Latino Literature
Day 2: Block 7
Room 2016
Troy Rivera, Instructor
970-506-7049 (w)
trivera@universityschools.com
Website: www.troyrivera.com
Course Description:
This course is an introduction to the writing of U.S. Latinos and Latinas in English and in hybrid forms of
Spanglish. “Latino/a” is an umbrella term to describe persons of Latin American descent living in the
U.S., though individuals may identify themselves more strongly with other terms of identity: as MexicanAmerican or Chicano; Puerto Rican or Nuyorican; Dominican-American; Cuban-American; Salvadoran –
or Guatemalan – or Nicaraguan – or Honduran-American; and any number of other rubrics and creative
regroupings. In this course, we will survey the distinctive histories of these groups in the U.S. with an eye
toward their common ground: a shared experience of colonialism, migration, and racialization, along with
a powerful (if sometimes vestigial) relationship to the Spanish Language.
We will cover a range of genres including short fiction, the novel, poetry, the personal essay, the graphic
novel, and film. While Latinos and Latinas have been publishing in the U.S. since the early nineteenth
century, the bulk of our attention will be paid to contemporary works and to living writers.
Course Requirements:
This course aims to improve your skills at specific intellectual processes as well as build your mastery of
content. By the end of this course you should have:
 A broad knowledge of the diverse Latino/a cultures in the United States, including the way these
were shaped by their countries of origin;
 A solid foundation in the analysis of literary form, genre conventions, and the rules of literary
interpretation;
 An increased knowledge of some important theoretical concepts in the social, political, and
psychological analysis of literature, film/visual media, and popular culture;
 An improved ability to frame a convincing argument in writing about the interpretation of texts.
Reading Assignments and Reading Quizzes:
The readings for the trimester are organized around six units of study: 1) Place, 2) Family, 3) Growing
Up, 4) Men and Woman, 5) Struggle and 6) Religion and Spirituality. For each of our units, we will read
selections in the genres of literature--fiction, poetry, drama--one novel and short stories, poems, and a
short drama. Authors in each unit will be from the following ethnic groups: Mexican-American, Puerto
Rican, Cuban-American, and Dominican.
Reading all pieces assigned in the Schedule carefully and annotating them for discussion purposes is
required or expected and will serve each of you well in posting your insights into the Unit's discussion
boards [Course Wiki], in class discussion, and in the writing of your essays. Daily quizzes will be given
to insure you are keeping up with the reading--10 points each. Quizzes must be made up within ONE
week.
Classroom Behavior & Expectations:
Because we will discuss topics often of a sensitive nature, students must be respectful of the feelings and
opinions of one another. There will be no foul language or put-downs directed at others. Any such
comments may result in a student being withdrawn from the class. Because many views and opinion’s
will be shared, we must be willing to respect the right of privacy of the individuals in the class. When
people share opinions, we must understand their right and freedom to express. It is of the utmost
importance that we treat one another with dignity and respect, allowing each of us to express ourselves
openly and honestly, without fear of ridicule or condemnation.
Students are expected to be in class daily and ON TIME!!
Evaluation:
Students will be assessed based on their performance. This will include:
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Participation in class discussions; Journal writing and written response to readings 10%
Daily Quizzes 5%
Assigned homework - focused interpretations (lateness effects grades) 20%
Unit Exams and Essays
15%
Final Critical Analysis Paper (1200-1500 words) – 50% of final grade *
* Please note that if you do not turn in a final critical analysis paper you will not pass this class. All
late work will be penalized. There is a one week window to turn in work late; after that one week,
the grade will be given no credit – 0.
