BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
City University of New York
Department of English
English 360-981: Italian American Literature
Fall 2013
Office Hrs: M/W/TH: 9:30-10am; 12-3 pm
and by appt.
Email: cpari@bmcc.cuny.edu (best way to communicate)
Dr. C. Pari
Office Room: N751 P
Office Phone: 212-220-8282
English Dept: N751 for mailbox
Course Description:
3 crs. 3 hrs.
Italian American literature surveys fiction, poetry, and drama throughout the history of Italian
Americans in the United States beginning in the first half of the twentieth century and continuing
into contemporary America. This literature will be considered in the context of recurring themes
in the artistically framed experiences of Italian Americans: cultural-national identity conflict,
anti-colonization by church and state, religion, gender relations, generational differences and
relations, class conflict, for example working class vs. the bourgeois, or working class immigrant
and sons and daughters vs. the dominant American culture, the problem of education in early
Italian American history, the dilemma of cultural and linguistic loss, intercultural conflict,
intracultural conflict, family values, oppression, social dysfunction, and assimilation.
Prerequisites:
English 101 and 201, or English 121
About the Workload:
MANAGING YOUR TIME TO SUCCEED IN ONLINE COURSES: The key to success in an
online course is managing your time throughout the week in order to accomplish the tasks. Find
a few hours at least twice a week, at the same times and on the same days, or maybe find one
hour per day. This course usually meets for 3 hours in the classroom, so that means you should
spend that much time reading the lecture notes and completing the discussion board activities.
You then need to spend time reading the week's assignment and sometimes completing some
written work (usually around 2 pages). Although it depends on how long it takes you to
complete the assignments, I suggest you set aside at least another 3 hours for the homework.
You will need to create a schedule and stick to it. It's very easy for an online course to
overwhelm you if you start falling behind. However, if that happens, please speak to me
privately. I can help you manage the tasks if you are new at this. Students can also help each
other. There are many resources available even at BMCC to help you succeed in online learning,
such as the E-Learning Institute.
Evaluation and Requirements of Students:
Discussion Board (20%)
Frequent reading responses throughout the term. This is the main basis of your “attendance” and
participation. Students are expected to respond to questions in a timely and substantive way, be
specific, use references from the text, answer other students’ questions, pose questions, analyze
points arising from the text and web sites, support positions with examples from the text and web
sites, and use correct grammar and syntax. Your postings will be graded in the following
manner:
0
1
2
3
4
No response posted
Irrelevant response; comments such as “I agree” do not reflect critical
thinking.
Sufficient response: relevant comments that do not add value to the
discussion since they repeat previously posted ideas, lack support, or are
unfocused
Good response: significant messages that address closely discussed points.
Excellent response: messages with original analysis, thoughtful responses,
and good textual support.
Unit Essays (20%)
After each unit is completed, a short essay is required in place of Discussion Board questions
that week. Essays are graded from 0-100. They must have a clear focus (a thesis statement), be
organized with a clear introduction, body and conclusion, respond to the question, and have
correct, edited American English.
Midterm Exam (20%)
This exam reviews the lectures and literature covered during the first seven weeks of classes.
100 points.
Final Exam (20%)
This exam will review the course material throughout the term. 100 points.
One Formal Writing Assignment (20%)
This is a well-organized analytical paper (4-6 typed, double spaced pages) in which you closely
read literary texts and synthesize relevant course material presented in lectures and readings with
a research component--using MLA Style.
Student Learning Outcomes (from the English Dept):
In a 300-level English course, students will be able to
 Discuss course content in a range of critical contexts.
 Demonstrate knowledge of themes and genres of course texts.
 Critique the complexities within and differences among course texts.
Student Learning Outcomes (specific to ENG 360):
Course Student Learning Outcomes
1. Students will be able to apply what they learn in readings from
the three genres of creative Italian American literature to questions
posed in assignments.
2. Students will be able to demonstrate critical thinking skills as
they read.
