Seminar: Hurston & Wright
English 400-02 / 538-01
CRN: 15162 / 15561
Syllabus and Course Schedule
Fall 2012
Professor: Alicia Kent, PhD
Office: 326 French Hall
Phone: 762-3285
E-mail: aakent@umflint.edu
Office hours: Mondays, 2 – 3 pm
Wednesdays, 11:15 am – 12:15 pm
and gladly by appointment
Class:
Wednesdays, 4 – 6:45 pm
355 French Hall
“Few authors in the black tradition have less in common than Zora Neale Hurston
and Richard Wright.”
—Henry Louis Gates, Jr., “Zora Neale Hurston: ‘A Negro Way of Saying’”
Course Description:
Considered two of the most important American novelists of the twentieth century, Zora
Neale Hurston (1891-1960) and Richard Wright (1908-1960) represent two very different
approaches to literary representation. Throughout the semester, we will examine writings by both
authors to tease out the connections alongside the differences between these two writers, that is,
to locate the places where their approaches to literature both diverge and converge. While this
course is focused on two authors perhaps best known for their novels (Hurston for Their Eyes
Were Watching God and Wright for Native Son), we will also read some of their other novels,
autobiographical writings, essays, and short stories to get a sense of the different genres, topics,
and issues they explored in their careers, and we may watch some film adaptations of their works
and their lives.
This course is designed as an intensive study of these two authors’ writings in order to
deepen your knowledge and understanding of two important figures of the American literary
canon. It aims to pose fundamental and synthesizing questions about literature and Englishlanguage studies. English 400, a capstone seminar for English majors, assumes that you have
experience in literary analysis, have completed English 241 (Introduction to Literature Analysis),
and have taken upper-level college literature courses. English 538 is the graduate-level course
equivalent for English 400. By successfully completing this class you will be able:
ENG 400/538: Hurston & Wright
Alicia Kent
Learning Objectives
to further develop your critical reading, writing, speaking, listening
and group interaction skills (critical thinking);
to develop historically-specific and culturally-informed approaches
to literary texts by Hurston & Wright (methodology);
to interrogate a variety of literary genres and compare their
expectations (content knowledge);
to demonstrate facility with research methods and literary databases
used in literary studies (information literacy);
to locate relevant, appropriate secondary sources (literary criticism
and socio-historical sources), evaluate their usefulness and validity,
and integrate them accurately and effectively into your writing with
consistent and ethical citation of source material (information
literacy);
to consider different scholarly views of a particular text and
examine the assumptions of each view (critical thinking);
to formulate your own research project and then engage in close
reading and/or careful engagement with primary texts and include
relevant and appropriate scholarship to formulate a sound projec;
to position your argument within the academic conversation
surrounding Hurston & Wright (information literacy);
to present your own sophisticated ideas clearly and effectively in
written and oral presentations that demonstrate familiarity with
rhetorical strategies of literary studies and knowledge of relevant
literary criticism (writing skills, critical thinking);
to reflect on your own values and habits as reader, writer, and
speaker, to formulate your own questions, to materialize directions
for future individual inquiry in your academic discipline, and to
interpret your own educational process and experiences (reflection);
to apply knowledge to complex issues in increasingly broad spheres
and consider how literature may be cultural products that reflect,
reinforce, or resist dominant discourses and how they may be
products of complex systems of historical contingencies, and race,
gender, and sexual politics (synthesis and application).
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Course Tools to
Assess Goals
 participation
 lead discussion
 article analyses
 career presentation
 seminar project
 presentation
 participation
 seminar project
 participation
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article analyses
seminar project
career presentation
article analyses
seminar project
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article analyses
seminar project
proposal
article analyses
seminar project
presentation
article analyses
proposal
seminar project
presentation
career presentation
seminar project
presentation
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lead discussion
career presentation
proposal
seminar project
participation
proposal
career presentation
seminar project
ENG 400/538: Hurston & Wright
Alicia Kent
Required Course Texts:
Richard Wright
Black Boy (American Hunger)
Harper; ISBN: 978-0060929787
Uncle Tom’s Children
Harper; ISBN: 978-0061450204
Zora Neale Hurston
Dust Tracks on a Road
Harper; ISBN: 978-0060854089
Jonah’s Gourd Vine
Harper; ISBN: 978-0061350191
Native Son
HarperPerennial; ISBN: 0060812494; 9780060812492
A Father’s Law
Harper; ISBN: 978-0061349164
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Harper; ISBN: 978-0060838676