SCHEDULE OF READINGS AND DUE DATES
**Schedule is tentative and subject to change**
T 3/11
Introduction to course; course syllabus; introductions
UNIT 1: PLACE
TH 3/13
Autobiography:
Poetry:
“Rain of Gold” – Victor Villasenor
“Nuyorican Lament” – Gloria Vando
“Ode to The Mexican Experience” – Luis Omar Salinas
“I Am American” – Luis Omar Salinas
M 3/17
Poetry:
“Letters to My Ex-Texas Sanity” – Richardo Sanchez
“Immigrants” – Pat Mora
“A Lower East Side Poem” – Miguel Pinero
T 3/18
Poetry:
“AmeRican” - Tato Lauiera
“Exile” – Judith Ortiz
“Miami Mimesis” – Carolina Hospital
TH 3/20
EXAM/ESSAY
UNIT 2: FAMILY
T 4/1
Autobiography:
Fiction:
“Buffalo Nickel: The Water Tower” – Floyd Salas
“Ghosts and Voices” – Sandra Cisneros
“The Closet” – Denise Chavez
TH 4/3
Poetry:
“Gentle Communion” – Pat Mora
“Padrino” – Sanda Maria Esteves
“Bautizo” – Sandra Maria Esteves
T 4/8
Poetry:
“Mamacita” – Judith Ortiz Cofer
“Under the Knife” – Judith Ortiz Cofer
“Pleiades from the Cables of Genocide” – Lorna Dee Cervantes
“Alma Mater” – Carolina Hospital
TH 4/10
EXAM/ESSAY
UNIT 3: GROWING UP
M 4/14
Autobiography:
“Prologue: Seven Long Times” – Piri Thomas
“Buffalo Nickel: The Boxing Match” – Floyd Salas
“Notes to a Young(er) Writer” – Sandra Cisneros
T 4/15
Fiction:
Poetry:
“The Kite” – Ed Vega
“How to Eat Crow on a Cold Sunday Morning” – Angela de
Hoyos
“The Latest Latin Dance Craze” – Victor Hernandez Cruz
TH 4/17
EXAM/ESSAY
UNIT 4: MEN AND WOMAN
T 4/22
Fiction:
Poetry:
TH 4/24
Poetry:
T 4/29
EXAM/ESSAY
“Aunt Rosana’s Rocker” – Nicholas Mohr
“Dearly Beloved” – Virgil Suarez
“You Will Grow Old” – Angela de Hoyos
“Lesson in Semantics” – Angela de Hoyos
“Old Anger” – Pat Mora
“jes todo!” – Evangelina Vigil-Pinon
“Five Indiscretions” – Alberto Rios
UNIT 5: STRUGGLE
TH 5/1
Fiction:
“The Sergeant” – Lionel G. Garcia
“Zulema” – Roberta Fernandez
“The Cariboo Café” – Helena Maria Viramontes
M 5/5
Poetry:
“Legend of the Flamboyan” – Gloria Vando
Taos Pueblo Indians: 700 Strong According to Bobby’s Last
Census” – Miguel Algarin
“Soledad Was a Girl’s Name” – Ricardo Sanchez
T 5/6
Poetry:
“New York City Hard Times Blues” – Miguel Pinero
“The Beginning” – Pablo Medina
“today is a day of great joy” – Victor Hernandez Cruz
TH 5/8
Poetry:
“latero story (can pickers)” – Tato Laviera
“intellectual” – Tato Laviera
“The Poet Is Served Her Papers” – Lorna Dee Cervantes
“Revolutionary Spanish Lesson” – Martin Espada
“Colibri” – Martin Espada
T 5/13
EXAM/ESSAY
UNIT 6: RELIGION AND SPIRITUALITY
TH 5/15
Autobiography:
Fiction:
“Tales Told under the Mango Tree” – Judith Ortiz Cofer
“Into the Pit with Bruno Cano” – Rolando Hinojosa
“First Communion” – Tomas Rivera
“The Curing Woman” – Alejandro Morales
M 5/19
Poetry:
“When This Life No Longer Smells of Roses” – Luis Omar
Salinas
“Arte Popular” – Pat Mora
“Curandera” – Pat Mora
“Resurrections” – Sandra Maria Esteves
“Ocha” – Sandra Maria Esteves
T 5/20
Poetry:
“The Apostate” – Pablo Medina
“Lime Cure” – Gustavo Perez-Firmat
“On January 5, 1984, El Santo the Wrestler Died, Possibly” –
Alberto Rios
TH 5/22
EXAM/ESSAY
T 5/27
TH 5/29
FINAL
FINAL
Work on Critical Analysis Paper
Work on Critical Analysis Paper
T 6/3
FINAL
CRITICAL ANALYSIS PAPER DUE