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RE: sources and citation and indexes
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From: Nancy Bo Flood <wflood_at_hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 2010 13:05:37 -0700
Feast or Fast Food
The discussions about nonfiction have been fascinating to follow. These dialogues have caused me to think deeper about why do we have books, why do we write for children, and how important are citations and references.
A book offers new set of eyes, a new perspective, a challenge to see differently or see something never noticed. That something could be dust under the bed (April Pulley Sayre) or the absence of women as tronauts (Tanya Lee Stone).
A “googled” bite of information provides a quick fact fix.
Good nonfiction should be an experience, not a list of facts or a narrative of information. Citations, indexing and references encoura ge the reader to think critically (where is this information from?) and loo k deeper.
Good nonfiction, like good journalism, should be the result of discovery, passion and literary craft. Information and skills are brou ght together to present a story with voice, sensory details, emotion and ac curate primary-source insights. Page-turning mystery, intrigue – or delight – is part of the reader’s experience or anger and outrage. Citations and references not only show where information is from but encourages the reader "to chec k it out, dig deeper."
Good nonfiction is the sharing of discovery that invites the reader to join in. Discovery, like creativity, is messy. Conflicting information, opposing views, disagreement become part of the reader’s experience:
“What is an author of books for younger readers to do? In our notes we can show that we are aware of conflict, aw are of differing views, and can introduce both young people and the adults who w ork with them to those questions. We can invite young people into the conflicts .” Marc Aronson, comment from 10- 17- 2010 Citations and references not only show the author's journey but invite the reader to continue. References can be organized as books suggested for you nger readers or those used by the author.
Two thoughtful picture books that present different perspectives about the near-extinction of buffalo: Joseph Bruchac’s BUFFALO SONG and Jean Craighead George's THE BUFFALO ARE BACK. These books present information with voice, passion and storyline and encourage readers to think, reflect, and make their own conclusions.
Jane Yolen has written that story is a co-creation between author and reader. Once a book is published, it belongs to the reader. I believe this is true for nonfiction. The reader is invited to think, to question, to join in discovery, and to search further – OK, use Google, take bites, or search through references and find the next feast. Nancy Bo Flood
Received on Mon 18 Oct 2010 01:05:37 PM CDT
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 2010 13:05:37 -0700
Feast or Fast Food
The discussions about nonfiction have been fascinating to follow. These dialogues have caused me to think deeper about why do we have books, why do we write for children, and how important are citations and references.
A book offers new set of eyes, a new perspective, a challenge to see differently or see something never noticed. That something could be dust under the bed (April Pulley Sayre) or the absence of women as tronauts (Tanya Lee Stone).
A “googled” bite of information provides a quick fact fix.
Good nonfiction should be an experience, not a list of facts or a narrative of information. Citations, indexing and references encoura ge the reader to think critically (where is this information from?) and loo k deeper.
Good nonfiction, like good journalism, should be the result of discovery, passion and literary craft. Information and skills are brou ght together to present a story with voice, sensory details, emotion and ac curate primary-source insights. Page-turning mystery, intrigue – or delight – is part of the reader’s experience or anger and outrage. Citations and references not only show where information is from but encourages the reader "to chec k it out, dig deeper."
Good nonfiction is the sharing of discovery that invites the reader to join in. Discovery, like creativity, is messy. Conflicting information, opposing views, disagreement become part of the reader’s experience:
“What is an author of books for younger readers to do? In our notes we can show that we are aware of conflict, aw are of differing views, and can introduce both young people and the adults who w ork with them to those questions. We can invite young people into the conflicts .” Marc Aronson, comment from 10- 17- 2010 Citations and references not only show the author's journey but invite the reader to continue. References can be organized as books suggested for you nger readers or those used by the author.
Two thoughtful picture books that present different perspectives about the near-extinction of buffalo: Joseph Bruchac’s BUFFALO SONG and Jean Craighead George's THE BUFFALO ARE BACK. These books present information with voice, passion and storyline and encourage readers to think, reflect, and make their own conclusions.
Jane Yolen has written that story is a co-creation between author and reader. Once a book is published, it belongs to the reader. I believe this is true for nonfiction. The reader is invited to think, to question, to join in discovery, and to search further – OK, use Google, take bites, or search through references and find the next feast. Nancy Bo Flood
Received on Mon 18 Oct 2010 01:05:37 PM CDT
