Department of Foreign Languages
LLC 2025 Literature in Translation - U.S Hispanic Literature and Film–
Spring 2013
Dr. María Patricia Napiorski
Office Hours: Tuesdays 1:45 am- 4 pm.
Or by appointment: napiorskimp@appstate.edu
Office: Sanford Hall 429
Phone: 262-7356
TEXTS:
Herencia: The Anthology of the Hispanic Literature of the United States
Editor: Nicolas Kanellos
Napiorski’s webpage: www1.appstate.edu/~napiorskimp
Novels (Choose One):
Before Night Falls (Rainaldo Arenas)
In The Time of the Butterflies (Julia Alvarez)
How the García Sisters Lost Their Accent (Julia Alvarez)
Dreaming in Cuban (Cristina Garcia)
Almost a Woman (Esmeralda Santiago)
When I Was Puerto Rican (Esmeralda Santiago)
So Far From God (Ana Castillo)
Films (We will see these films in class)
When Worlds Collide
Chevolution
Miguel Piñero
In the Time of the Butterflies
A Better Life
Zoot Suit
Begore Night Falls
Which Way Home
The Life and Times of Frida Khalo
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES:
The student will study the evolutionary process of the literature produced by
Spanish Speaking authors in the territory of what today is known as the United
States. From mid 1500’s to the present, the Hispanic literary line has been an
important part of the cultural production of the American continent, though it is
considered to be a recent phenomenon that resulted from the Chicano
movement. In reality, this literary tradition has been present in North America
from pre-Hispanic times. We will follow the historical thread of such impressive
evolution throughout the works of a great diversity of writers, closing our course
with the novels of the most contemporary Latina writers. Students will develop a
critical thinking of such literary work, and hopefully, they will gain a better
understanding of the cultural intensity and richness of this literature, and its
impact on the history and politics of border (cultural) crossings.
CLASS REQUIREMENTS: The student is expected to have read the required
assignments before each class period. Participation and discussion is essential
during the class period. Also, students will be expected to work on assignments
and programs developed by the instructor and found in her home page.
ATTENDANCE: three unjustified absences will be permitted. After three
absences your grade will be lowed one letter for every absence. (For instance, if
your final grade is B but you have more than three absences your final grade will
result in B-).
Three late arrivals will count as 1 absence.
GRADING CRITERIA:
Midterm Exam
Class Participation
Essay Paper:
Final Exam:
25%
20%
30%
25%
Explanation of the grading criteria:
Participation: In this class students will be expected to attend to class and to
participate actively. To complete all their writing assignments on time, and to use
the office hours when the constraints of class-time do not allow for any additional
explanation that he/she might need.
Mid Term Exam: Consists of a number of essay questions about the texts read
thus far, lectures, and class discussions. Midterm Exam: Tuesday March 19.
Essay Paper: A critical essay, 6- page (minimum), based on ONE of the novels
read. Due the last day of class.
Final Exam: Thursday May 9 @ 9 am.
*The Novels: Will be discussed in round table discussions the last week of class.
Students will be able to discuss their final essays that day.
Academic Honesty: I follow carefully the University and departmental
regulations in regards of academic dishonesty in exams, tests, homework etc.
Please remember that turning in another person’s work is considered plagiarism,
and it results in any appropriate action that I or other university authority deem
necessary. If I suspect that a student has committed plagiarism, before taking a
disciplinary action I would ask him or her to defend his/her paper, exam or test to
the class. I have the liberty to invite to this defense other Spanish faculty
members if I deem it necessary. Please read below this syllabus for more
details.
Important Explanatory Information:
If you are unable to attend class on a day that you have to turn in an assignment,
and/or a presentation, you must inform me beforehand or your grade will be zero.
Cell phones must be off during class. MANDATORY: NO TEXTING IN
CLASS. Under ASU classroom regulations, professors have the right to
confiscated cell phones, when used in annoyingly and disruptively in the
classroom.
No make ups for examinations, and no late assignments accepted. I DO
MEAN THIS. You are expected to be present in class at the time of the quiz or
examination. If an assignment is due the day you are absent, you cannot ask a
classmate to turn in for you, or to place it in my mail box. All work due should be
turned in directly to me, unless otherwise stated. Nevertheless, if you are
excused to be absent for class you can turn in your work the following class, but
no later. Students who turned in assignments for their classmates or friends will
have a reduction of 2% of their grade in their own assignments.
Religious Holidays: If a student needs to be absent from class for a religious
holiday, please talk to the professor in advanced, or present a written request for
absence no later than the completion of the fourth week of class.
Note: As a community of learners at Appalachian State University, we must
create an atmosphere of honesty, fairness, and responsibility, without
which we cannot earn the trust and respect of each other. Furthermore,
we recognize that academic dishonesty detracts from the value of an
Appalachian degree. Therefore, we shall not tolerate lying, cheating, or
stealing in any form and will oppose any instance of academic
dishonesty. This course will follow the provisions of the Academic
Integrity Code, which can be found on the Office of Student Conduct Web
Site: www.studentconduct.appstate.edu. /
Academic integrity continues to be an important issue, especially given
students’ various interpretations of intellectual property rights and
the ease of downloading material from the Web. Here are some things you
might do in your classes to promote academic integrity, in addition to a
statement on your syllabi and course web sites:
* Lead discussions about academic integrity during class.
* Create multiple versions of quizzes and exams.
* Provide a space for students to reaffirm the Academic Integrity
Honor Pledge on assignments, quizzes and exams (“I pledge on my
honor that I have not violated the Appalachian State University
Academic Integrity Code”).
* Use current events to illustrate, discuss and reaffirm the value
of integrity.
* Contact the Office of Student Conduct in all appropriate cases of
academic dishonesty.
*2. Accommodations for Students with Disabilities*
The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that we make reasonable
accommodations for students with documented disabilities. It is
important for faculty members to understand what we are and are not
obliged to do when providing accommodations for students, so please
familiarize yourself with the ODS web site and contact the office if you
have questions about a request for accommodation. Please respect
students’ rights to confidentiality and privacy when discussing
disability accommodations with them. If you have questions, please
contact Maranda Maxey, Director of the Office of Disability Services, at
extension 3056 or maxeymr@appstate.edu.
The Office of Disability Services recommends including the following
text on syllabi and course web sites:
/Appalachian State University is committed to making reasonable
accommodations for individuals with documented qualifying disabilities
in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Those seeking
accommodations based on a substantially limiting disability must contact
and register with The Office of Disability Services (ODS) at
http://www.ods.appstate.edu/ or 828-262-3056. Once registration is
complete, individuals will meet with ODS staff to discuss eligibility
and appropriate accommodations./