Instructor:
Tuesdays –
Schedule #
Office Hours:
Email:
Dr. Bonnie Reddick
1100-1215 ~ PSFA-318
20120
Tuesdays ` 9:00AM – 10:00AM ~ AL369
breddick@mail.sdsu.edu
REQUIRED TEXT:
Gates, Henry Louis & Nellie McKay, Eds. The Norton Anthology of African
American Literature (2003).
WELCOME
Welcome to the Africana Studies 365A community of critical thinkers and writers.
This semester, we will examine African American literature from the late
eighteenth century to the turn of the twentieth century. We will explore a
multitude of concepts, themes, issues and writers that defined and advanced the
African American literary tradition. We will analyze social, political, economic,
historical, cultural, and aesthetic contexts that are a part of the African American
experience.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Eighteenth and nineteenth century writing by African American authors, issues of
literary form, canon formation, and the sociopolitical impact of the literature
upon African American culture.
PREREQUISITES
Africana Studies 101B or 260 or completion of the General Education
requirement in Foundations II.C., Humanities for non-majors.
HUMANITIES AND FINE ARTS
The Humanities and Fine Arts encompass works of the imagination, such as art,
literature, film, drama, dance, and music, and related scholarship. Students
better understand human problems, responsibilities, and possibilities in changing
historical contexts and diverse cultures, and in relation to the natural
environment. Students acquire new languages and familiarize themselves with
related cultures. They gain the ability to recognize and assess various aesthetic
principles, belief systems, and constructions of identity. Students acquire
capacities for reflection, critique, communication, cultural understanding,
creativity, and problem solving in an increasingly globalized world.
Goals for GE Courses in the Humanities and Fine Arts
• Goal 1: Analyze written, visual, or performed texts in the humanities and fine
arts with sensitivity to their diverse cultural contexts and historical moments.
• Goal 2: Develop a familiarity with various aesthetic and other value systems
and the ways they are communicated across time and cultures.
• Goal 3: Argue from multiple perspectives about issues in the humanities that
have personal and global relevance.
• Goal 4: Demonstrate the ability to approach complex problems and ask
complex questions drawing upon knowledge of the humanities.
Department Goals and Objectives:
• Goal 2: Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the A
frican world experience as a dynamic and unfolding process
Objectives: (1) Explain the impact of slavery and colonization on African peoples
and society, (2) Explain the political, economic and social movements for
liberation of African people in America before 1900 and worldwide, (3) Identify
and explain the dislocation and relocation of African people throughout the world,
(4) argue from multiple perspectives about issues in African American literature
before 1900 that have personal and global relevance. General Education
Humanities Goal 3 and 4
• Goal 3: Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of Africana culture and world-view
Objectives: (1) Explain and assess the major principles and values of Africana
world-view and culture as demonstrated in the literature and its contexts, (2)
Explain the major moral, philosophical, aesthetic and ethical elements of Africana
world-view and culture in the literature and its contexts, (3) Explain the role of
Africana world-view in society before 1900 and in contemporary society. General
Education Humanities Goal 2
• Goal 4: Demonstrate an ability to think critically, analyze issues and present
them orally and in writing. General Education Humanities Goal 1
Objectives: (1) Analytically present and support an argument, (2) Critique the
ideas and opinions of others, (3) Write and present cohesive arguments
demonstrating knowledge of research techniques, documentation, organization,
and the mechanics of writing on relevant topics or subjects in African American
literature before 1900
Student Learning Outcomes:
1. Explicate primary literary texts, in writing and orally
2. Use secondary resources to assist the advancement of a thesis
3. Analyze the significance of a literary work by paying attention to its
content, form, and context
4. Elucidate the significance of an Africana literary work to self and
contemporary society
5. Compare literatures of diverse cultures within society
6. Use literary terms and vocabulary with expertise and sophistication
7. Defend interpretations and positions by generously using details in the
primary texts and the contexts of the literature
8. Assess and analyze acts of resistance to white rule and/or authority on
themes, style, and characters/personas/narrators in the literature
9. Describe, identify, analyze, assess, and compare literary strategies used
by Africana authors to include authentic representations of Africana
culture, history, philosophy, world-view, and perspective
GRADING:
Quizzes
Midterm
Final
Teaching Experience
Black National Anthem
Essays
Attendance/Participation
TOTAL
10%
15%
20%
15%
10%
20%
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 readings will be necessary for quizzes, homework,
essays, and class discussions.
WRITING
In addition to quizzes and writing assignments, essays will be required.
Additional information will be given as the semester progresses.
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.
ESSAYS
All formal essays must be typed (12 point font), double-spaced, with one-inch
margins on all sides. Submit your essays electronically through Backboard’s
turnitin.com Assignments tool by 4:00 PM on the due date detailed on the course
calendar. More specific details on this assignment will be provided.
QUIZZES/FREE WRITES
There may be a quiz, based on the assigned reading for that day, at the
beginning of each class session. You will be given ten (10) minutes to take the
quiz. Quizzes may consist of multiple choice, true/false, short fill-in, or short
essay responses. Quizzes cannot be made up.
MIDTERM
A midterm examination, consisting of true/false, multiple choice, short fill-in and
essay questions, will be given approximately six (6) weeks after the beginning of
the semester. The midterm will assess the knowledge you’ve acquired from the
beginning of the semester to the mid-point of the semester.
FINAL
A final examination, consisting of true/false, multiple choice, short fill in and
essay questions will be given. The final will assess the knowledge you’ve
acquired from the Midterm to the end of the semester.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
You will be assigned a reading the second week of class. You are responsible for
teaching an aspect of the assigned reading. You must use some type of visual
aid that best represents what you’re teaching. If you use power point, you
cannot exceed five slides. Your presentation cannot exceed 10 minutes. You
will be penalized if you do not have a visual aid; you use power point and exceed
five slides, or you exceed the time limitation. Whatever you teach should be
designed to illicit discussion from your cohorts. You cannot offer incentives, like
candy, to encourage cohort participation. Also, you must construct 2-3 questions
designed to assess the aspect of the reading you’re teaching, and email it to me
the night before your teaching experience.
BLACK NATIONAL ANTHEM
Each student will be responsible for memorizing and being able to write, on
demand, the Black National Anthem. You will have a quiz on each stanza and
then the Anthem in its entirety. By the end of the semester, you will write it
VERBATIM, and more importantly, you will be able to articulate a cogent analysis
of it. This examination is Pass/Fail. If you cannot write it VERBATIM, you will
receive 0 points. The Anthem can be found on page 793.
HOMEWORK
Everyone must successfully complete the plagiarism tutorial. This assignment
counts as a Quiz.
ATTENDANCE/PARTICIPATION
Active participation in class discussions and activities is an essential part of this
class. 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.
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
Students who need accommodation of their disabilities should contact me
privately, to discuss specific accommodations for which they have received
authorization. If you need accommodation due to a disability, but have not
registered with Student Disability Services at 619-594-6473 (Calpulli Center,
Suite 3101), please do so before making an appointment to see me.
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. If you are absent, you are still responsible for
completing the readings and any homework assigned during your
absence.
3.
Complete all homework on time. Readings and any other
assignments are to be completed prior to class. Refer to the course
calendar for due dates. Additional assignments are due as directed,
when assigned. Late assignments will not be accepted.
4.
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.
5.
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 checking your phone, texting, surfing the
Internet, completing other classwork during my class, the first time,
you’ll receive a warning. Subsequent violations, you will be asked to
leave the classroom, and I will record an absence for that day.
6.
Please DO NOT email any assigned work to me.
7.
I frequently post updates and information on Blackboard.