Course Description
Introduce themes and ideas in Latina/o literature by studying representative authors of diverse US Latino peoples.

Course Objectives
This course is designed to be an introduction to critical, historical, and cultural issues of Latina/o people in the United States. Rather than focus solely on Mexican Americans, we will also examine Nuyoricans, Cuban-American, Dominicans, and various other immigrant peoples from Latin America. We will examine misconceptions, stereotypes, and assumptions about Latina/os in the US by examining the variety of themes and ideas in their literature and by studying heritage, tradition, cultural identification, creativity, linguistic and stylistic innovations, symbol, and the use and transmission of oral or folk tradition.

Course Requirements
Midterm and Final examinations;
Research paper;
Four reaction papers;
Class attendance and participation.

Method of Evaluation
Letter grades, A-F

Required Texts
Algarín, Miguel and Bob Holman (eds.) Aloud: Voices from the Nuyorican Poets Cafe
Anzaldúa, Gloria. Borderlands/La Frontera
Diaz, Junot. Drown.
Garcia, Cristina. The Aguero Sisters.
Hinojosa, Rolando. Dear Rafe
Rivera, Tomás. Y no se lo tragó la tierra (And the Earth did not Devour Him)
Rodriguez, Abraham. The Boy Without a Flag
Valdez, Luis. Zoot Suit




Syllabus:
On separate sheet.

Course Requirements:


Grading:
15% First Exam
15% Final Exam
35% Reaction Papers
10% Attendance and participation
25% Research Paper

Reaction papers:
Five page paper comparing the assigned texts. Assignment is clearly labeled for each paper on syllabus. Papers must be in MLA format.


Research Paper:
Eight to ten page research paper examining one of the assigned texts or, with my specific approval, a text or theme of your choice. You must cite at least four references in the form of articles or books; neither internet web sites, encyclopedias, dictionaries, nor class texts count toward the five reference requirement, although if you use information from these sources, you must cite them correctly. Your paper must be written in MLA format.
Plagiarism will result in a failing grade.

Attendance and Participation:
Unfailing attendance 5%
Frequent relevant comments 5%
Frequent attendance 4%
Occasional pertinent comments 4%
Spotty attendance 3%
Couple, three-four good comments 3%
Crawling in bleeding 2%
Timid silence 2%
Name is mystery 1%
Outbursts, irrelevant comments -1%
Death in class 0%
Reading other texts or newspaper -2%
Rotting in class -1%
Chatting, disrupting neighbors -3%

Yes, Virginia, it is entirely possible to obtain negative points for your behavior. Don't.