflict between two opposing forces.
• ·         Tone- attitude of the writer towards a subject/audience.
• ·         Mood- feelings or vibes in readers through words and descriptions.
• ·         Plot- events that make up a story or the main part of a story.
• ·         Protagonist- main character in poetry, narrative, novel or any other story.
• ·         Setting- time and place in which the events or story take place.
• ·         Themes- the message in a work of literature.

Literary Devices

• Allegory-  abstract ideas and principles described in terms of characters, figures and events.
• Allusion- a brief/indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea to enhance the reading experience.
• Archetype- a character, an action or a situation that represent universal patterns of human nature.
• Deus ex machina- an implausible concept or divine character introduced into a storyline to resolve a conflict and obtain an interesting outcome.
• Hyperbole-  exaggeration of ideas for the sake of emphasis.
• Imagery-  figurative language to represent objects, actions and ideas that appeal to physical senses.
• Metaphor- comparison between two things that are unrelated but share some common characteristics.
• Motif-  objects and ideas that repeas itself throughout a literary work.
• Point of view-  the opinion, or feelings of the individuals involved in a situation.
• Simile-  comparison, showing similarities between two different things.
• Symbolism- the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic    meanings different from a literal sense.

Reflection: This compilation of definitions for literary elements and devices is crucial to the basis of evaluating YA literature. It is important that we are familiar with the terminology that is used for citing. As this list develops, it will assist in making our annotations and blog post more authentic and relevant.

Chapter 7 Awards

Printz Award

The Michael L. Printz Award recognizes the best titles in young adult literature in each calendar year.

YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction

Honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults (ages 12-18) during a Nov. 1-Oct. 31 publishing year.

Great Graphic Novels for Texas

Great Graphic Novels for Teens is a list of recommended graphic novels and illustrated nonfiction for those ages 12-18, prepared yearly by YALSA.

Best Fiction for Young Adults

YALSA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults Committee presents fiction titles published for young adults in the past 16 months that are recommended reading for ages 12 to 18. The purpose of the annual list it to provide librarians and library workers with a resource to use for collection development and reader’s advisory purposes.

Margaret A Edwards Award

It recognizes an author's work in helping adolescents become aware of themselves and addressing questions about their role and importance in relationships, society, and in the world. 

ALEX Award

The Alex Awards are given to ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18.

Odyssey Award

This annual award is given to the producer of the best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States.

Morris Award

Honors a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens and celebrating impressive new voices in young adult literature.

Outstanding Books for the College Bound

Revised every five years as a tool for several audiences (students preparing for college, educators, librarians, and parents) it offers opportunities for independent reading and lifelong learning.

Popular Paperbacks

Each year, the Popular Paperbacks committee creates lists of books to encourage young adults to read for pleasure. The lists of popular or topical titles are widely available in paperback and represent a broad variety of accessible themes and genres.

Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers

The Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers list identifies titles aimed at encouraging reading among teens who dislike reading for whatever reason. The list selects both fiction and nonfiction.  

Reader’s Choice

YALSA’s Readers’ Choice list seeks to engage a wide audience of librarians, educators, teens and young adult literature enthusiasts in choosing the most popular teen titles in each year, as organized by broad genres. 

Teens Top Ten

The Teens' Top Ten is a "teen choice" list, where teens nominate and choose their favorite books of the previous year! 

Amazing Audiobooks

Each year, YALSA's Amazing Audiobooks committee selects and annotates an annual list of notable audio recordings significant to young adults from those released in the past two years.

YA Choices

Since 1986, the Young Adults' Choices project has developed an annual list of new books that will encourage adolescents to read. 

Lone Star Reading List

The purpose of the list is to encourage students in grades 6, 7, or 8 to explore a variety of current books.

TAYSHAS Reading List

This list was composed for high school readers in the state of Texas. Its purpose is to motivate young adults, grades 9-12 to become lifelong readers and to participate in the community of young adult readers throughout Texas.

