GEN 220 02 Survey of Multicultural Literature

Evelyn Taylor, Instructor Office: Presidents Hall

Three Semester Hours Phone: 244-8159

Tuesday and Thursday 11:00 a.m.–12:15 p.m. Home Phone: 894-2197

2013 Spring Semester (call before 10 p.m.)

email:

1. Course Description

A thematic survey of contemporary literature from authors of different ethnicities. Attention is given both to literary forms and to cultural, philosophical, and religious meaning in the texts.

2. Course Rationale

An understanding of and appreciation for different cultures is important for those in ministry. One way to expand our knowledge of various cultures is to study the literature from those cultures. By doing so, we not only understand the elements of fiction, poetry, and drama, but we also gain insight into the human condition as reflected by the individual author. In addition, we often see that the conflicts and struggles communicated to us by that author transcend cultures and echo our own struggles and those of others around us. The insights gained from characters and cultures can assist us in ministering to those who do not share our own experiences.

3. Course Objectives

The student who satisfactorily completes this course should be able to:

a.  Analyze the short stories, poetry, and drama according to the characteristics of each.

b.  Gain insight into particular aspects of culture, and compare differences and similarities between cultures.

c.  Respond to a variety of written assignments based on an analysis of the literature, the culture, and his or her experiences.

4.  Course Texts

One World of Literature, Shirley Geok-Lin Lim and Norman A. Spencer, Houghton Mifflin, Boston, 1993.

5.  Course Requirements

General Information

a.  By January 29, you will need your own copy of the text that you bring to class consistently. You will not be adequately involved in class discussions if you are looking over someone’s shoulder as you share a copy of the text. If you do not have your own copy by that date, you should probably drop the class because I will begin marking you absent at that point. If you have reasonable cause to adjust the date, contact me.

b.  If you miss more than four class sessions, you will be dropped from the class and receive the grade FA (failure due to absences). Arriving late or leaving early will be counted toward your absences.

c.  Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the date indicated on the course schedule. I will lower the grade on late assignments by one letter for each day past the due date. You must complete all assignments to pass the class.

d.  As a Christian, you are expected to be honest in all you do, and your work in this class is no exception. Consequences for plagiarism or dishonesty are clearly presented in the CCU student handbook. Please review.

e.  It is distracting to me and other students when you leave during class, so unless it is an emergency—and those rarely happen—plan to remain in class for the entire session.

f.  As a courtesy to me and the other students, please turn off cell phones before coming into class. While in class, you must keep your phone in your purse or backpack. If it is in your hands or on your desk, I will place it on my desk until the end of class.

g.  Laptops are prohibited in this class.

Assignments

a.  Literature is best understood and enjoyed when students have opportunity to discuss it, question the professor and other students, and write about various aspects of it. Class sessions will require your involvement in group projects, focused discussions, and other activities, and those elements of the course contribute significantly to your final grade. Those experiences cannot be made up unless you missed class because of illness or travel for the school.

b.  You will complete four written assignments, from three to five pages in length that call for you to critically evaluate particular elements of the literature. More information about each assignment will be given in class. Papers should be well organized with a clear thesis statement in the introduction. Please use Times New Roman, 12-point type and proofread carefully as lack of attention to the basics of good writing will cost you points.

c.  In the first couple of weeks, class members will choose groups of four, and from a list of humanitarian organizations, choose one for a group presentation that gives information about that organization and its work in the world. In addition, each group will prepare a detailed sentence outline with appropriate sources. Each group must connect at least one assigned piece of literature to the presentation and outline. Those presentations will be scheduled throughout the semester and the work for this project will function as a final. More information will be given in class.

Evaluation

Preparation and Participation 40%

Four Topical Assignments 40%

Research Assignment 20%

6.  Course Schedule

Date / Topic / Assignment
January 22 / Introduction to Fiction and Poetry
January 24 / Fiction and Poetry (cont’d)
Writing About Literature / One World of Literature, pp. 1113-1115
January 29 / Literature from North America / “My Grandmother Smoked Cigars” (1088), “The River-Merchant’s Wife: A Letter” (960).
January 31 / “Axe Handles” (995), “The Summer My Grandmother Was Supposed to Die” (916), “Lying in a Hammock at William Duffy’s Farm in Pine Island, Minnesota” (988).
February 5 / “The Life You Save May Be Your Own” (975), “Lady Lazarus” (997).
February 7 / Socratic Seminar “The Rockpile” (967), “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” (964), “Why I Am Not a Painter” (986)
February 12 / Literature from Latin America and the Caribbean / “Girl” (763) “The Pyrotechnicist” (895)
February 14 / “Death of the Tiger” (838), “The United Fruit Co.” (792)
February 19 / “Charles Atlas Also Dies” (846), “Out of Alien Days” (833)
February 21 / “Microbus to San Salvador” (825), “A Man Passes with a Loaf of Bread on His Shoulder . . .” (857)
February 26 / “Sunday, Sunday” (859)
February 28 / “Can You?” (820) “Ballad of the Two Grandfathers” (822) “Denouement” (783)
March 4-8 / Spring Break
March 12 / Literature from Europe / “To Posterity” (551), “The Balek Scales” (554)
Paper one due
March 14 / Socratic Seminar for “The Guest” (530), “The Unknown Citizen” (582)
March 19 / “Come Back to Grenada” (585), “Easter 1916” (600)
March 21 / “The Other Wife” (524), “Lost Paradise” (497), “Chorus of the Rescued” (550)
March 26 / “My Faithful Mother Tongue” (650), “Left the Land . . .” (652), “The First Long-Range Artillery Shell in Leningrad” (653), “The Stalin Epigram” (657), “Leningrad” (659)
March 28 / Literature from Asia / “Gateman’s Gift” (239), “The Interview” (248)
Paper 2 due
April 2 / “When I Was in Xia Village” (211), “The Pan, the Pot, the Fire I Have Before Me” (314)
April 4 / “A Small Incident” (209), “Spring Storm” (337), “Genealogy” (336)
April 9 / / “The Key” (364), “Dark Night on a Southbound Train” (237), “Modern Secrets” (359), “My Country and My People” (361)
April 11 / Literature from Australia and Oceania / “The Cooboo” (381), “Mr. Parker’s Valentine” (405)
April 16 / “Dr. Wooreddy’s Prescription for Enduring the Ending of the World” (400), “The Skeleton of the Great Moa in the Canterbury Museum, Christchurch” (442), “Bora Ring” (394)
Paper 3 due
April 18 / Community Service Day
April 23 / “His First Ball” (451), “Migrants” (395), “Off the Map” (413), “South Country” (415)
April 25 / Literature from Africa and the Middle East / “Naema—Whereabouts Unknown” (15), “The Return” (91)
April 30 / “The Hajji” (161), “Migrant’s Lament—a Song” (173),
May 2 / / “A Soldier’s Embrace” (149), “A Person Is a Person Because of Other People” (176)
May 7 / / “Another Evening at the Club” (53), “To Whom It May Concern” (172)
Paper 4 due
May 9 / / Socratic Seminar “The Land of Sad Oranges” (137), “Jerusalem” (75), ”Sort of an Apocalypse” (76), “Identity Card” (134)

In the event of extenuating circumstances during the course of the semester, this syllabus, including the proposed schedule may be changed.