The Complete Stories
Harper; ISBN-13: 978-0060921712
These texts are available at the UM-Flint Bookstore. You may also purchase them at a
bookstore of your choice. The ISBN number listed for each text will help you find the edition
used in this course.
All books are also available on reserve at the UM-Flint Thompson Library for 4-hour
checkout (although some are different editions).
Additional Readings on Syllabus: In addition to the above novels, some shorter course readings
are available only in Blackboard.

These readings are denoted with “BB” in the syllabus.

To access Blackboard, go to https://bb.umflint.edu. You will need a UM-Flint username
and password to access our course shell.

Readings are listed in the order we will read them in the “Readings” folder.

Please print the readings and bring them to class on the assigned date.
Handouts: Handouts from class will be available online in Blackboard in “Handouts.”
Course Requirements: You must complete all of these requirements to receive a passing grade
in this course. If you do not complete one of these requirements (such as failure to hand in an
assignment or failure to meet the attendance requirements), you cannot pass the course. For your
own protection, you should keep a copy of everything you turn in to me.
 Attendance. Your attendance is required.

If you accumulate more than one absences, your participation grade will be lowered 25
points for every subsequent absence.

If you accumulate four absences, you will fail the course (except in cases where you and I
make alternative arrangements because of extenuating circumstances).

I do not make distinctions between excused or unexcused absences—all absences
count.
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ENG 400/538: Hurston & Wright
Alicia Kent

Please let me know during the first two weeks of classes if you must miss a class for
religious observance, important scheduled events that conflict with class, or other
unavoidable reasons for missing class.

If you miss class, please email me for announcements. Also please get notes from others
in the class and handouts from Blackboard.

Out of respect for your classmates, please come to class on time. If tardiness to class
(more than 10 minutes) becomes a persistent problem, I will count lateness as absences.

I generally make all announcements at the start of class, so if you arrive late, be sure to
get the announcements from me after class.
 Participation. This class emphasizes discussion and interaction with course issues and others
in the course. It also includes a significant amount of reading. You are expected to come to
class prepared, having read all the readings assigned for that day, and participate fully and
constructively in the in-class discussion, having something to say in nearly every class
session. You must bring the day’s reading assignments to class and be prepared to discuss it.
Your participation in class discussions as well as reading course material out loud in class
will be counted as participation. In-class writing and informal presentations of your work
might also be a part of participation.
Online Discussion. Online discussion is another venue for participation; contributions on
the Discussion Board in Blackboard can raise your grade. Please check our course
Blackboard companion on a regular basis.
 Lead Discussion. Once during the semester, you will be responsible for leading the class
discussion for a portion of the class period. You do not need to do outside research for this
task; instead, this is your chance to explore a topic in the reading that interests you (rather
than discussing something that I’ve chosen). You will post discussion questions in
Blackboard prior to the discussion. Early in the semester, I will hand out a sign up sheet to
allow you to choose your top choices for discussion leading dates.
 Article Analysis Papers (2 for ENG 400; 3 for ENG 538): These 3-4 page papers critically
analyze an article of literary criticism published in an academic journal or book. Your
analysis should include a summary of the article’s key points, your assessment of its strengths
and weaknesses, and your analysis of its contribution to literary studies. You will use the
library’s online databases to locate these articles.
 Career Presentation and Handout: Research a career that English majors might pursue. Then
create a handout and present information to the class about what this career entails, what
skills and abilities the career emphasizes, what kinds of people are in this field, how
competitive the field is, how students might prepare for this job.
 Seminar Project: For this project you will examine a theme or element from one (or more) of
the literary texts by Hurston or Wright and connect it to issues in your life and the world
today. This project is intended to go beyond what we have covered in class. It is not intended
to be an exhaustive research project, but you will be expected to do research and include
relevant literary criticism about the author, text, and time period to enhance your project.
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ENG 400/538: Hurston & Wright
Alicia Kent
The possibilities for the seminar project are up to you and as endless as your creativity. I
encourage you to choose a topic and design a project that fits your interests, field of study,
educational goals, career plans, etc. Please feel free you to meet with me early in the semester
to brainstorm ideas and help you define a feasible and enjoyable (yes, this is possible!)
seminar project. Possibilities might include (but are not limited to):