Maverick Reading List

The Maverick Graphic Novels Reading List was created and approved in 2009. Its purpose is to encourage young adult readers in grades 6-12 to explore a variety of current books in graphic novel format.

Edgar Award for Mystery

Presented to the most prestigious writers of the mystery genre.

NCTE award for Excellence in Poetry for Children

NCTE established the Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children in 1977 to honor a living American poet for his or her aggregate work for children ages 3-13.

Orbis Pictus

The NCTE Orbis Pictus Award was established in 1989 for promoting and recognizing excellence in the writing of nonfiction for children.

Batchelder Award

The Batchelder Award is given to the most outstanding children’s book originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated into English for publication in the United States.

Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction

Award goes to an author for a meritorious book published in the previous year for children or young adults.  

Pura Belpre Award

Presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.

Schneider Family Award

The Schneider Family Book Awards honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences.

Sibert Award

The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal is awarded annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published in the United States in English during the preceding year.

Stonewall Award

The Stonewall Book Award is the first and most enduring award for GLBT books It is presented to English language works published the year prior to the announcement date. 

Reflection: Having knowledge of the awards presented for explementary works in literature is a wonderful resource for librarians to help when considering book recommendations, book talks and collections.

Chapter 8 Poetry

All about Poetry!

Poetry is not a genre. It is a form that literature can take.

Poetry can be found in genres: fantasy, historical fiction, realistic fiction and traditional fiction.

Poetry is one of the most neglected thing that we teach because of the way it was taught to us.

Poetry should be reinforced to kids daily across curriculums.

Poetry does not have to rhyme.

Poetry should be interactive for children.

Poetry that is narrative, funny and rhymes is most popular with children.

Poetry in the form of free verse and haiku are two of the least favorite for children.

Poetry can be anything you want it to be.

Criteria for Evaluating Poetry for Children

Does the poem sound good?

Does the poem use alliteration, assonance, repetition or onomatopoeia?

Are there clear sensory images in the poem?

Is the rhythm of the poem pronounced?

Is the poetry rhymed?

Does the poetry have some humor?                                                             

How has the poet created the emotional intensity of the poem?

What is the quality of imagination in the poetry?

Does the poem offer substance?

What purpose does the poem serve?

Reflection: This chapter on historical fiction was very beneficial in knowing what to look for and how to evaluate poetry for children. It also enlightens me in knowing what children lie about poetry. It also gives me resources and ideas on how to incorporate poetry across curriculum.

Chapter 9 Historical Fiction

Historical Fiction is any story set in the past that reconstruct past events in fictional stories.

Common Characteristics of Historical Fiction:

Inclusion of historical events

Inclusion of historical people

Invented scene and dialogue

Authentic and believable details

Critical Elements of Historical Fiction

Character

Dialogue

Setting

Theme

Plot

Conflict

World building

Criteria for Evaluating Historical Fiction for Children

1.      Does the book tell a good story that effortlessly blend the history in the story itself?

2.      Are the facts of the historical period accurate?

3.      How are the values of the time brought to life?

4.      Is everything consistent with the social milieu?

5.      Does the theme of the story relate to contemporary readers?

Reflection: This chapter was very beneficial in knowing what to look for and how to evaluate historical fiction for children. This chapter gave me a better understanding of how children view historical fiction and how we can get them to relate to and be more engaged with books about the past.

Chapter 10 Realistic Fiction

Realistic Fiction are stories set in contemporary or modern times. Everything within the story is consistent with the real world.

Criteria for Evaluating Realistic Fiction for Children

1.      Is everything consistent with the real world in which contemporary kids live?

2.      Does the theme emerge naturally from the story?

3.      How does the topic or subject matter of the book relate to modern readers?

Characteristics of Realistic Fiction

Characters

Setting

Problem

Solution

Theme

Reflection: This chapter was very beneficial in knowing what to look for and how to evaluate realistic fiction for children and the characteristics. Realistic fiction helps children better understand themselves when they can read about people and things that are relevant to them.