Syllabus
English 355: African American Literature II (Thurs 4:30-7:20 p.m.)
Fall 2010
Professor S. Carrie
Office Location: Klapper Hall (Room 637)
Office Hours: Thurs. 1:45-3:45 p.m. and by appointment
Phone: (718) 997-4693
Email: [email protected]
COURSE DESCRIPTION: In this course we will examine “the self-representation of people
of color, and focus particularly on the tensions that emerge between the individual and cultural
forces that surround it.” Many scholars have argued that one of the primary issues faced by
contemporary African American writers is the ongoing struggle between individualism and
collective identity. Throughout the semester, we will focus on a range of questions, including:
how do African American writers resist and/or situate themselves within a collective tradition
of black writing? How do they navigate the fraught boundary between individual and collective
identity? Lastly, what kinds of models of selfhood do these authors affirm and/or resist?
Required Texts
James Baldwin
Octavia Butler
Paul Lawrence Dunbar
Zora Neale Hurston
James Weldon Johnson
Toni Morrison
Danzy Senna
Go Tell it on the Mountain
Kindred
Sport of the Gods
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man
The Bluest Eye
Caucasia
Please purchase the texts above at the Campus Bookstore (Located in the lower level
of the Student Union)
Attendance: Attendance is mandatory. I understand that emergencies do occur; however,
excessive absences are unacceptable. I reserve the option of lowering the final grade up
to a full grade point for excessive absences (more than 3 class sessions). Thus, your
regular attendance is imperative.
Lateness Policy: Arriving on time is mandatory. Every fourth late (over fifteen minutes)
will count as an absence. Also, any lateness over twenty-five minutes will count as an
absence.
Class Etiquette: Cell phones and pagers must be turned off during class time.
** Please note: if you have a physical, psychological, medical or learning disability that
may impact your ability to carry out assigned course work, I urge you to contact the staff
in the Office of Special Services for Students with Disabilities (OSS). OSS is located
in Kiely Hall, Suite 171. Phone number: (718) 997-5870. OSS will review your
concerns and determine what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All
information and documentation of disability is confidential.**
Writing Assignments: Two short papers (1st paper is 5-6 pages and 2nd is paper 5-7
pages). Written responses to texts (2 pgs minimum, and 2 ½ maximum typed, and 12.
font), and if you decide to hand write your responses, they must be legible and written on
four sides of paper which is equal to 2 typed pages. Writing is a substantial part of this
course; thus, it is important that your papers are turned in on time. Grades for late papers
will be lowered. Late responses will not be accepted. I would prefer that you hand in hard
copies of your responses. Please make sure that they are stapled or properly attached with
a clip.
** There will be 6 assigned responses. You are only required to do 4 out of the six.
Thus, you’re allowed to miss two responses. However, you may do all 6 for extra
credit, but they have to be handed in on time**
Academic Honesty: All papers should reflect your own original work. Ideas originating
with other sources must be cited and documented appropriately. Plagiarism is a very
serious offense. If you are unclear about what constitutes plagiarism, there are resources,
including the college writing center available to help you. I am also happy to answer any
questions.
Course Objectives
• To become familiar with the major works, themes, and socio-historical framework
of contemporary African American literature.
• To develop interpretive models which will help you situate each work within its
aesthetic, historical and ideological context.
• Learning how texts address social, cultural, and political concerns.
• Developing and strengthening skills in the elements of academic writing, such as
analysis, interpretation, and critical evaluation.
• Understanding the material conditions of literary production and the reception of
texts
This course can be used to fulfill the College Option Literature Requirement.
Expectations
• Regular attendance and active participation in class discussion. Unexcused
absences will adversely affect your class participation grade.
•
Active participation in class discussions.
•
Completion of all reading assignments as noted on the syllabus. Because this is
not a lecture course, the quality of our class discussions will depend largely on
your keeping current with the readings.
•
Completion of written responses to assigned readings. (late responses will not be
accepted)
•
Completion of two short papers. Paper # 1 is 5-6 pages, and Paper # 2 is 5-7
pages. Papers must be submitted according to the deadlines noted on the
syllabus. All papers should be typed, Times New Roman,12 pt. font, and doublespaced throughout. Grades for late papers will be lowered.
Grading
Successful completion of the course will be based on the following criteria
•
2 Exams 40% (Midterm and Final Exam)
•
2 Papers 35%
•
Written Responses 15 % (complete 4 out of 6 responses)
•
Class Participation 10 %
•
Quizzes (serve as extra points and are not deducted from your
grade point average)
Important Dates:
• Midterm- October 14th
• 1st paper due on October 21st
• 2nd Paper due on last day, Dec. 13th (Last paper due in my office or mailbox by
6:00 p.m.)
• Final Exam- To be announced in class
Schedule of classes
Week 1
8/26
Introductory Class
Week 2 **Post-Emancipation**
9/2
Readings: Dunbar’s The Sport of the Gods, and (handouts) Booker
T. Washington’s “Atlanta Compromise” (1895), W.E.B. Du Bois’ “Of
Mr. Booker T. Washington” (1903)
Week 3 **Pre-World War I** (Response # 1 due)
9/9
Readings: Johnson’s Autobiography of Ex-Colored an Man, and (on
Blackboard) W.E.B. Du Bois’ “Of Our Spiritual Strivings” (1903),
Week 4 **The Harlem Renaissance**
9/16
Readings: Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God pgs. 1-138, and (on
Blackboard) W.E.B. Du Bois’ “The Criteria of Negro Art” (1926); Zora
Neale Hurston’s “How it Feels to Be Colored Me” (1928), and a short
critical background piece on Zora Neale Hurston
Week 5 **The Harlem Renaissance**(Response # 2 due)
9/23
Readings: Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God pgs. 139-193, and
(on Blackboard) Richard Wright’s “The Ethics of Living Jim Crow”
Week 6 **Naturalism and the Sociological Imagination**
9/30
Readings: Go Tell it on the Mountain, pgs. 1-177 and (on Blackboard)
background essay on James Baldwin
Week 7 **Integrationist** (Response # 3 due)
10/7
Readings: Go Tell it on the Mountain, pgs. 178-263. Midterm Review.
Week 8
10/14
Midterm
Week 9 **Black Power and Black Arts Movement****(Paper # 1 due)
10/21
Readings: A Play by Amiri Baraka (a.k.a Leroi Jones) Dutchman
(handout), and (on Blackboard) Larry Neal’s “The Black Art
Movement.” Viewing of Dutchman
Week 10 ** Intra-racism, Gender, and the Black Community**
10/28
Readings: Morrison’s The Bluest Eye, pgs. 1-93 and Afterward
Week 11 ** Intra-racism, Gender, and the Black Community** (Response # 4 due)
11/4
Readings: Morrison’s The Bluest Eye, 97-206
Week 12 **Aftermath: Racial Legacies**
11/11
Readings: Senna’s Caucasia pgs. 1-187
Week 13 **Aftermath: Racial Legacies** (Response # 5 due)
11/18
Readings: Senna’s Caucasia pgs. 188-413
Week 14
11/25
No Class (Thanks Giving)
Week 15 **Returns: Racial Kinship and Historical Recovery**
12/2
Readings: Butler’s Kindred pgs. 9-188.
Week 16 **Returns: Racial Kinship and Historical Recovery ** (Response # 6 due)
12/9
Readings: Butler’s Kindred pgs. 189-264. Final Review.
Last day
**(Paper # 2 due) Monday 12/13**
Last paper due in my office or mailbox by 6:00 p.m. (I will be in my office
Klapper 637 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.).