Instructor: Tuesday Schedule No. Office Hours: Email: REQUIRED TEXT: Achebe, Chinua Angelou, Maya Asante, M.K. Jr. Butler, Octavia McCall, Nathan Morrison, Toni Dr. Bonnie Reddick 4:00PM-6:40PM ~ AH-4176 20117 Tuesdays – 9:00AM-10:00AM ~ AL369 breddick@mail.sdsu.edu Things Fall Apart I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings Buck Kindred Them The Bluest Eye WELCOME Welcome to the Africana Studies 260 community of writers and critical thinkers. This semester, we will examine a variety of African American literature produced by people of African descent. We will explore a multitude of concepts, themes, issues, and writers that define and advance the Africana literary tradition. We will analyze social, political, economic, historical, cultural, and aesthetic contexts that are a part of the Africana experience. COURSE DESCRIPTION Oral and written literature produced by people of African descent. How Africana people use language to communicate their history and culture. Basic literary vocabulary, techniques, and theories for the non-specialist. COURSE OBJECTIVES: By the end of the semester, students will demonstrate their ability to think critically, analyze issues, and present them orally and in writing. Students will analytically present and support an argument; critique the ideas and opinions of others, and write and present cogent arguments, demonstrating his/her knowledge of appropriate research techniques, MLA or APA documentation, and overall organization. By the end of the semester, students will demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the African world experience as a dynamic and unfolding process. Students will be able to explain the impact of slavery and colonization on African peoples and society. Students will explore the political, economic and social movements for the liberation of African people worldwide. Students will be able to identify and explain the dislocation and relocation of African people in the Diaspora. GRADING: Quizzes ` Critical Reading Responses Midterm Final Attendance & Participation TOTAL POINTS 20% 35% 20% 25% 10% 100% A (95-100); A- (90-94); B+ (86-89); B (83-85); B- (80-82); C+ (76-79); C (73-75); C- (70-72); D+ (66-69); D (63-65); D- (60-62); F (0-59) READING Reading is an important part of developing strong writing and critical thinking skills. Completion of all assigned readings will be necessary for quizzes, homework, essays, exams, and class discussions. WRITING The culminating experience for this course is a research paper. A typical research paper has three components: 1) it is a compilation of various sources on a particular topic, and the writer’s charge is to summarize and/or paraphrase the information. This is where you become the subject-matter expert; 2) analysis – every scholar is obligated to systematically deconstruct the information and offer his/her perspective; 3) The most important aspect of this process is the writer’s obligation to offer his/her unique perspective. Turnitin.com Students agree that by taking this course all required papers will be subject to submission for textual similarity review to Turnitin.com for the detection of plagiarism. All submitted papers will be included as source documents in the Turnitin.com reference database solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of such papers. You may submit your papers in such a way that no identifying information about you is included. Another option is that you may request, in writing, that your papers not be submitted to Turnitin.com. However, if you choose this option you will be required to provide documentation to substantiate that the papers are your original work and do not include any plagiarized material. QUIZZES There may be a quiz on each reading assignment. Quizzes will be given at the beginning of class. You will be given 10 minutes. If you arrive late or miss class, you cannot make it up. Quizzes may contain True/False, Multiple Choice and short fill in questions. CRITICAL READING RESPONSE Each student will write a Critical Reading Response to each text. The purpose of a critical reading response is to examine, explain, and defend your personal reaction to a text. It obligates you to go beyond whether you like it or not, and it requires you to articulate specifically why you like or dislike the text. In addition, it compels you to apply your examination of the text to your own life. You must demonstrate an understanding of the text by clearly explaining and supporting your commentary with specific examples. To that extent, your response should not contain a lengthy summary of the text; rather, it should incorporate analysis that leads to logical and reasonable conclusions. You will be provided with questions, and you will be asked to response to a number of them. Each response should stake a CLAIM. What is your thesis? Please highlight your thesis in bold text. Include EVIDENCE that is properly cited, and articulate your RATIONALE (analysis). Your scholarly voice should resonate. Each response should be cogent, fluid, and mechanically sound. Your response should be typed using 12-point font and double-spaced. Submit all critical reading responses to turnitin.com by 4:00 on the due date. MIDTERM The Midterm will be essay questions on Things Fall Apart and Kindred and any videos or classroom discussions. PLEASE BRING A BLUE BOOK. FINAL The final examination will be essay questions on I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, Them and Buck and any videos or classroom discussions. PLEASE BRING A BLUE BOOK. ATTENDANCE/PARTICIPATION Participation in this class is essential. We will make it our practice to engage in the art of conversation. Each of you will be responsible for initiating and responding to questions and observations. Conversations will occur in small and large group discussions. You can do your