English 2336, Introduction to Multicultural Literature, Spring 2010
Instructor Name: Stacey Higdon
Email Address: stacey.higdon@hccs.edu
Course #: 21334
Meeting Days/Times: T/TH, 7:00-9:00pm
Office Hours: By appointment
English Dept. phone: (713) 718-6671
Course Overview:
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
1.
Explain and illustrate stylistic characteristics of multicultural literature, including selections from fiction, non- fiction,
poetry, and drama, written by a diverse group of contemporary writers.
2.
Connect representative works of multicultural literature to human and individual values in historical and social
contexts.
3.
Demonstrate knowledge of various works of multicultural literature
4.
Analyze critical texts relating to works of multicultural literature.
5.
Critique and interpret various works of multicultural literature.
Catalog Description
Prerequisite: ENGL 1302
Credit: 3 (3 lecture)
This course is a survey of multicultural literature written by a diverse group of contemporary writers. Students will read
selections from fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and drama and will analyze these works through class discussions and written
assignments. This course requires substantial reading, writing, and research. Core Curriculum Course.
Required Materials:
Beaty, Jerome, and J. Paul Hunter, eds. New Worlds of Literature. 2nd edition. New York: Norton, 1994.
ISBN: 0-393-96354-3
Jin, Ha. The Bridegroom. New York: Pantheon Books, 2000. ISBN: 0-375-42067-3
Pham, Andrew X. Catfish and Mandala. New York: Picador USA, 1999. ISBN: 0-312-26717-7
College-ruled notebook paper; 3 punch folder with pockets. A journal.
Blue books (sold in campus bookstore) for midterm exam and final exam
Grading
Unless I make changes and announce otherwise, the overall breakdown of graded assignments and their corresponding values
will be calculated as followed:
GRADE DETERMINATION:
Your grade will be determined by the following:
Percent of Final
Average
Essay #1 (750-1000 words)
10%
Essay #2 (750-1000 words)
10%
Journal/Quizzes/Class Participation/attendance/conduct
20%
Essay #3 - midterm (Essay #3 written during midterm)
15%
Essay #4-Research Paper: including Draft(s)
(1000-1500 words)
30%
Essay #5 (written during the final exam)
Final Exam: (passage identification, short questions)
15%
Assignments:
Readings and Class Participation
All our work will be the product of careful, detailed, close reading. Be prepared to discuss the readings on their assigned due
dates—ALL students will be expected to participate regularly in classroom discussions. If you don’t plan to do the readings this
semester, or don’t plan to participate actively, you may want to consider adding a different course.
Essays
There will be five essays—this includes the MT and Final--that will be drafted over the course of the semester. Details about
these will be discussed in class.
Midterm and Final Exam
Journal/Quizzes/Class Participation, attendance, conduct
Submission of Work: Papers are due at the beginning of class on the day due. Late papers will be penalized one letter grade
each calendar day they are late. Late papers are unacceptable after seven calendar days. Each student receives one late paper,
one calendar day at the latest, without penalty.
Papers should include a full heading, and number all pages of main text (MLA-style). All essays should have a distinct title and
should be double-spaced. Staple or clip the pages together in the upper left-hand corner. If you must miss a deadline,
communicate with me to request an extension (which may or may not be granted).
Student’s name
Instructor’s Name
Date
Essays will be graded for appropriateness, unity and focus, development, organization, sentence structure, word
usage, and mechanics.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism involves using another’s ideas or words without giving proper credit to those sources. Even if a student
paraphrases information from an outside source--such as the internet, books, magazines, other essays, etc.--the student must
give those sources credit for the ideas by using both in-text citations and a works cited page. Prior to W-day, if it is discovered
that a student has plagiarized any portion of any assignment, then the student will be dropped from the course. After W-day, if
it is discovered that a student has plagiarized any portion of any assignment, then the student will receive an F for the course
instead of a W. If a student inadvertently plagiarizes because the student has failed to give full attention to assigned course
activities or readings that could have prevented the student from plagiarizing, then such plagiarism is also considered
intentional. Remember that using sources requires attention to detail; plagiarism resulting from carelessness is still plagiarism.
Any work students write for this course must be their original work that has not been previously drafted or published,
submitted for another class, or submitted to essay websites. Students who plagiarize written work will receive an "F" on the
assignment and/or the course.
Classroom Conduct: Students are expected to have respect for themselves, their classmates, and their instructor. This class
relies on daily discussions in large groups, so it is important that all students come prepared to discuss the readings that have
been assigned for homework. During discussions, it is fine to respectfully disagree with your peers, but remember that in order
to have an effective discussion, the participants cannot simply respond emotionally to the texts and to their peers; they must
respond logically. Healthy debate is sure to take place in class, but students should make sure they remain respectful to others.
