YA Information behaviors impacting poetrydrama in YA literature

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YA Information behaviors impacting poetry/drama
in YA literature

• Betty Marcoux
• LIS 566
• Winter Quarter 2007

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Lecture Structure

• Beginning
• Terms
• YA behaviors related to literature and its use
• Connecting YA behavior with poetry/drama
• Analysis of the concepts of poetry drama with
  YAs
• Information about their non-fiction status
• Middle
• Poetry and what it means to YAs
• Drama and what it means to YAs
• End
• Readings
• Concluding remarks
• Discussion considerations

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Terms

• Effective promotional efforts (including place)
• Poetry form
• Storyline substance
• Dialogue as emotional outreach
• Developmental appropriateness
• ZINE appeal

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Issues to remember with YA literature work

• Development Theories
• Theorists and researchers agree that notable
  development occurs during adolescence in a number
  of areas. However, there are differing viewpoints
  about some aspects of adolescence.
• Is the development cycle continuous or
  discontinuous with preceding and following stages
  in the life cycle?
• Is adolescence typically a period of turmoil and
  stress or is relatively uneventful.
• Is it is critical for adolescents to accomplish
  specific developmental tasks during this time or
  not?
• Are there internal or environmental factors that
  have significant influence on the experiences and
  outcomes of adolescent development?

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Piaget said

• YAs are in a cognitive development stage that is
  based in the following
• Movement from concrete to abstract thinking
• A decrease in egocentric thought.

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Erik Eriksen said

• Adolescence is a time of turmoil and stress based
  in an identity crisis more than an id and ego
  struggle (Freud).
• Adolescence is a necessary and productive period
  a time of life when one works to form one's own
  identity.

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Definitions

• Poetry
• The art or work of the poet with special
  reference to its form Composition in verse or
  metrical language, or in some equivalent
  patterned arrangement of language usually also
  with choice of elevated words and figurative
  uses, and option of a syntactical order,
  differing more or less from those of ordinary
  speech or prose writing. (OED)
• Poetry can and should be an important part of our
  daily lives. Poems can inspire and make us think
  about what it means to be a member of the human
  race. By just spending a few minutes reading a
  poem each day, new worlds can be revealed.
• Drama
• A composition in prose or verse, adapted to be
  acted upon a stage, in which a story is related
  by means of dialogue and action, and is
  represented with accompanying gesture, costume,
  and scenery, as in real life a play. (OED)

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YA behavior and Poetry/Drama

• Poetry and fiction (http//scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejou
  rnals/ALAN/spring96/bleeker.html)
• riddle poem
• found poem
• character poem
• poem for two voices
• repeat poster poem
• Drama dynamics a way to respond to and explore
  the lives, situations, struggles, and decisions
  of young people as portrayed in the best of young
  adult literature
• Tableau, discussion, reflection
• Improvisation, role-playing
• Situations presented
• Feelings experienced
• http//bookshelf.diamondcomics.com/ya_drama.htm

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Marketing
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Poetry, Drama, any non-fiction

• Does it meet the need?
• Can it be used in creative yet meaningful ways?
• Does it fit the issue and the concern?
• Is it age appropriate and can it be interpreted
  at an age appropriate point?
• Does the YA care or are there connections to be
  made so they do care?

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Poetry and Drama and LeisureSilbereisen, R.
Adolescents Leisure-time Activities,
International Encyclopedia of the Social
Behavioral Sciences, 2003

• Leisure time varies for YAs across the world and
  in the US.
• Belief systems tend to dictate what is defined as
  leisure time productivity.
• Poetry and drama often seen as not productive
  activity other than in an academic setting.
• Need to show developmental connection of
  intellectual and emotional processes when
  exploring poetry and drama other than in an
  academic setting.

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Why are drama poetry seen as non-fiction?

