The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.
The development of Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood and Adolescence (GEOCA) was directed by one of the most well-respected teachers and researchers in the field of child development, Jerome Kagan of Harvard University (see About the Editor, page vii). From a master list of over 1,500 terms prepared under Professor Kagan's direction, the editorial advisors reviewed and selected over 800 terms for inclusion in GEOCA. In carrying out this daunting task, the advisors, representing the wide range of disciplines encompassing child development, focused their work on the needs of the target audience for GEOCA—parents, librarians, teachers, undergraduate students, health care providers, and social service professionals.
Terms reflect the range of subfields encompassed by the field of child development—from profiles of notable individuals and organizations to essays on childhood illnesses and diseases, to key concepts and theories. The comprehensive bibliography complements the suggestions for further reading that accompany nearly all essays. A comprehensive subject index directs users to topics of interest.
The contributors acknowledge the support and assistance of their own colleagues and staff members who provided guidance and review during preparation of essays for this work. Boris Birmaher, M.D., and David Axelson, M.D., wish to thank Therese Deiseroth for her assistance in the preparation of the entry on depression. Cherie B. Boyer, Ph.D., University of California, San Francisco, wishes to acknowledge the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Sexually Transmitted Disease Branch for their financial support of her work on sexually transmitted diseases. Dr. Boyer would also like to thank Dulce Mohler and Ming Lau for their assistance in preparing the manuscript on the subject for this encyclopedia.
The editors acknowledge with gratitude the support and guidance provided by staff editors at Gale Research: Thorn Votteler, who saw the project through its planning stages; Kyung Lim Kalasky, who edited the entries and kept the project moving forward with skill, patience, and intelligence; Christine Jeryan, who supervised the development process; Shanna Heilveil and Evi Seoud, who took the finished product and turned it into a bound volume.
Special appreciation is due to the contributors and advisors, guided by executive editor Jerome Kagan, for their warmth, intelligence, and diligent support through the years of development of GEOCA. I hope they will join me in beaming with pride at this bound product of their outstanding efforts.
Susan Gall
Managing Editor Summer 1997