ENG 262.004
Literature of the Americas
Spring, 1999
Professor Marcus Embry
L-30 Michener, 351-2111
membry@unco.edu
web.unco.edu/eng/latina

In this class, we will explore various works of literature from the Americas. Overall, there will be two themes we will explore. The first theme is the opposition of diachronic and synchronic constructions of meaning and the function of this narrative method in Magical Realism. The second theme is a close focus on Central America and the "dirty wars" fought in El Salvador and Nicaragua during the 1980s and their portrayal in literature. In addition to the texts assigned, this class will also view various films that are relevant to the issues and texts under discussion. Students are required to attend all classes.

Texts:
Available at The Book Stop (916 16 St., Greeley):
Arguedas, Jose M. Deep Rivers
Argueta, Manlio. One Day of Life
Belli, Gioconda. The Inhabited Woman
Bombal, Maria Luisa. Shrouded Woman & House of Mist
Cerda, Martha. Senora Rodriguez and other stories
Garcia Marquez, Gabriel. One Hundred Years of Solitude
Goldman, Francisco. Long Night of White Chickens
Traba, Marta. Mothers and Shadows

Act I: Diachronic, Synchronic, and Magical Realism. Students are required to know adequate definitions of the following terms: Magical Realism, Diachronic, Synchronic, "Boom Period" of Latin American Literature, Modernismo, and Las Americas. Additionally, students should look up each of the assigned authors in the Dictionary of Literary Biography or a similar source and be familiar with the significant details of each author's life.


1/13 Introduction
1/15 House of Mist


1/18 House of Mist
1/20 House of Mist
1/22 House of Mist


1/25 Shrouded Woman
1/27 Shrouded Woman
1/29 Shrouded Woman
Response Paper due


2/1 Hundred Years
2/3 Hundred Years
2/5 No Class


2/8 Hundred Years
2/10 Hundred Years
2/12 Hundred Years
Response Paper due


2/15 Arguedas
2/17 Arguedas
2/19 Arguedas


2/22 Arguedas
2/24 Arguedas
2/26 Mid-term exam


3/1 Cerda
3/3 Cerda
3/5 Cerda


3/8 Traba
3/10 Traba
3/12 Traba
Response Paper due
Spring Break

Act II: Central America, Dirty Wars, and Memory. How does memory function in these novels? How is the issue of personal memory tied to the issue of national memory and the memory represented by the media and popular culture?


3/22 Argueta
3/24 Argueta
3/26 Argueta


3/29 Belli
3/31 Belli
4/2 Belli


4/5 Belli
4/7 Belli
4/9 Belli
Response Paper due


4/12 Goldman
4/14 Goldman
4/16 Goldman
Term Paper due


4/19 Goldman
4/21 Goldman
4/23 Goldman


4/26 Goldman
4/28 Conclusion
4/30 Conclusion


Final Exam

Grading:
Response Papers: 20%
Mid-Term Exam: 20%
Final Exam: 20%
Term Paper: 30%
Attendance & Participation: 10%

Research Paper:
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 five 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.

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. Thus, even on the best possible ten page paper (A+, which is as rare as hen's teeth), if you average four mistakes per page, you will fail this course. 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 twelve points from your overall score immediately.

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.

Grade Computation:
100-90 A A+ 100 A 95 A- 92
89-80 B B+ 88 B 85 B- 81
79-70 C C+ 78 C 75 C- 71
69-60 D D+ 68 D 65 D- 61
below 60 F F 55 N 30 Z 5

Que les vaya muy bien.