• They explain, describe, set an image
• Tend to be more than entertaining usually very
  thought-provoking
• While there are many books published for YAs,
  non-fiction ones tend to not have the same
  priority for publishing them. (Aronson,1999)
• TEXT definition defines them by kind of a book
  information book, poetry, drama.

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Interesting information on non-fiction
publications

• Nonfiction best-sellers often outsell fiction
  best-sellers (Dr. Phil, Chicken Soup)
• Documentaries often come from dramas and vice
  versa
• Fiction success often depends upon non-fiction
  attributes (realism, connections with life of
  reader) Often called realistic fiction
• No matter what it is, there is still a need for
  attributes of what makes a good story

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How to evaluate non-fiction

• Setting/scope
• Realistic goals for audience (sometimes hard to
  figure out with extreme poetry/drama)
• Theme
• Consistency of theme
• Tone
• Does the tone enhance the intent of the book?
• Style
• Judge it according to the purpose the author has
  in mind and according to the audience it is for.

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Suggestions for non-fiction evaluation

• Bias is a paramount issue for non-fiction
• Connection of message to that which is relevant
  to audience which can then bring them forward to
  greater learning.
• Connection to curriculum?
• Connection to personal YA issues of importance?
• Voice?

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When doing YA non-fiction

• Design is appropriate for YA audience
• Trustworthy in terms of validity of information
  and its worth
• Doing it without being disrespectful or
  demeaning
• Care about the YA as much as the message

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How is poetry used today?

• National Poetry Month several emphases and
  options here
• Coffee house- open mike sessions
• KC Youth Service Center poetry makes up the
  largest percentage of the nonfiction collection.
• Hugo House The mission of Richard Hugo House is
  to build a vital learning community that develops
  and sustains practicing writers doing essential
  work. It is a place that nurtures writers,
  readers and audiences of books, plays, films, and
  brings innovative and effective writing education
  to people of all ages and backgrounds.
  (http//www.hugohouse.org/about/)
• FRANK Mesa Public Library
• Original works
• Teen editorial board
• Distribution of magazine
• Purposes are many

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How can poetry be used today?

• Empowerment
• Respect
• Confidence
• Writing skills
• Networking
• Speaks meaningfully about YA topics
• Alternative way of speaking by and for YAs
• Booktalking (see Booktalkers Bible pgs 116-119
  for suggestions of poems to use this way)

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EVERYBODY SAYSEverybody saysI look just like my
mother.Everybody saysIm the image of Aunt
Bee.Everybody saysMy nose is like my
fathersBut I want to look like ME!Dorothy
AldisKingfisher book of Family Poems, 2003, pg 17
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Michael Cart on PoetryCart, M. From Romance to
realism, 1996

• the difficult stepchild of YA literature, often
  neglected and usually misunderstood.
• Poetry obviously wants more attention, but
  because it is so intrinsically rich as to warrant
  a book of its own and because it is evaluated by
  means other than those used to address fiction I
  will leave that important work to other more
  qualified than I.

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WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE

• My uncle said, How do you get to school?I
  said, by bus, and my uncle smiled.When I was
  your age, my uncle said,I walked it barefoot
  seven miles.My uncle said, How much weight can
  you tote?I said, One bag of grain. My uncle
  laughed.When I was your age, my uncle said,I
  could drive a wagon and lift a calf.My uncle
  said, How many fights have you had?I said,
  Two and both times I got whipped.When I was
  your age, my uncle said,I fought every day
  and was never licked.My uncle said, How old
  are you?I said, Nine and a half, and then My
  uncle puffed out his chest and said,When I was
  your ageI was ten.Shel Silverstein

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How is drama used today?

• Drama class
• Portray messages/ tell stories
• Communication/discussion tools
• Tying the traditional to modern issues
• Can be extemporaneous or not
• Interpretive
• Unique every time

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How can drama be used today?

