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English 213: Syllabus |
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English 213: Syllabus |
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B/H: "Introduction" (xiii-xvii) Ch.1: "Home" + "Setting" *Dokey + Bao Gia Tran Véa: chs. 1-2: pp. 1-39 Course Reader: Andrews, "God Bless You, Every Imam"; Pogrebin, "Superstitions"; Singer, "Typical"; Reed, "What's American About America?" |
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Th: turn in: Class Information sheet + (Map of the world) (fill out with atlas and turn in) |
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Week 2 4/6, 4/8
Reading
B/H: "Writing About Literature" (929-959) + "Glossary"
(969-974) (skim)
"Family" + "Characterization"
*Wideman
poems (your choice)
Class Pkt 2: II.(all), III.(all), IV.A-D & J, V.A-C, VI.B.1-5
(skim); XII
Va: chs. 3-5: 40-96
Course Reader: Sherover-Marcuse, "Unlearning Racism";
Wells, "A Jigsaw Puzzle"; Ellis (interview with Studs
Terkel); Staples, "Just Walk By"; Thich Nhat Hanh, "We
Are the Beater, We Are the Beaten"
Lecture/discussion:
New Criticism and the literary text. Connections and tensions
within the "family" or ethnic group; ways of defining
belonging and not-belonging. "Racism" v. "bigotry";
target v. non-target experience of oppression; tools and reasons
for unlearning racism (or "Looks like we're in this boat
together"); how change happens. Tricky terminology (or, How
not to walk on eggshells). The oppressive (illusion of) orthodoxy,
or (doublesided) "pc"; alternatives: respect, trust,
commun/ication. How to use e-mail and mailing lists.
Writing:
T: Journal response: Wideman
Th: #1 (descriptive narrative, 4+ pp. text): draft (with 3 copies
for writing group, with self-evaluation cover sheet)
Sun 4/11: Possible field trip: helping complete the new sidewalk
mural at St. Elmo Artist Colony (Los Angeles)
Week 3 4/13, 4/15
Reading
B/H: "Heritage" + "Point of View"
*Kingston; *Silko
poems (your choice)
Course Reader: Roszak, "Masculine/Feminine"; Kingston,
"On Discovery" + other short readings; Allen, "Where
I Come From Is Like This"; Sanders, "The Men We Carry
in Our Minds"
Class Pkt 2: IV.D-E & F-H, VI.A.(all), VI.B.1-4, VII.B.
Va: chs. 6-8: 97-163
Lecture/discussion:
Feminist criticism and the literary text. Gender and cultural
stereotyping; external and internalized oppression; dangers of
cultural generalization: the "gaze," or who represents
what culture to whom, for what reasons? Making the "anthropological
leap"; seeing through other eyes. And bringing it all home.
Writing:
T: Journal response to Kingston or Silko
Th: Essay #1: written comments from group members; confer with
instructor
Week 4 4/20, 4/22
Reading
B/H: "Language" + "Words"
*Naylor; Rodriguez
poems (your choice)
Course reader:
Class Pkt 2: IV.D-E & G-H, VIII
Va: chs. 9-11: 164-214
Course Reader: McIntosh, "White Privilege: Unpacking the
Invisible Knapsack"; Seldon, "On Being Color-Blind";
Fante, "Odyssey of a Wop"; Moore, "Racist Stereotyping
in the English Language"; Rushin, "The Bridge Poem"
Lecture/discussion:
Psychological criticism and the literary text. Ways of defining
one's connection to one's group(s); the role of ethnicity, class,
and gender in shaping individual and group identity; problems
with the concept of the "melting pot"; European American
ethnicities. Problems in language, continuing: (terminology, categorization,
and subterranean metaphors). Positive and negative privilege;
unlearning guilt (or, Does "I'm guilty" mean "Please
tell me I'm ok"?). Internalized oppression; silences and
silencing; constructive anger and productive discourse.
