JOE LOVE

MARYVILLE UNIVERSITY

SYLLABUS

English 208 1S Minority Voices in American Literature

Summer 2009

 

INSTRUCTOR: Joe Love Office Hours: By arrangement

E-mail Address: jlove@maryville.edu CLASS TIME: T 6:00 PM—8:50 PM

LOCATION: Fenton PREREQUISITES: Eng 101

DATES: 5/05 5/12 5/19 5/26

6/02 6/09 6/16 6/23

 

TEXTS: Rico and Mano: American Mosaic, 3^rd Ed.; Erdrich: Love Medicine; Shange: Liliane; Cisneros: House on Mango Street; Lahiri: Unaccustomed Earth.

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

 

This course analyzes and appreciates selected works of contemporary American minority fiction and non-fiction.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

 

Students completing ENG 108 should be able to:

 

1. discuss and interpret literature using tools acquired during the course

2. respond to literature with short exegetical papers

3. write an effective literary essay on a subject that grows organically from the course

 

COURSE CONTENT:

 

The course will consist of lectures, class discussion, reading/research, four short response papers, in-class essays and a longer essay paper.

 

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

1. Four response papers 25%

2. In-class essays 15%

3. Attendance, discussion 10%

4. Final Essay 50%

LATE WORK POLICY:

 

All assignments must be submitted at the beginning of class on the due date. Late work will only be accepted if a student has made PRIOR arrangements with the instructor. In the case of an absence, the late work must be turned in on the first day back in class. Keep in mind that we are a writing community and your tardiness with assignments affects the entire class. Timeliness and preparedness are important elements in helping each other become better writers.

PLAGIARISM:

 

Plagiarism, using the ideas and/or words of someone else as your own, is a serious offense and a hindrance to your learning and growth as a writer and thinker. Any paper found to be plagiarized will receive a 0 and will be averaged in with the rest of your grades.

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

 

Attendance is integral to successful performance. When students realize that they will not be able to attend class, the instructor must be notified immediately, either before class begins or immediately following. Regardless of the circumstances, students will remain responsible for submitting work that is due and for any work/information/notes from the missed class (you might exchange phone numbers or e-mail with a class member). All assignments given out during the missed class are due by the absent student with the same deadline as everyone else. Also, students should be punctual as late arrivals are disruptive and disrespectful to the class and the instructor. After three absences your grade will be in jeopardy and the possibility of passing becomes a difficult task.

 

FINAL CAVEAT:

 

In regards to all policies and assignments, I reserve the right to make changes as needed to best meet the needs of all students. Changes will never be designed to deliberately penalize students.

COURSE OUTLINE

 

5/05 Overview. Themes, patterns, multiculturalism. Discuss Mosaic part I.

 

5/12 American Indians. Love Medicine.

 

5/19 African Americans. Liliane.

 

5/26 Puerto Ricans.

 

6/02 Japanese and Chinese Americans.

 

6/09 Chicanos. House on Mango Street

 

6/16 Indian Americans. Unaccustomed Earth.

 

6/23 New Immigrants. Final words. Final paper due.

 

There will be other required reading selections from American Mosaic for each class—pages and authors will be given at least a week before. There may also be outside readings either required or recommended to be announced.