This course provides a survey of Young Adult Literature. Students will learn about YA’s history, controversies, and influence. Among the questions we will ask: how does YA construct young adulthood; what is YA; what are the characteristics of YA; what makes YA so popular? Students will be asked to: 1) study literature within its historical, social, and cultural contexts; 2) examine literary and aesthetic theories; 3) apply techniques of literary analysis to literature; 4) identify and discuss selected characteristics of literature; 5) develop close reading, critical thinking, and writing skills.