Writing:
T:Journal response to Rodriguez or Naylor
Th:Essay #1: revision to instructor + 3 extra copies to exchange
with your group
Week 5 4/27, 4/29
Reading
B/H: "Aliens" + "Expectation"
*Birtha + Johns
poems: Burns + your choice
Class Pkt 2: IV.F, V.(all), VI.C.2 (also C.1 & C.3)
Va: chs. 12-14: 215-276
Course Reader: Okita, "In Response to Executive Order 9066:
All Americans of Japanese Descent Must Report to Relocation Centers";
Crew, "Thriving as an Outsider, Even an Outcast, in Smalltown
America"; Olsen, "O Yes"
Lecture/discussion:
Biographical, historical, and new historicist criticism and the
literary text. The "borderlands" as sign of exclusion
or as locus of transformation; systemic and interpersonal oppressions;
consciousness and liberation. Sharing your "as if" narratives
in small groups.
Writing:
T:Journal response to Birtha
Th: Cultural research (on a contemporary U.S. ethnic group or
inter-group relationship): proposal + strategy + interview notes
Midterm self-evaluation + course evaluation
Film: "A Class Divided" + in-class freewriting
Week 6 5/4, 5/6
Reading
B/H: "Fences" + "Conflict and Structure"
*Morrison; Thomas; Seilsopour + poems (your choice)
Class Pkt 2: IV.G, V.D-F, VI.A (all)
Va: chs. 15-16: 277-305
Course Reader: Andrews, "God Bless You, Every Imam";
Olds, "On the Subway"; Jordan, "Unemployment/Monologue"
Lecture/discussion:
Research and the literary text. Intercultural communications and
miscommunications; problems of binary polarization (self v. other,
us v. them); scapegoating and the "useful enemy"; silencing
and marginalization. Small group process: designated roles and
tasks; feedback: appreciations, concerns, requests for change;
accountability: work logs.
Writing:
T: Journal response to Morrison
Th: Cultural research: annotated bibliography (1 pg)
Week 7 5/11, 5/13
Reading
B/H: "Crossing" + "Theme"
Soto; *Wolff + Nishimuta
poems (your choice)
Class Pkt 2: IV.D-E & G-J, V.(all), VI.B(all)
Course Reader: Heker, "The Stolen Party"; Puzo, "Choosing
a DreaT: Italians in Hell's Kitchen"
Lecture/discussion:
Deconstruction and the literary text. Generational differences;
rebellion and acceptance; ethnicity, gender, class and definitions
of self; alienation, connection, and presence. "The invisible
is not necessarily not-there."
Writing:
T: Journal response to Wolff or Soto
Th: Cultural research: sketch of main ideas (1 pg)
Week 8 5/18, 5/20
Reading
B/H: "Americans" + "Contexts"
*Mukherjee
poems (your choice)
Class Pkt 2: VI.A (all), X.
Course Reader: Petrakis, "Barba Nikos"; Suarez, "El
Hoyo"
Lecture/discussion
Reader response and the literary text. Review/ drawing together
ideas from the course: redefining "American"; unity
in diversity/ diversity in unity; cultural multiplicity and individual
experience
Writing:
T: Journal response to Mukherjee
Th: Handout for colloquium presentation
Week 9 5/25, 5/27
Reading
B/H: "Myth and Symbol," *Targan
"Beliefs"; *Viramontes
poems (your choice)
Class Pkt 2: IV.D-E & G-H, V.A-F, VI.A.3, XII
Course Reader: Molodowsky, "Song of the Sabbath" &
"God of Mercy"; Rukeyser, "To Be a Jew in the Twentieth
Century"; Layton, "Keine Lazarovitch"; Hirsh, "In
a Polish Home for the Aged"
Lecture/discussion:
Reader response and the literary text. Generational differences:
defining family and meaning. "Keeping faith" in the
face of the incomprehensible.
Review for final:B/H, Va, other readings
Writing:
T: Journal response to Targan or Viramontes
Th: handout (Colloquium I)
Week 10 6/1, 6/3
Reading
Class Pkt 2: XI
Lecture/discussion:
Alternate modes of perception; envisioning transformation and
the possibility of healing.
Writing:
T: Portfolio of course writings due (see "Course Description"
for details)
Th: handout (colloquium presentations)
Th: Self-evaluation & course evalutation (1 pg. each)
Presentations
T: Colloquia I-II
Th: Colloquia III-IV
11 Final exam day: Thursday 6/10 9:10-11:10 9-275
Presentations
"Weaving" of quotes (with sources cited: author &
page only); bring copies for the class
Take-home final exam due (2 essay questions, possible i.d. questions)
Multi-ethnic celebration: stories, poetry, food, dance, music, and such
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