Short story (or stories);

Series of poems related to themes in one (or more) of the course texts;

Chapter of a novel or prospectus/outline of a novel for a publisher or literary agent;

Classroom unit for high school students on one (or more) of the course texts;*

Autobiographical essay (12-15 pages) that connects issues in your life to theme(s) in one
or more of the texts;

Literary analysis essay (10-15 pages) that includes literary criticism surrounding the text
of your choice;

A service-learning project with a community organization related to themes in the course.
Let me know early in the semester if this option interests you, and we can work with
Mona Munroe-Younis of University Outreach to set up a partnership with an
organization. If you choose a service-learning option, a letter of intent for this project is
due by email to me early in the semester.
Reflection Essay for Seminar Project: In addition to completing the project itself, all projects
(except an autobiographical or literary analysis essay) will include a 5-7 page reflection essay
that explains the goals of this project, why you chose this medium, how it is connected to the
course, what research (e.g., literary and historical) you did to carry it out, and ultimately what
you learned from doing this project. Be sure to include a Works Cited with this reflection
essay.
 Proposal: A written proposal outlining your seminar project will be due midway through the
semester. In this proposal, you will outline what your project and medium will be, what
questions you intend to explore, why it is an interesting or important issue, how you will
carry out this project, and what type(s) of research you will need to do to learn about this
topic (that is, how you will answer these questions).
 Presentation: The last class meeting is reserved for presentations. You will present your
seminar project to the class in a brief, 5-minute presentation. You are not expected to use
PowerPoint or other tools in your presentation. Instead, it is an opportunity to share your
project with the class and to get feedback and ideas from others.
Grading and Deadlines: All papers are due at the beginning of class on the due date and must
be typed. I take deadlines very seriously.
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No extensions will be given, except in the rarest of circumstances.
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Late assignments will be docked by a half-grade for each day late.
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Late Seminar Projects will not be accepted.
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ENG 400/538: Hurston & Wright
Alicia Kent

No other assignments will be accepted after the last regular class meeting (April 12).

