ENG 231: Children’s Literature
NSCC, JC Clapp, Fall 2009
Author/Illustrator Presentation

Overview of the Project:

In small groups of three or four students (you choose your own group), you will be research a children’s author or illustrator of your choice. Then, on the last day of class, your group will be presenting your findings in an oral presentation lasting approximately 20 minutes. Prepare a packet of helpful resources about your chosen author or illustrator to be handed out to the entire class as part of your presentation.

Approach to the Project:

While choosing an author or illustrator to study in depth, look for a person whose work has been somehow groundbreaking, influential, or culturally important. The person will need to have a substantial body of work and will need to be somebody that others have analyzed. The point of this project is to analyze the work of the chosen author/illustrator and to show us why he/she is important to the field of children’s literature. You’ll be providing the class with a small packet of resources about your chosen author, as well as teaching the class (via an oral presentation) about why your chosen author is so critically acclaimed. This will require you to not simply compile information, but to analyze it, synthesize it, and then present it. As you research and put together your materials, keep asking yourself questions like:

· Why is this person so critically acclaimed? What about his/her work makes it special? Why is this person’s work unique? What significant contribution has this person made to the field of children’s literature? Why is his/her work influential and culturally important?

· What in this person’s life and background has informed his/her approach? How has this person’s work changed throughout his/her career?

· Is this person’s work as popular with children as it is with the adult “experts”? What do adults appreciate about this person’s work? What do children appreciate?

· Why has this person’s work stood the test of time? If it’s a person fairly new to the genre, why do you feel this person’s work will become “classic”?

No, you don’t have to methodically go through and answer each of these questions in your presentation, but they are the kinds of questions I want you to focus on and consider as you research and write. The idea is to push yourself to analyze the author and his/her work to create a cohesive picture rather than to just dump random bits of information together.

Written Requirements:

You need to produce a small packet of information on your chosen author/illustrator to hand out to the class. This packet of resources needs to contain, as a minimum:

· A brief (1 page or so) biography of the author/illustrator complete with photo (should include personal biographical information such as nationality, date of birth, etc., as well as a summary of professional accomplishments such as awards). Don’t just copy/paste information from one source. You need to research your author and then compile/summarize the information for the biography yourself. At the bottom of the biography page, list the sources you consulted (using MLA format).

· A complete annotated bibliography of primary sources -- the author’s published materials (1 page or so) – use MLA format . If the author/illustrator has a very long list of publications, pick and choose what you believe to be the most important or influential. If you’ve chosen an illustrator, choose several samples of his/her artwork to give us a sense of his/her style. For each publication, include a one-sentence annotation (summary) of the work. In the summary, identify the kind of book/art it is, the subject matter, and the target reader’s approximate age range.

· An annotated bibliography of secondary sources that analyze, critique, and discuss the work of the author/illustrator. This annotated bibliography needs to contain at least 3 reputable articles, 2 authoritative websites, and 1 book title. Your annotated bibliography will end up being about 2-3 pages long, depending on how long/thorough your annotations are. The annotations should be a minimum of 3 sentences or so.

This all works out to be at least 4-5 pages of written material. You’re welcome and encouraged to include more information, however. I can make the Xerox copies for you if you get me a hard-copy of your packet of information no later than Monday, December 14^th at 10:00 a.m. If you’re making the copies yourself, then please prepare them in this way:

· There are 22 people in the class (including JC), so make a packet for each of us.

· To save paper, please double-side copy the pages. Three-hole punch and staple, as well.

· No need to use colored paper or to make color copies!

Oral Presentation Requirements:

You will have about 20 minutes in which to present your findings. You’ll be handing out your packet, but you will not simply be reading your packet to us. You will be teaching the class about the cultural influence and importance of your chosen author/illustrator. To do this, you may choose to use overhead transparencies, power point, posters, or any other visual materials. All group members must participate in the presentation.

Research Requirements:

To complete this project, you will need to do extensive research. There are various links, below in the “Help” section that can get you started. In addition, use our librarian, Elinor Appel as a resource. Your group is required to meet with her at least once. You must completely fill out the attached “Group Information Sheet for Elinor” and take it with you to your meeting. To set up your appointment, go to: http://facweb.northseattle.edu/eappel/

Delegation and Working in a Group:

You will need to decide who in your group is responsible for what. Make these responsibilities clear! You may split up the tasks in any way your group sees fit. The only requirement is that all members of the group contribute equally and fairly. Everybody in the group will receive the same grade. If somebody in your group refuses to cooperate and do their share, your group can vote them out. If you are voted out of a group, it is your responsibility to find another group that will accept you. Be fair and play nice. J

Help:

How to Research a Subject/Topic:

NSCC Library webpage: http://dept.sccd.ctc.edu/nslib/

Research Guides that will lead you through the research process: http://dept.sccd.ctc.edu/nslib/HelpResearch.htm#Research

How to Write a Bibliography (Works Cited) page in MLA: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

How to Write an Annotated Bibliography: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/614/01/

Two websites with general Oral Presentation tips:
http://web.grinnell.edu/MEA/Web_stuff_for_2006/cswep_top10_list.pdf
http://lorien.ncl.ac.uk/ming/Dept/Tips/present/comms.htm

Tips on using PowerPoint, if you choose to do so:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/686/01/