Mexican American Literature
CCS 335
T, 4:10-6:50
Spring 2014
LA-103
Barry Stampfl
West Faculty 155
Hours: M 6-7; T, W 3-4
Office: 768-5534
Home: 951-695-0604
Email: bstampfl@mail.sdsu.edu
In this class we will read, discuss and write about some representative works of
Mexican American literature written since the 1960s. Objectives of the class are to
explore the ideas, forms and history of these texts and to develop our own critical and
writing skills.
Requirements
Reading. A crucial requirement is to carefully read the assignment for each week.
The class will be essentially a discussion, punctuated at times by short lectures, so
everyone must be prepared to participate.
Pop quizzes. There will be at least three pop quizzes in the course of the semester.
These quizzes can not be made up; if you are absent on the day of a quiz, you get an “F”
for that quiz. At the end of the semester, I will drop your worst quiz grade, average the
others, and then count that grade as the equivalent of an essay grade (see “Evaluation”
below).
Writing. There will be two response essays (2-3 pages, 500-700 words), one
interpretive essay (5-7 pages, 1,250-1.750 words), and one in class essay.
INTERPRETIVE ESSAY. For the essay of interpretation, you are to
explore the meaning of a text. Key requirement is to develop and support an arguable
reading. A handout describing the assignment will be provided to you, and it will be
discussed in class.
RESPONSE ESSAYS. In these short essays, your responses to the
literary texts may be personal and creative as well as analytical. The assignments will be
described in handouts and discussed in class.
IN CLASS ESSAY. In our last class on May 13, you will have an
opportunity to discuss several of the works of literature we have read in the course of the
semester.
WRITING WORKSHOPS. On Feb 18, March 25, and April 29, there will
be special writing workshops to help you prepare your take-home essays. On these days,
you are expected to bring a draft of your essay ready to be shared in class (read out loud).
Minimum length of workshop draft is three typewritten pages, meaning that you must be
on the third page at least a little bit. No credit will be given to essays submitted by
students who have not completed the workshopping process. If you miss the
workshop or fail to bring a draft to be shared, you may make up by reading a draft to the
class at the next meeting.
Note on Attendance
Missing class more than twice in the course of a semester means that you should
probably drop the class. If you should be compelled to miss more than two classes by
circumstances beyond your control and wish to stay in the course, you should definitely
speak to me about your situation. If, at the end of the semester, you have missed more
than two classes, and have not attempted to discuss your situation with me in a
timely way, you may expect a substantial penalty on your semester grade.
Leaving class at the break counts as a one/half absence for that day.
Grace Period for Handing in Late Papers
To be on time, an essay must be handed in at the beginning of the class period on
the due date indicated on the syllabus. However, I will accept late papers without penalty
for one week after the due date, a time known as the grace period. After the grace period
has expired, late papers will be penalized one letter grade, so if you get an “A” it registers
as a “B.” The end of the grace period for each of the assignments is indicated on the
Calendar. There is no grace period for the in class essay on May 13.
I will try to grade essays that are handed in late as promptly as I can, but here
there are no guarantees. To be sure that you get timely feedback on your essays, hand
them in on time.
Evaluation
Your grade will be based on the essays and the pop quizzes according to the
following ratio:
Response #1
16.6%
Response #2
16.6%
Interpretive essay
25%
Quizzes
25%
In class essay
16.6%
Though your grade will be based on your writing and the quizzes, it may be
affected by attendance. See “Note on Attendance” above.
Failure to complete all the graded writing assignments, including any
rewrites that may be required, will result in a failing grade for the semester.
Texts
Acosta, The Revolt of the Cockroach People
Anaya, Bless Me, Ultima
Castillo, So Far From God
Cisneros, The House on Mango Street
Islas, The Rain God; A Desert Tale
Soto, New and Selected Poems
Rivera, . . . y no lo trajó le tierra (And the Earth Did Not Devour Him)
Calendar
January
28
Introduction. Week 1
February
4
Cisneros, The House on Mango Street. Week 2
11
Rivera, . . . y no lo trajó le tierra (And the Earth Did Not Devour
Him). Week 3
18
Writing workshop: draft of first response essay to be shared in
class (read out loud). Week 4
25
First response essay due. Soto poems, to be announced. Make-up
workshopping, if necessary. Week 5
March
4
Islas, The Rain God. End of grace period for first response essay.
Week 6
11
Acosta, The Revolt of the Cockroach People. Week 7
18
Anaya, Bless Me, Ultima. Week 8
25
Writing workshop: draft of second response essay to be shared in
class (read out loud). Week 9
April
1
Spring recess. Week 10
8
Second response essay due. Soto poems, to be announced. Makeup workshopping, if necessary. Week 11
15
Castillo, So Far From God. End of grace period for second
response essay. Week 12
16
Soto poems, to be announced. Week 13
22
Movie. Week 14
29
Writing workshop: draft of interpretive essay to be shared in class
(read out loud). Week 15
May
6
13
Interpretive essay due. Make up workshopping, if necessary.
Brainstorming for in class essay. Week 16
In class essay. End of grace period for interpretive essay. Week 17