In an emergency, you may email me an assignment as a Microsoft Word attachment. If I am
unable to open your file, one-half grade will be deducted for each day until I can it.
Assignment
Points
Due Date (due at start of class)
Syllabus Response
Statement of Intent (for those
doing a service-learning project)
Participation
Lead Discussion
Article Analysis Papers
(ENG 400: 2 at 75 points each)
(ENG 538: 3 at 50 points each)
Friday, September 7 by 11:55 pm
emailed to me, aakent@umflint.edu
Wednesday, September 26
emailed to me, aakent@umflint.edu
In class (Blackboard participation can
increase score)
Sign up handed out in class.
Questions due by Monday before your date.
1. Wednesday, October 3
2. Wednesday, October 24
3. Wednesday, November 7 (ENG 538 only)
200
50
150
Career Presentation and Handout Wednesday, November 14
100
Seminar Project Proposal
Wednesday, October 31
175
Seminar Project Presentation
Wednesday, December 5
25
Seminar Project
Saturday, December 15 by 1:30 pm
emailed to me, aakent@umflint.edu
Total:
300
1000
Note: Students may earn up to 1000 points over the course of the semester.
870-899 = B+ 770-799 = C+ 670-699 = D+
930-1000 = A 830-869 = B
730-769 = C
630-669 = D
900-929 = A-
700-729 = C-
600-629 = D-
800-829 = B-
Below 600 = E
Formatting: All assignments submitted for this class must be typed, double-spaced, in black, 12point font (Times New Roman or similar standard font), with 1-inch margins on all sides, stapled
if the document is more than one page. The default settings for your word processing program
may not follow these requirements and thus should be changed for assignments in this course.
Extra Credit: You can earn extra credit by attending any extracurricular activities related to the
course. To receive extra credit, post a response in Blackboard’s Discussion Board after attending
the event; your post should include a summary of the event, a brief discussion of its connections
to the course, and an explanation of what you learned at the event. All posts must be submitted
by the last day of classes.
Plagiarism and Academic Honesty: The University's Academic Honesty Policy prohibits
cheating, fabrication of work, facilitating academic dishonesty, and plagiarism. Plagiarism
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ENG 400/538: Hurston & Wright
Alicia Kent
includes the purchase of academic work from others, copying material directly from another
source without attributing it to that source, using the ideas of another person without giving that
person credit, intentional or unintentional. Even if you are not using a direct quote and have put
the concepts into your own words, you must cite your source and give credit to the “author” of
the idea. Plagiarism can result in failing the course or other disciplinary actions. Please talk with
me if you are unclear or have concerns about plagiarism. The Writing Center also has helpful
information about proper ways to cite your sources.
Other Concerns: If you have any special concerns you wish to discuss, please feel free to come
talk to me. My office door is open to hear your concerns. You are welcome to come see me at my
office, call me, or e-mail me. I am very willing to set up appointments with you to discuss papers
or other questions you have about the course. If you cannot make office hours, let me know, and
we’ll set up another time to meet.
I look forward to working with you this semester!
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ENG 400/538: Hurston & Wright
Alicia Kent
Course Schedule
Date
Topic(s)
Readings Due
Note: BB refers to readings available in
Blackboard.
Due
(Due at start of
class unless
otherwise
noted)
Wed
Sept 5
INTRODUCTION
Meet the class
Discuss course material
Fri, Sept 7:
Syllabus
Response due
by email
Wed
Sept 12
EARLY SHORT
STORIES
Reviews:
 BB: Reviews of Their Eyes by Richard Wright,
Alain Locke
 BB: Review of Uncle Tom’s Children by Zora
Neale Hurston
Hurston, The Complete Stories:
 “John Redding Goes to Sea” (1921)
 “Spunk” (1925)
 “Muttsy” (1926)
 “Sweat” (1926)
 “The Gilded Six-Bits” (1933)
Wright, Uncle Tom’s Children (1938):
 “Big Boy Leaves Home” (1936)
