Office Hours:
T & Th 2:30-3:30, W 2:00-3:00, and by appointment.

Class Topic: American Perspectives

Synopsis:

In this course, we will examine texts and films that depict various issues concerning Latina/os, people called Hispanic, in the United States. Currently the fastest growing ethnic segment of the United States, and soon to be the majority population in California, Latina/os are increasingly prominent in the United States. We will examine the similarities and differences among the diverse peoples who are labeled Hispanic or Latina/o. We will read some old and traditional texts, and then we will examine much more recent work. Throughout the course, we will maintain socio-political and literary historical perspectives. On the one hand, we will address Latina/os and various types of Latina/os in their historical specificity, but on the other hand, we will not elide the fact that US Latina/o literature is a product of the United States and thus a part of "American" literature. Thus, after we progress through a series of texts that illustrate the development and growth of Latina/o literature, we will conclude by considering to what degree we can see contemporary work either writing into the "American" mainstream or rewriting that mainstream through an alternate perspective.

Required Texts (Available at The Book Stop, 931 16th Street, The University Bookstore, and various internet providers such as Amazon.com and half.com)
Alruista. As our barrio turns . . . who the yoke b on? Calaca Press; ISBN 0-9660773-3-4
Cabeza de Baca, Fabiola. We Fed Them Cactus. UNM Press; ISBN 0-8263-1503-8
Chacón, Daniel. Chicano Chicanery. Arte Publico Press; ISBN 1-55885-280-8
Estevez, Sandra Maria. Bluestown Mockingbird Mambo. Arte Publico Pr; ISBN: 1558850171
Goldman, Francisco. The Ordinary Seaman. Grove Press; ISBN: 080213548X
Menendez, Ana. In Cuba I was a German Shepherd. Grove Press; ISBN: 0-8021-1688-4
Quiñonez, Ernesto. Bodega Dreams. Vintage; ISBN: 0-375-70589-9
Vea, Alfredo. Gods Go Begging. Plume; ISBN 0-452-28115-6
Vilar, Irene. The Ladies Gallery. Vintage; ISBN 0-679-74546-7

Note: For each book, I have provided the press and ISBN that I specified in my book order. If you decide to purchase these texts somewhere other than the two bookstores where I placed my order, be sure to order the correct book – order the ISBN number.

Be aware that some of these texts describe sexual situations, and some of the sexual relationships in these texts are homosexual (gay and/or lesbian). We will not debate the morality of human sexuality in my class, although we will discuss how sexuality functions in the various texts. If these issues in texts or class discussions will disturb or distract you to the point that you are not learning, drop this class.

Weekly Syllabus (note: reading assignments are to be completed by the first day of class for which the specific text is assigned):

Week 1:
8/28 Introduction
8/30 Cabeza de Vaca

Week 2:
9/4 Cabeza de Vaca Last Day to Add Classes
9/6 Cabeza de Vaca

Week 3:
9/11 Film Last Day to Drop Classes
9/13 Film

Week 4:
9/18 Vilar
9/20 Vilar

Week 5:
9/25 Vilar, Response Paper #1 due at the beginning of class.
9/27 Menendez

Week 6:
10/2 Menendez
10/4 Menendez Distribution of Part 1 of Mid-term Exam. Answers are due at the beginning of class on October 18.

Week 7:
10/9 Chacón
10/11 No Class

Week 8:
10/16 Chacón
10/18 Mid-term Exam. This exam will be in two parts. The first part, a take-home research question, will be distributed on October 4. The answer to the first part is due at the beginning of the class period today, October 18. The second part of the exam is in class and will be administered today.

Week 9:
10/23 Goldman
10/25 Goldman

Week 10:
10/30 Quiñonez
11/1 Quiñonez, Response Paper #2 due at the beginning of class.

Week 11:
11/6 Vea
11/8 Vea

Week 12:
11/13 Alruista
11/15 Alruista

Week 13:
11/20 Alruista, Response Paper #3 due at the beginning of class.
11/22 Thanksgiving

Week 14:
11/27 Estevez
11/29 Estevez

Week 15:
12/4 Estevez
12/6 Conclusions

10:45 - 1:15 Tuesday, December 11. You must be present at the final exam. Short of your death or admittance to hospital, I will accept no excuses. Failure to attend the exam during the scheduled period will result in a grade of zero. Plan your plane flights, family activities, psychosomatic illnesses, traumas, disasters, lost pets, insanity (zodiacal, lunar, and criminal), and spiritual torpor and/or existential paralysis appropriately.

Response Paper #1 15%
Response Paper #2 20%
Response Paper #3 20%
Mid-term Exam 15%
Final Exam 20%
Attendance & Participation 10%

Response paper topics will be assigned in class. Paper will be five to six pages in length, typed, double-spaced, in MLA format. Cite the texts using MLA format. Be aware that the purpose of these papers is both to help prepare you for the exams and to ascertain the various perspectives students are using to read the texts. Thus, you should give evidence that you have indeed read the texts. Citing relevant passages is a very good idea here. Remember – MLA format.

I will deduct one point for each circled mistake, and these points will be deducted from the score your paper merits for content. UNC has extensive resources to assist students with writing. Use them. Also note that I specify that you submit papers in MLA format. If you do not use MLA format, then I will deduct one letter grade from your overall score.

I will deduct ten percent of the assignment’s overall grade for every day that the assignment is late. If you miss an assignment, by all means turn in something within five days – twenty or thirty percent is certainly better than zero.

Plagiarism occurs when an individual represents someone else’s work as his or her own. If you download a paper off of an internet cite and turn it in as your own, that is plagiarism. If you copy sentences or passages written by someone else and do not attribute the source, that is plagiarism. If I suspect plagiarism, I will investigate by whatever means available, including various internet sites designed to specifically find passages copied from websites. Be advised that these internet search engines are extremely efficient. Plagiarized assignments will receive a grade of zero and will be reported to the proper authorities. Do not plagiarize.

100% – consistent contribution to class discussion
90% – frequent contribution to class discussion
80% – occasional contribution to class discussion
70% – pleasant demeanor, attentive presence
60% – napping, drooling, doodling, mild surliness
50% – reading newspaper, chatting with neighbors, growling
40% – sickness in class, bleeding on floor (bonus points for bringing and using plastic bags)
30% – dragging intestines, bones protruding through skin (bonus points for determination)
20% – death in class (internment is generally not covered in your student fees)
10% – decomposition in chair (90 bonus points for diligence, however)
0% – face, name, existence utter mystery to Professor