• Way to ask important questions and get answers
• Can be used for realistic issues
• Interpretation of information as more universal
  than anticipated
• Creative outlet for the non-writer in some
  aspects
• Can connect to issues not dealt with in
  traditional literature/discussions
• Help YAs learn about themselves

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YA Readers Advisory for Poetry and Drama

• Goals
• Match YA reading interest with reading collection
• Provide access for readers to library collection
• Learn the likes/dislikes of YA readers
• Promote reading through the use of documents
• Find the right book for the right YA at the right
  time for the right reason

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General YA Readers Advisory Information

• Find a fit
• Aim higher than lower
• No advice may be the BEST advice
• Browsing is okay you dont have to always
  recommend
• OPAC
• Newsletters/booklists/catalogs
• if you like lists
• Displays
• Review file with YA reviews
• Personal services like the personal shopper
• Share ideas about recommendations like Quick
  Picks or other lists
• Use YA tools for selection
• Use technology automate readers advisory?
• Use conversations
• Use statistics
• Personal favorites count/personal core counts

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YA Readers Advisory for Poetry Drama

• Dont wait for them to suggest something
• Ask questions
• Ask MORE questions
• Develop your favorites/your core
• Sift and sort narrow what you suggest
• Eliminate if not liked
• USE the books (if you liked this then you will
  like)
• Be smart and strategic
• Look on the return cart
• Be aware of their world
• DONT SAY
• I loved this.(gushy)
• This is used in schools a lot
• This is one that your teacher would like
• You really should read this because everyone
  reads it or should.

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What makes something edgy?

• Pushes an envelope
• Sensitive topic usually covered
• Can be shocking, out of the norm
• Usually something different than normally found
• Usually outside of traditional adult sanctioned
  areas
• Can be uncomfortable, dark
• Can mean sexual in nature/erotic
• Publishers, editors, and writers frequently use
  lit-speak shorthand to convey their wants or
  particular slant. We hear "edgy" used a lot
  today, but what does it really mean? It could
  mean "on the cutting edge," bold, avant-garde,
  pushing the envelope. But whatever the editor's
  personal definition of edgy may be, they still
  usually want the writings to work for the reader.
  While being edgy, fiction must still have certain
  conventions, and perhaps no more so than in
  erotica. While pushing the envelope in concept or
  content, edgy erotic writing frequently relies on
  the most concrete of imagery and metaphor.
  (http//www.erotica-readers.com/ERA/SL/Edgy.htm)
• Currently in vogue

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Readings

• Text is written with the belief that students
  will have a better chance of becoming life-long
  readers if they have choices in what they read
  and if they enjoy it.
• The authors provide criteria for evaluating books
  of all genres, from poetry and nonfiction to
  mysteries, science fiction, and horror. Coverage
  of timely issues such as pop culture and mass
  media have been added to help you connect with
  students' lives outside the classroom.
• Chapter 6
• What about this chapter would you say is most
  important for universal understanding of working
  with young adults and their literature?
• Chapter 7
• What about this chapter would you say is most
  important for universal understanding of working
  with young adults and their literature?

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Your article selection (1 article on YA issues of
sex, romance, and substance abuse)

• Questions to ask of yourself
• Why did you pick this one?
• How would you use it?
• With whom would you use it? Why?
• What significant points did you find in this
  article that are meaningful to you?
• Would you select it again, and for what purpose?

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Knobel Lankshear

• There is a direct relevance they talk about in
  terms of literacy advancement and zine reading.
• Issues of access of zines
• Popular with teens concerns with parents and
  teachers?
• Strong diversity of content and presentation
  format
• Culture creation

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Discussion Questions

• Discuss on the general discussion forum the
  article you selected according to the questions I
  have listed in this lecture.
• Discuss how you answer the question given on the
  two chapters you are to read for this week post
  your thoughts on the general discussion area.

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Announcements

• Reviews and responses
• Webquest due Feb. 25, 2007
• No luck on examples..
• Open season on topic just YA interesting
• Chat this week!

AND
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Happy Valentines Day!

• For more on the history of this day
• http//www.historychannel.com/exhibits/valentine/?
  pagehistory