Latina/o Literature and
Literature of the Americas at the
University of Northern Colorado
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ENG 236.003 Dr. Marcus Embry http://asweb.unco.edu/latina/ Office Hours: Tuesday & Wednesday 1:30-3:00 and by appointment. Synopsis: In this course, we will examine texts 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. Students are expected to develop the following:
Required Texts (Available at The Book Stop, 931 16th Street, The University Bookstore, and various internet providers such as Amazon.com and half.com): Acosta, Oscar Zeta. Revolt of the Cockroach People. Vintage Books;
ISBN: 0679722122 On Reserve in Michener Library (ask for the following texts by author’s last name): Anzaldua, Gloria. Selections from Borderlands/La Frontera. 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 Acosta 8/30 Acosta Week 2: 9/4 Read Novas on Reserve, Lecture – Historical Perspectives 9/6 Lecture – Literary traditions Week 3: 9/11 Read Gonzalez on Reserve 9/13 Read Anzaldua on Reserve Week 4: 9/18 Read Munoz on Reserve, Discussion – Exilic Memory 9/20 Diaz Week 5: 9/25 Tobar 9/27 Discussion – Exilic Memory Week 6: 10/2 Tafoya 10/4 Tafoya Week 7: 10/9 Tafoya 10/11 Mid-term Exam Week 8: 10/16 Montero 10/18 Montero Week 9: 10/23 Obejas 10/25 Obejas Week 10: 10/30 Obejas 11/1 Presentation on Cuban-American Literature Week 11: 11/6 Vea 11/8 Vea Week 12: 11/13 Vea 11/15 Presentation on Children’s Literature Week 13: 11/20 Alcala 11/22 Alcala Week 14: 11/27 Ramos 11/29 Thanksgiving – NO CLASS Week 15: 12/4 Ramos 12/6 Conclusions Final Exam: Grading: Assignments Class Presentations: Instead of a research paper, this course requires a class presentation and paper as a research project. Students will be divided into five groups, and each group will research, write a group paper, and present a group presentation to the class on an assigned topic. Be aware that all members of the group will share the common grade. Grading will be based on the following requirements for this assignment: Presentation (30%): The class presentation will last for the entire class period, usually forty to forty-five minutes. Each group is required to amass enough information to fill the time period. The presentation must be made on the day assigned, and all members of the group must be present. Absence by members of the group will detract from the group grade. Content (30%): This assignment is more than a book report. Each group must integrate or interpolate its particular subject into the themes, ideas, and texts that we have explored in class. Book reports or simplistic presentations that do not attempt to make connections to broader class themes will be assigned an unsatisfactory grade. You must do better than the minimum. Written Assignment (40%): Each group will turn in a paper at the beginning of the class period when the presentation is assigned. The paper will be twelve to fifteen pages in length, MLA format, and will have at least 8 references to paper sources and 4 references to Internet websites. Regarding the 8 required paper source references, students are expected to use traditional library research methods and strategies; dictionaries and encyclopedias will not count toward the 8 required sources, although if dictionaries and/or encyclopedias are used, they must be properly cited. Remember to use MLA format fall all citations (including internet). Rules for writing, detailed below, will apply to this writing assignment as well. Response Papers: One Response paper topic is listed on this syllabus, the other topic will be announced 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. Important Note: 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. Late Assignment Policy: 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. Other Important Information Plagiarism: 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. Disability Access Statement Students with disabilities who believe they may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact the Disability Access Center (970) 351-2289 as soon as possible to better ensure that accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. Presence and Participation: To receive the most benefit from this course, you should attend each scheduled class meeting. Since almost all of you are legal adults and most of you are going into debt to attend college, I do not enforce an attendance policy. If you skip class, you are wasting your own time and money. Be advised that I do design tests and writing assignments in relation to class discussion. Over the course of my years here, the students who attend class earn higher grades. As a general rule, I use the following scale to grade your attendance and participation:100% – consistent contribution to class
discussion 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 As a General Education course, this course intends to help you:
Que le vaya bien. |