 “Down by the Riverside” (1936)
Optional: BB: Cambridge African American
Literary History (literary criticism)
REVIEWS
Wed
Sept 19
HURSTON’S
FIRST NOVEL
Jonah’s Gourd Vine (1934)
Wed
Sept 26
LIBRARY
WORKSHOP
Meet Laura Friesen in Thompson Library,
“Research Instruction Room,” room 213 (one floor
below the main entrance to the library)
Letter of
Intent Due for
those doing a
servicelearning
project
Wed
Oct 3
WRIGHT’S
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Black Boy (1945)
Article
Analysis 1
Optional: Book reviews of Black Boy
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ENG 400/538: Hurston & Wright
Date
Topic(s)
Oct 4, 5 See a play on
7:30 pm campus at the
UM-Flint
Theatre
Alicia Kent
Readings Due
Note: BB refers to readings available in
Blackboard.
Due
(Due at start of
class unless
otherwise
noted)
Under Milk Wood: A Play for Voices
by Dylan Thomas
This staged reading is a collaboration with the
Department of History, celebrating the Wyatt
Exploration Program
For extra credit
post a summary
and your
reaction in
Blackboard
Wed
Oct 10
HURSTON’S
MOST
CELEBRATED
NOVEL
Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937)
Wed
Oct 17
WRIGHT’S MOST
CELEBRATED
NOVEL
Begin Native Son (1940): Book One “Fear” and
Book Two “Flight”
Wed
Oct 24
NATIVE SON
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Oct 26,
27, 28,
Nov 3,
9, 11
See a play on
campus at the
UM-Flint
Theatre
Finish Native Son: Book Three “Fate”
“How ‘Bigger’ Was Born” (in Native Son, 505540
BB: Reviews of Native Son
 Urinetown
by Greg Kotis and Mark Hollmann
 Fri, Sat: 7:30 pm; Sun: 2:00 pm
9
Article
Analysis 2
For extra credit
post a summary
and your
reaction in
Blackboard
ENG 400/538: Hurston & Wright
Date
Topic(s)
Alicia Kent
Readings Due
Note: BB refers to readings available in
Blackboard.
Due
(Due at start of
class unless
otherwise
noted)
Friday, October 26 by 5:00 pm: Last Day to Drop Classes
Wed
Oct 31
HURSTON’S
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Dust Tracks on a Road (1942) by Zora Neale
Hurston
 Read Chapters 1-8
 Skip Chapter 5 “Figure and Fancy”
 Read 9 “School Again”
 Skip Chapter 10 “Research”
 Read Chapter 11 “Books and Things”
 Skip Chapter 12 “My People! My People!”
 Skip Chapter 13 “Two Women in Particular”
 Read Chapter 14 “Love”
 Skip Chapter 15 “Religion”
 Read Chapter 16 “Looking Things Over”
 Read Appendix: “My People, My People!”
 Skip all other Appendices
 Optional: Article on Dust Tracks on a Road
compared to Hurston’s actual life
Seminar
Project
Proposal
Nov 2,
4, 10,
16, 17,
18
See a play on
campus at the
UM-Flint
Theatre
The Menaechmus Brothers
by Titus Maccius Plautus
Translated from Latin by E. F. Waitling
Fri, Sat: 7:30 pm; Sun: 2:00 pm
For extra credit
post a summary
and your
reaction in
Blackboard
10
ENG 400/538: Hurston & Wright
Alicia Kent
Date
Topic(s)
Readings Due
Note: BB refers to readings available in
Blackboard.
Due
(Due at start of
class unless
otherwise
noted)
Wed
Nov 7
ESSAYS AND
LATER WRITINGS
BY HURSTON
AND WRIGHT
Hurston, The Complete Stories:
 “The Conscience of the Court” (1950)
 Optional: “Story in Harlem Slang” and
“Harlem Slanguage” (1942)
 BB: “My Most Humiliating Jim Crow
Experience” (1944)
 BB: “What White Publishers Won’t Print”
(1950)
 Optional: BB: “Court Order Can’t Make Races
Mix” (1955)
Article
Analysis 3 (for
ENG 538 only)
Wright:
 BB: “Man of All Work” (date unknown)
 Optional: BB:“Blueprint for Negro Writing”
(1937)
 Optional: BB: “The Man Who Was Almost a
Man” (1961)
Wed
Nov 14
CAREER DAY
NO READING DUE
In-Class Career Presentations
Wed,
Nov 21
NO CLASS
Thanksgiving Break begins
Break: November 21-25
Wed
Nov 28
WRIGHT’S
POSTHUMOUS
NOVEL
A Father’s Law (published posthumously by
Wright’s daughter in 2008
Wed
Dec 5
PRESENTATIONS
NO READING DUE
In-Class Presentations on Seminar Project
Presentation
on Seminar
Project
Sat
Dec 15
SEMINAR
PROJECT DUE BY
1:30 PM
This is the scheduled exam period for this course.
Instead of an exam, email your paper as an attached
Word document to aakent@umflint.edu by 1:30 PM
Seminar
Project due
by email by
1:30 pm
BY EMAIL
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Career
Presentation
and Handout