Prerequisite: One 200-level course in creative writing or permission of instructo

01  MTH2  CAC  36663   LAWSON  MU-001
02   MW4  CAC   29257  OSBORN   MU-002
03   MW4   CAC  29257   ARNDT  MU-003
04   MW5   CAC  28477    ARNDT   MU-003
05   TTH5  CAC   26318   SHERMAN   MU-001
06  TTH6  CAC  30972  SUSKEWICZ  MU-001
07   S 1:00-3:55PM  CAC  26662  FRANCO   ZAM-MPR

01-Young Adult Fiction
The course encourages students to create work that in its appeal straddles generational demographics, and thus demonstrates what is already known, that diverse audiences, presented with the best titles in the genre, are not dichotomous. The emphasis is on generating and discussing student writing, but the course will also examine several contemporary and classic novels with pre-teen protagonists that possess a proven appeal to readers of all ages (e.g. Alice in Wonderland, Wildwood, Something Wicked This Way Comes, The Golden Compass). Three significant films that similarly reach out to a multivalent audience – The Fantastic Mr. Fox, UP, and The Princess Bride – will be shown and discussed. We’ll also read/debate a number of non-fiction texts such as Neil Gaiman’s lecture, "What the @#$%&*! Is a Children's Book, Anyway?”; Joel Stein’s baiting Times essay, “Adults Should Read Adult Books”; and Catherynne Valente’s blog post, "Too Smart for Kids." The semester will be punctuated by a series of projected digital visits by relevant award-winning authors, among them, Lev Grossman, author of the New York Times bestselling YA series The Magicians. The visits will provide students with candid access to working writers, and so give them an interactive opportunity to ask questions about the various talents, skills, and traits that contribute to acclaim and success.