California State Polytechnic University,
Pomona
EWS 404 Asian American Contemporary Issues
*SYLLABUS*
Professor Murniz Allen Coson, Ph.D.
Spring Quarter 2016
Classroom Hours: Hybrid Course
Office Hours:
TR 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm, and/or by appointment
Office Location:
Bldg. 94-317
Office Phone:
(909) 869-5414
E-mail:
macoson@cpp.edu
Course Description: This course is an interdisciplinary approach to contemporary
Asian American issues, including immigration, media representations, identity, and
inter-ethnic/racial dating and marriage examined from perspectives of history,
sociology, cultural/ ethnic and gender studies.
We will discuss the formal and informal institutions that affect Asian Americans in
all three realms: political, economical, and sociological. In addition, a substantial
amount of class discussion will be devoted to policy formulation and
implementation, and how it has positively and/or negatively impacted Asian
Americans today. This course will also provide insights with social justice through
breaking down stereotypes, race and ethnic discrimination, and other types of
barriers plaguing our society.
Finally, we will compare and contrast the similarities and differences of Asian
Americans focusing on culture of Asian countries, and revelation of Asian identity
versus Asian American identity. The last section of this course will examine the
need to continually promote the Asian American awareness and your role in
sustaining the richness of its culture.
Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to
explain and address the vital issues affecting Asian Americans today, such as
immigration, race relations, and identity. Students will also be able to integrate
the theories incorporated from all disciplines, such as Political Science, Economics
and Sociology, and hopefully formulate policies to help the Asian American
community. Lastly, students will be able to teach others about the richness of
Asian American culture, and how to better promote it for generations to come.
Course Expectations: I expect you to attend class regularly and actively
participate in class discussions. Please come to class prepared by reading and
submitting all the assignments on time. When reading, ask yourself how the topics
being discussed relate to today’s political, economical, and sociological structures.
Grading: Your grades will be based on the following items:
Attendance and Participation: worth 20% of your grade. We will meet only five
times this quarter, so make sure to attend all five meetings.
Discussion Board Posts and Responses (10): worth 20% of your grade. You will
be responsible for answering the week’s questions via Blackboard, and replying to
at least two of your classmates’ posts. The discussion boards will be accessible
starting Monday morning (12:00 am PST) and ending Sunday night (11:59 pm
PST) every week. Please provide substance and refrain from simply saying, “I
agree/disagree with you,” and/or “Good job.” Again, please respect the opinions
of others.
News Articles (5): worth 20% of your grade.
You will be responsible for
submitting a two page paper via Blackboard every odd week using a newspaper
article on a topic relating to the week’s lecture. These newspaper articles will help
you understand the growing issues many Asian Americans face each day, and
more importantly, what is being done to address these issues. Please refrain from
using vulgar words or discriminating/profiling individuals/groups based on race,
sex, ethnic origin, nationality, and sexual orientation. You are all adults, and I
expect you to submit quality work.
Quizzes (5): worth 20% of your grade. There will be a total of five quizzes worth
20 points each. Quizzes will consist of multiple-choice questions from the
textbook via Blackboard. The quizzes will be accessible starting Monday morning
(12:00 am PST) and ending Sunday night (11:59 pm PST) every even week.
Individual Paper Analysis: worth 20% of your grade. You will be responsible for
writing a 4-5 page paper analyzing a prevalent and urgent Asian American issue.
Here are some questions to address:
-What is/are the issue(s) that Asian Americans are currently facing and/or will face?
-Briefly describe the origins of the issue(s) and how it became an issue(s).
-Using credible sources (journal articles, newspapers, books), why is/are the
issue(s) important to address and resolve?
-What short and long-term solution(s) did you come up with?
-What are the pros and/or cons in resolving the issue(s)?
-Who will be impacted most and what potentially can happen if the issue(s) is not
resolved?
-What can you do to continually inform yourselves of the issue(s) that affects
Asian American society?
Classroom Policies: Here is a list of items to remember:
Biases: Grades will not reflect the ideologies of the students or the professor. All
perspectives, ideas, and opinions are welcome.
Contacting Me: I highly encourage you to visit me during office hours if you have
any questions or concerns about the course. The fastest way to contact me is via
email, as I check it frequently. If you leave a voice message on the telephone,
please allow 1-2 days to return your call.
Plagiarism: Grading will be in accordance with the Cal Poly Pomona Student
Handbook. Unless cooperative teamwork is assigned, ACADEMIC HONESTY is
always required, i.e., completing and turning in your OWN HOMEWORK. DO
NOT COPY from others. Failure to do your own work negates and cancels out
any discovery learning by the student. Students who do not follow the academic
honesty policy will receive a grade of zero for any work turned in. Failure to
follow the academic honesty policy may result in being dropped from the course,
and possibly disqualified from the university.
