E RDG 404 Literature for Reading Programs (3)
Examination of the broad range of genres and the rich variety of materials for use in classroom settings. Focus includes strategies for incorporating texts into various curricular areas. Topics include literacy events with text for emergent readers, knowledge of book difficulty, and uses of literature in the classroom.

E RDG 406 Young Adult Literature (3)
Examines the broad range of genres and the rich variety of texts for use in classroom settings. Presents strategies for incorporating literature into various curricular areas. Topics include motivation issues, text difficulty, and use of literature with controversial themes.

E RDG 410 Literacy in Social Contexts (3)
This course examines historical and contemporary aspects of literacy, focusing particularly on the relation between literacy and forms of social and cultural life. Topics include: (1) perspectives on literacy; (2) the role of literacy in society; (3) implications of diversity on literacy development; (4) relationships among diverse communities of practice.
 
E RDG 487/487Z Literate Thinking (3)
This class is designed to strengthen the reading, writing, and critical thinking skills of participants using a variety of challenging texts and rigorous writing exercises. Beginning with a discussion of folk tales and creation myths, the class will move through a variety of texts (including short fiction, novels, poetry, essays, journalism, and film) to examine how “story” addresses and expresses human experience. Throughout the semester the course examines why humans are drawn to narrative and why certain topics/themes appear repeatedly in stories of all cultures and periods. The course will also spend time thinking about the role of language in thinking and how language serves to limit expression.