Remember that the class is made up of a diverse group of people, so students should be considerate when choosing their words.
Here are a few simple rules to follow to make classroom interaction more effective: (1) Do not talk, whisper, text-message, etc.
when the instructor or another student is speaking. (2) Do not sleep or put your head down. Students who fall asleep will be
asked to leave and will be counted absent. (3) Do not begin packing up at the end of class until your instructor has officially
dismissed the class. Early pack-up is contagious and very distracting. (4) Make sure your cell phone is off when you enter the
classroom. (5) Use of a laptop in class must be approved in advance by the instructor. Students who bring laptops to class
should arrive early and sit near the front of the classroom. (6) If you have personal issues to discuss with the instructor, please
do so in private before class begins or after class has ended.
Tutoring: Free tutoring is available in the Writing Lab (FAC 321B). Check for full hours of operation.
Open Computer Lab: Computers are available for word processing in FAC 302, SJAC 204A, and in the Macintosh
Interdisciplinary Lab in JDB 203-204. Check for hours of operation.
Attendance: Because every class will involve some activity which will affect your course grade, you will be expected to attend
every class, be on time and stay through the end. You are responsible for materials covered during your absence; it is your
responsibility to consult with me for make-up assignments [NOTE: not all assignments may be made up after the day they were
due; missed in-class assignments may not be made up: this includes In-Class Essays.] Class attendance is checked daily.
Electronics: Please turn off all cell phones, iPods, etc before class begins. Ringing/vibrating phones disrupt instruction. If
I see anyone texting in class, that person will be asked to leave. Anyone using an iPod in class will be asked to leave.
Assignments Before Class: Please read the assignment before coming to class and be prepared for discussion.
Grading: Your grade will be determined by your performance on the required papers as well as on weekly work comprised of
quizzes, and class discussion. Discussions are based not exclusively on personal opinions but on facts and opinions derived
from the essays we read from our book and from handouts. Essays will be graded according to the following departmental
standards. IMPORTANT: I will not accept any work other than the final exam after May 6 th.
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Grading Scale
A 90-100% =exceptional work; superior in both style and content
B 80-89% =above average work; superior in content
C 70-79% =average work, good enough but not extraordinary
D 60-69% =below average work; mean mechanics, style, content
F 50-59% =failing work; deficient in mechanics, style and content
Withdrawals: If for any reason you wish to withdraw from this course (and therefore receive a grade of W as opposed to F),
you must formally initiate the withdrawal process yourself (through the proper channels in the Registrar’s Office) and/or
communicate that request directly to your professor--sufficiently in advance of the deadline designated by HCC for the current
term.
(NOTE: A student who simply ceases attending, without formally withdrawing from this course, will likely be assigned a grade
of F.)
Course Grading
A 90-100% B 80-89%
C 70-79%
D 60-69%
F 0-59%
I (Incomplete) may be assigned, at the professor’s discretion, but only in unusual circumstances that require communication
with, and approval by, the professor before the end of the semester.
W (Withdrawn) may be assigned, at the professor’s discretion, prior to the designated deadline (see above). According to HCC
policy, the professor may also independently elect to administratively withdraw any student who misses more than 12.5 % of the
scheduled class sessions
Special Accommodations: Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.)
who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Services Office at the beginning of each
semester. For more information, please contact the disability counselor at your college (or call 713-718-5165).
I reserve the right to announce necessary changes in this syllabus and assignment calendar at any time during the
term. It is highly likely that more readings will be added as the course progresses. Readings should be completed
BEFORE class, as we will have discussion and reading quizzes.
Tentative Schedule of Assignments*
*Subject to change
-- reading assignments from the novel we'll read will begin at Week 6—an updated reading
AND discussion schedule will be handed out closer to the date.
