Biography and Memoir
Learning Resources
Required Resources
- Course Text: Literature and the Child
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- Chapter 9, “Biography and Memoir” (you may skip “A Close Look at Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave,” pp. 286–288; “A Close Look at The Notorius Benedict Arnold: A True Story of Adventure, Heroism, & Treachery,” pp. 289–290; and “A Close Look at Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream,” p. 292-293)
- Chapter 10, “Nonfiction”
- For this week’s Application, read one biography or one nonfiction book. When making your selection, choose a person for your biography or topic for your nonfiction book that is meaningful or significant to you. If you wish, refer to the booklists at the end of Chapters 9 and 10 (pp. 297–301 and pp. 326–329 of the course text). Make sure that your selection is classified as intermediate or adolescent (there will be an “I” or an “A” in parentheses next to the title).While making your selection, refer to the quality guidelines outlined in your text
Putting It All Together
Each week of this course has helped you better understand the genres of literature and determine quality within these genres. As you explored the characteristics and special qualities of picture books, poetry, folklore, fantasy, science fiction, contemporary realistic and historical fiction, biographies, and nonfiction, you have learned about the unique role that specific kinds of books can play in shaping children’s and adolescents’ attitudes about themselves, other people and cultures, life experiences, and of course, literature itself. You have also read and evaluated a variety of books written for children and adolescents, broadening your exposure to the wide array of excellent literature available today.
Reflect on what you have learned and experienced throughout this course as you respond to this week’s Discussion posting.
By Day 3
Post a paragraph that completes the following sentence and expands upon it with at least 5 additional sentences:
- “Quality children’s and adolescent literature . . . “
Your statements may include the following; however, feel free to be creative in your approach:
- A description or definition, listing various criteria
- Statements about the use or effectiveness of literature in a child’s world
- Reflections about your personal experiences with literature.