part by coming to class on time, remaining alert, and being willing to ask questions and share ideas. You should also keep in mind that participating in an inappropriate manner or refusing to participate in class activities will considerably lower your course grade. Many students refrain from commenting during class discussions out of fear that they will give the wrong answer or say something embarrassing. I encourage each of you to risk sharing opinions that you are not entirely sure of. Since none of the readings can be said to have a “perfect” interpretation, your comments can only assist the class in its primary goal of critically exploring the ideas presented in the various texts we will read. Attendance is crucial to your success in this class. I record attendance every day. If you arrive after I have taken attendance, it is your responsibility to come up to me at the end of class to change your absence to a tardy. No absence will be changed after the day you come late. In addition, each student may be called on to assist me in distributing graded quizzes. Your assistance will contribute to your participation grade. TARDINESS/LEAVING EARLY Unless you have made prior arrangements with me, you are expected to be in class on time and remain until class is over. Unexcused incidents of leaving early will be counted as an absence for that day. Arranging with me to arrive late or leave early should be the exception not the rule. If you have a commitment that requires you to arrive late or leave early on a regular basis, you should take this class at another time. Note: Excessive tardies will significantly reduce your course grade. CHEATING/PLAGARISIM “Cheating shall be defined as the act of obtaining or attempting to obtain credit for academic work by the use of dishonest, deceptive, or fraudulent means. Examples of cheating include, but are not limited to (a) copying, in part or in whole, from another’s test or other examination; (b) discussing answers or ideas relating to the answers on a test or other examination without the permission of the instructor; (c) obtaining copies of a test, an examination, or other course material without the permission of the instructor; (d) using notes, cheat sheets, or other devices considered inappropriate under the prescribed testing condition; (e) collaborating with another or others in work to be presented without the permission of the instructor; (f) falsifying records, laboratory work, or other course data; (g) submitting work previously presented in another course, if contrary to the rules of the course; (h) altering or interfering with the grading procedures; (i) plagiarizing, as defined; and (j) knowingly and intentionally assisting another student in any of the above. 2.2 Plagiarism shall be defined as the act of incorporating ideas, words, or specific substance of another, whether purchased, borrowed, or otherwise obtained, and submitting same to the University as one’s own work to fulfill academic requirements without giving credit to the appropriate source. Plagiarism shall include but not be limited to (a) submitting work, either in part or in whole, completed by another; (b) omitting footnotes for ideas, statements, facts, or conclusions that belong to another; (c) omitting quotation marks when quoting directly from another, whether it be a paragraph, sentence, or part thereof; (d) close and lengthy paraphrasing of the writings of another; (e) submitting another person’s artistic works, such as musical compositions, photographs, paintings, drawings, or sculptures; and (f) submitting as one’s own work papers purchased from research companies. Academic and Punitive Sanctions: Cheating and plagiarism in connection with the academic program at The University may warrant two separate and distinct courses of disciplinary action that may be applied concurrently in response to a violation of this policy: (a) academic sanctions, such as grade modifications; and (b) punitive sanctions, such as probation, suspension, or expulsion. Academic sanctions are concerned with the student’s grades and are the responsibility of the instructor involved. Punitive sanctions are concerned with the student’s records and status on campus and shall be the responsibility of the University President or designated representative. The Coordinator of Judiciary Procedures shall be the President’s representative in matters of student discipline.” http:/senate.sdsu.edu/policy/pfacademics.html ACCOMMODATION OF DISABILITY If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it is your responsibility to contact Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473. To avoid any delay in the receipt of your accommodations, you should contact Student Disability Services as soon as possible. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive, and that I cannot provide accommodations based upon disability until I have received an accommodation letter from Student Disability Services. OTHER COURSE POLICIES 1. Treat other students and me with respect. Students are expected to refrain from behavior that interferes with the learning of other students. 2. Come to class prepared. 3. Except during group work, only one person at a time may address the class. You are expected to listen attentively and refrain from conversation while another person is speaking. 4. No cell phones or other electronic equipment may be operated in class. Do not surf the internet or text message a friend. You are welcome to use your computers to record notes, but please do not surf the internet. If I observe you violating this policy, I will confiscate your computer, phone, or tablet until the end of class. 5. LATE SUBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. 6. ALL WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE SUBMITTED VIA turnitin.com. Please do not email your assignments to me.