3. Students will be able to distinguish central themes in Italian
American literature.
4. Students will write critically about works from the three genres
of creative Italian American literature.
Measurements
1. Discussion board, essays, midterm, and final
exams.
2. Discussion board, essays, midterm, and final
exams.
3. Discussion board, essays, midterm, and final
exams.
4. Formal writing assignments.
Below are the college’s general education learning outcomes, the outcomes that are checked in
the left-hand column indicate goals that will be covered and assessed in this course.
General Education Learning Outcomes
Communication Skills- Students will be able to write,
read, listen and speak critically and effectively.
Measurements (means of assessment for general
education goals listed in first column)
Discussion board, essays, midterm, and final exams.
Arts & Humanities- Students will be able to develop
knowledge and understanding of the arts and literature
through critiques of works of art, music, theatre or
literature.
Information & Technology Literacy- Students will be
able to collect, evaluate and interpret information and
effectively use information technologies.
Values- Students will be able to make informed choices
based on an understanding of personal values, human
diversity, multicultural awareness and social responsibility.
Students will examine works of literature to understand
certain concepts. Discussion board, essays, midterm, and
final exams.
Students will use internet search engines to gather
information relating to writing topics. Formal writing
assignments.
Students will read and write about topics that involve
personal values, human diversity, multicultural awareness
and social responsibility. Discussion board, essays,
midterm, and final exams.
College Attendance Policy
At BMCC, the maximum number of absences is limited to one more hour than the number of
hours a class meets in one week. For example, you may be enrolled in a three-hour class. In that
class, you would be allowed 4 hours of absence (not 4 days). In the case of excessive absences,
the instructor has the option to lower the grade or assign an F or WU grade.
Academic Adjustments for Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations or academic adjustments for
this course must contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities. BMCC is
committed to providing equal access to all programs and curricula to all students.
BMCC Policy on Plagiarism and Academic Integrity Statement
Plagiarism is the presentation of someone else’s ideas, words, or artistic, scientific, or technical
work as one’s own creation. Using the idea or work of another is permissible only when the
original author is identified. Paraphrasing and summarizing, as well as direct quotations, require
citations to the original source. Plagiarism may be intentional or unintentional. Lack of
dishonest intent does not necessarily absolve a student of responsibility for plagiarism.
Students who are unsure how and when to provide documentation are advised to consult with
their instructors. The library has guides designed to help students to appropriately identify a
cited work. The full policy can be found on BMCC’s web site, www.bmcc.cuny.edu. For
further information on integrity and behavior, please consult the college bulletin (also available
online).
Use of Technology
You are expected to have a current, activated student email account which you provide to me and
which you check regularly. You are expected to have a CUNY portal account and to know how
to use Blackboard.
Required Texts:
From the Margin: Writings in Italian Americana. Anthony Julian Tamburri, Paolo A. Giordano,
and Fred L. Gardaphé, eds. Revised Edition. Purdue UP, 2000.
Son of Italy. d’Angelo, Pascal. 1924. Guernica Editions, 2003.
The Fortunate Pilgrim. Puzo, Mario. 1964. Random House, 2004.
Syllabus:
Please refer to the “Course Map” in “Course Information” on the menu in Blackboard.
Extra-curricula Options:
The Baldizzi Family Tenement
Visit a re-creation of the tenement of this Italian family as it was in the 1930s. Discover the
spirited and imaginative means that the Baldizzi family employed to make their way through
hard times and forge new lives for themselves in America.
Lower East Side Tenement Museum
90 Orchard Street at Broome Street, Manhattan
Contact: (212) 431-0233 http://www.tenement.org
Italian American Museum Celebrates the 150th Anniversary Of the Unification of Italy
The Italian American Museum.
155 Mulberry Street, Manhattan
Contact: (212) 965-9000
info@italianamericanmuseum.org
http://www.italianamericanmuseum.org