LATINO LITERATURE SYLLABUS
Fall Semester 2008 - Ms. Cindy Threet
e-mail:
Overview:The first semester of this course focuses on the development of the Latino-American literary tradition in North, Central and South America. This development is traced from the indigenous people (Inca, Maya, Aztec), to the early Spanish explorers, through the middle of the 20th century (1940 – 1950). We will explore folktales and ghost tales, holistic healings and curanderas, magical realism, and political resistance and revolution. Students will read and analyze various genres such as fiction, drama, narrative, autobiography, and poetry. The course will develop each student’s ability to analyze literature and communicate through both written and oral expression.
Texts (for classroom use):
Mexican-American Literature
Latino Literature
The Latino Reader: from 1542 to the Present
Hispanic American Literature: an Anthology
Infinite Divisions: an Anthology of Chicano Literature
Extraordinary and Beautiful Novels:
The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho ß
Bless Me Ultima, by Rudolfo A. Anaya
100 Years of Solitude, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (for x-credit)
House of the Spirits, Isabel Allende (for x-credit)
In the Time of the Butterflies, by Julia Alverez
Like Water for Chocolate, by Laura Esquivel (excerpts)
The Milagro Beanfield War, by John Nichols
Eva Luna, by Isabel Allende (excerpts)
Pocho, by Jose Antonio Villarreal (excerpts)
Rain of Gold, by Victor Villasenor (excerpts)
Not by the Sword, by Nash Candelaria (excerpts)
Poetry, Essays & Short Stories:
These will be located in our textbooks or xeroxed for you.
Plays:
The Ballad of Gregory Cortez, by Luis Valdez
Grading:
Points and grades are cumulative throughout each nine-week grading period. Nine week grades will be averaged together to figure semester grades. WORK WILL BE TURNED IN ON TIME. Late work will be accepted for 50% credit. That means that late work will receive a failing grade. Make-up work from excused absences will be completed promptly. It is your responsibility to find out what work you missed if you were absent. MAKE-UP WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FROM MISSED CLASSES IF THE ABSENCES ARE UNEXCUSED.
****COMMUNICATE WITH ME AHEAD OF TIME IF YOU NEED HELP OR MORE TIME TO GET ASSIGNMENTS OR PROJECTS DONE. I can be flexible with responsible, communicative students. Coming to me the day that the assignment is due (or after) with excuses will do you no good, don’t even try it!!! Students who attend regularly, conscientiously complete assignments, and participate in class discussions will earn good grades. Those who are late, fail to do their assignments, and/or disrupt class, will not get good grades. I AM ADDING A CLASS PARTICIPATION GRADE. THOSE WHO ARE REPEATEDLY LATE AND/OR ABSENT WITHOUT EXCUSE WILL LOSE POINTS.
Materials:
1. 3-ring binder (1” to 1 1/2” wide) - which we will keep in the classroom. All completed assignments will go into this portfolio.
2. Paper, pens, and pencils. A colored pen for editing work.
3. Dictionary and thesaurus (for home use).
4. Some assignments must be typed. If you do not have a computer, we can
schedule time in the library for you to type.
Performance Assessment:
- Journal entries for novels-Journal entries for class-Quizzes
- Performance projects-Essays and reports-Final