Written Work: Your papers must be typed, using no larger than a twelve-point
Times New Roman font. You should use MLA formatting for notes and references,
hence please provide proper citation and “give credit when credit is due.” Ensure
your papers are double spaced, one-inch margins on all sides, and stapled. The
assignments are due at the start of class on the day it is due. Late papers will NOT
be accepted. Please plan accordingly.
Absence and Common Courtesy: Since this is a hybrid course, we will meet on the
specified dates, so if you miss class it is YOUR responsibility to ask a
classmate/colleague for make-up work. You are all adults and in college, and I
will continue to treat you that way. Please turn off all cell phones, MP3 players,
IPODS, etc. and refrain from using such devices during class sessions. This will
ensure a stimulated classroom discussion.
Additional Assistance: Students can access the Writing Center to improve their
ability. Location: Building 1-220. Phone: x5343. In addition, students can also
access the Learning Resource Center (LRC) for assistance. Location: Building 13-C.
Phone: x3502. Lastly, students can access the Disability Resource Center for
special needs. Location: Building 9-103. Phone: x3333.
Course Materials: Below are the reading materials for this class.
REQUIRED: Fong, Timothy P. Contemporary Asian American Experience:
Beyond the Model Minority (3rd Edition). New York: Prentice Hall, 2008.
EWS 404 Asian American
Contemporary Issues
Spring Quarter 2016
*COURSE OUTLINE
March 28/30 and April 1
Week 1:
DEMOGRAPHICS AND IMMIGRATION
A. Stringent laws in the 1900s
B. Immigration trends and issues
C. Asian Americans in growing numbers
Newspaper Article 1
Discussion Board 1
Fong: Chapter 1
April 4/6/8
Week 2:
CLASS MEETING ON APRIL 6 AT 8:00 AM
DEMOGRAPHICS AND IMMIGRATION, CONT.
A. Stringent laws in the 1900s
B. Immigration trends and issues
C. Asian Americans in growing numbers
Quiz 1
Discussion Board 2
Fong: Chapter 1
April 11/13/15
Week 3:
ASIAN AMERICANS AND THE MEDIA
A. Negative portrayals of API Men
B. Positive portrayals of API Men
C. Television, music, sports, and advertisement
Newspaper Article 2
Discussion Board 3
Fong: Chapter 6
April 18/20/22
CLASS MEETING ON APRIL 20 AT 8:00 AM
Week 4:
ASIAN AMERICANS AND THE MEDIA, CONT.
A. Negative portrayals of API Women
B. Positive portrayals of API Women
C. Television, music, sports, and advertisement
Quiz 2
Discussion Board 4
Fong: Chapter 6
April 25/27/29
Week 5:
ASIAN AMERICANS AND THE MEDIA, CONT.
A. Negative portrayals of API Children
B. Positive portrayals of API Children
C. Cartoon shows
Newspaper Article 3
Discussion Board 5
Fong: Chapter 6
May 2/4/6
Week 6:
CLASS MEETING ON MAY 4 AT 8:00 AM
ASIAN AMERICANS AND IDENTITY
A. What is beauty?
B. Inter-ethnic/racial Dating and Marriage
C. Separation and Divorce, and bi-racial children
Quiz 3
Discussion Board 6
Fong: Chapter 7
May 9/11/13
Week 7:
ASIAN AMERICANS AND IDENTITY, CONT.
A. 1st vs. 1 ½ vs. 2nd vs. 3rd Generations
B. What does it mean to be a “FOB?”
Newspaper Article 4
Discussion Board 7
Fong: Chapter 7
May 16/18/20
CLASS MEETING ON May 18 AT 8:00 AM
Week 8:
CONFLICT AMONG ASIAN AMERICANS
A. Ethnic warfare
B. East vs. Southeast vs. South vs. West
C. “Ethnic totem-pole”
Quiz 4
Discussion Board 8
Fong: Chapter 5
May 25/27
Week 9:
*NO CLASS ON MAY 23: MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY
ASIAN AMERICANS AND THE GLBTQ COMMUNITY
A. Gender and Sexual Orientation
B. Societal perspective on gender roles: boys vs. girls
C. Transgender vs. Transsexuals
Newspaper Article 5
Discussion Board 9
Fong: Chapter 7
May 30 and June 1/3
CLASS MEETING ON June 1 AT 8:00 AM
Week 10:
ASIAN AMERICANS AND THE GLBTQ COMMUNITY, CONT.
A. Gender and Sexual Orientation
B. Societal perspective on gender roles: boys vs. girls
C. Transgender vs. Transsexuals
Quiz 5
Discussion Board 10
Fong: Chapter 7
June 10
Finals Week: Individual Paper Analysis Due