Week 1
Feb 16
Feb 18
Introductions
Introductions
HW: Read Anthony, “Sandra Street” (3); Tan, “A Pair of Tickets” (10); Howard,
“Escape the Ghettos of New York” (37)
Extra-Credit Opportunity: attend Flyin' West (play), write a TWO page review—information will be
passed out to those interested; there will likely be more of these opportunities
Week 2
Feb 23
Discuss Readings—Anthony, “Sandra Street”; Tan, “A Pair of Tickets”; Howard,
“Escape the Ghettos of New York”
HW: Cervantes, “Freeway 280” (42); Revard, “Driving in Oklahoma” (44); Sheffield, “The
'Gentle Wholeness' of Home” (93)
Feb 25
Week 3
Mar 02
Mar 04
Week 4
Mar 09
Mar 11
Week 5
Mar 16
Discuss Readings—Cervantes, “Freeway 280”; Revard, “Driving in Oklahoma”; Sheffield,
“The 'Gentle Wholeness' of Home”
HW: Journal Entry from Personal Essays and Narratives (110); Read Woo, “Letter to Ma”
and Student Response (159; 179); Lee, “The Gift” (149)
Discuss Readings—Woo, “Letter to Ma” and Student Response; Lee, “The Gift”
HW: Read Munoz, “Little Sister Born in This Land” (152); Ortiz, “My Father's Song”;
Johnson, “The Limitless Heart” (170)
Essay #1 due (hard copy); Discuss Readings—Munoz, “Little Sister Born in This Land”;
Ortiz, “My Father's Song”; Johnson, “The Limitless Heart”
HW: Read Kingston, “No Name Woman” (190); Angelou, “Africa” (216)
Discuss Readings—Kingston, “No Name Woman”; Angelou, “Africa”
HW: Read Young Bear, “in the first place of my life” (217); Engle, “Digging for Roots” (234);
Discuss Readings—Young Bear, “in the first place of my life”; Engle, “Digging for Roots”;
HW: Journal Entry from Imitations and Parodies (250)
NO CLASS: Spring Break
Mar 18
NO CLASS: Spring Break
HW: Midterm on March 23rd
Week 6
Mar 23
Begin Catfish and Mandala: reading assignments will be added on to the schedule.
Midterm (Essay #3): written in class; bring a blue book.
HW: Read Cofer, “More Room” (238); Lee “Persimmons” (294)
Mar 25
Discuss Readings—Cofer, “More Room”; Lee “Persimmons”
HW: Read Rodriquez, “Aria” (326); Pau-Llosa, “Foreign Language”; Journal Entry from
Personal Narratives or Imitations and Parodies (355)
Week 7
Mar 30
Apr 01
Week 8
Apr 06
Apr 08
Discuss Readings—Rodriquez, “Aria” (326); Pau-Llosa, “Foreign Language” (297); novel
HW: Read Bissoondath, “There Are a Lot of Ways to Die” (387); Shaheen, “The Media's
Image of Arabs” (422); Birtha, “Jonnieruth” (381); Reading from novel
Discuss Readings—Bissoondath, “There Are a Lot of Ways to Die”; Shaheen, “The
Media's Image of Arabs”; Birtha, “Jonnieruth”
HW: Read Seilsopour, “I Forgot the Words to the National Anthem” (576); Thomas, “Next
Life, I'll Be White” (578)
Discuss Readings—Seilsopour, “I Forgot the Words to the National Anthem” (576);
Thomas, “Next Life, I'll Be White” (578)
HW: Read Soto, “Like Mexicans” (695); Alvarez, “Hold the Mayonnaise” (699); Journal Entry
from Personal Essays and Narratives (796)
Discuss Readings—Soto, “Like Mexicans” (695); Alvarez, “Hold the Mayonnaise” (699)
HW: Read Mukherjee, “Hindus” and Student Response (743; 797); Monteagudo, “Miami,
Florida” (778); Mori, “Abalone, Abalone, Abalone” (807)
Week 9
Apr 13
Apr 15
Week 10
Apr 20
Apr 22
Week 11
Apr 27
Apr 29
Week 12
May 04
May 06
Final Exam:
May 11
Essay #2 due (hard copy); Discuss Readings—Mukherjee, “Hindus” and Student Response
(743; 797); Monteagudo, “Miami, Florida” (778); Mori, “Abalone, Abalone, Abalone” (807)
HW: Read Begay, “Beyond Sacred Mountains” (897); King, Jr., “I Have a Dream” (917)
Discuss Readings—Begay, “Beyond Sacred Mountains” (897); King, Jr., “I Have a Dream”
(917); Rough Draft for Essay#4 due (hard copy)
NO CLASS: Conferences for Rough Draft
NO CLASS: Conferences for Rough Draft
HW: Journal Entry from Personal Essays and Narratives and Imitations and Parodies;
Film
HW: Read Erdrich, “Fleur” (815); Viramontes, “The Moths” (809)
Discuss Readings—Erdrich, “Fleur” (815); Viramontes, “The Moths” (809); Journal due
HW: Read Targon, “Dominion” (826); Momaday, “The Eagle-Feather Fan” (845);
Song, “Heaven” (852)
Response-Film due: discussion from papers
HW: Read Portillo,The Day of the Swallows (864)
Essay #4 due (hard copy); Discuss Readings; Discuss In-Class Final Exam
All work is due—NO EXCEPTIONS
Written in class during regular class time. Pick up Work.
--Bring a blue book.