LIT324 Australian Children's Literature (8)

LIT324 addresses issues that pertain to literature for children and teens in the Australian context - for example, the slow development of Australian fantasy, the contesting of Anglocentrism and gender bias, the growth of Indigenous literature and concerns about boys' literacy. As well as including the exploration of broader issues such as these, it takes advantage of CSU's unique perspective and offers an emphasis on regional issues in children's literature.

Availability

Session 1 (30)
On Campus
Bathurst Campus
Online
Wagga Wagga Campus

Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details: LIT324. Where differences exist between the Handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Subject Information

Grading System

HD/FL

Duration

One session

School

School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
  • be able to explain the slow development of Australian fantasy
  • be able to discuss the impact of the digital environment on Australian children's literature
  • be able to identify some of the innovations in Indigenous publishing for children and teens
  • be able to demonstrate an understanding of the impact of the education market on Australian publishing for children and teens
  • be able to choose texts that embrace diversity and inclusion
  • be able to discuss the censorship of children's literature
  • be familiar with the construction of regional Australia in information texts and in fiction
  • be able to demonstrate an understanding of the challenges and innovations in the regional use of libraries and the internet for children and teens
  • be able to discuss the impact of writers' centres and literary festivals in regional Australia
  • be able to devise and assess their own research topic
  • be able to compare their own research with that of scholars in the field
  • be able to articulate their responses and findings accessibly and logically in written and spoken English

Syllabus

This subject will cover the following topics:
  • The historical context for Australian realism and the development of Australian fantasy
  • The town mouse and the country mouse
  • Nostalgia and the construction of 'the Bush' in Australian children's literature
  • Diversity and inclusion: Indigenous publishing and multiculturalism
  • The education market: sales and censorship
  • The impact of the digital space
  • Contesting distance: author tours, literary festivals, libraries, e-publishing, shopfront and online retailing
  • gender and reading: snips and snails and boys' literacy

Indicative Assessment

The following table summarises the assessment tasks for the online offering of LIT324 in Session 1 2019. Please note this is a guide only. Assessment tasks are regularly updated and can also differ to suit the mode of study (online or on campus).

Item Number
Title
Value %
1
Forum participation
20
2
Assignment plan
30
3
Final draft of report
50

The information contained in the CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: October 2020. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.

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