CHIC 3301 – La Chicana
THIS IS A COMMON SYLLABUS FOR ALL SECTIONS OF CHIC 3301
Instructor:
Office:
Office hours:
Office phone:
e-mail:
Course description: We will take a multidisciplinary approach to the analysis of the historical, political, cultural, economic, and social forces that have lead to the emergence and our understanding of la Chicana in the United States. Texts from various field and disciplines will be scrutinized by juxtaposing them with each other and with the local knowledge of the student.
Course goals: To introduce the student to the study of la Chicana by drawing from the fields of sociology, literature, theology, cultural studies, anthropology, and history among others. It is also a goal of this course to approach different conceptions presented in the assigned text, on la Chicana through the categories of gender, class, ethnicity, color, and sexual orientation.
Learning Outcomes:
(Attainment of learning outcomes is required at a minimum rate of 70%)
The student willwrite an autobiographical essay in which the gender dimensions of his/her upbringing are analyzed from an interdisciplinary perspective to account for the student's current status in American society.
The student will write an oral history of a family with male and female children that depicts the family unit's structure and developmentin the context of allocation of economic resources and support for the attainment of family and individual member life aspirations. Referencing of this oral history with theory and information from assigned readings and videos is required.
The student will make an oral presentation to the class based on the oral history of a Chicana community leader in the greater El Paso-Ciudad Juárez region. Emphasis should be on the subject's ability to overcome personal and societal obstacles to succeed in the macro society.
The student will bringfour written comments and/or questions on every reading assignment to class that will beshared with other class members in group or class discussions.
Please consult grading section for specific course grading criteria and value of assignments.
Course requirements and other policies: This is not a traditional lecture course. Students are expected to read the material closely and critically. On all instances reading prior to the class andconstructive discussion during our regular sessions is not only encouraged, it is mandatory. Exams and article’s presentations and discussions are done in groups from 3 to 5 students. Please consider this before making a final commitment to stay in the class. Since this is a once a week course, attendance is another requirement; if a student is absent more then two times in a row (unjustified absences), s/he would be suggested to drop the class. The professor will not drop any student unless it is asked in writing.Therefore, if a student quit coming to class by the end of the semester he/she will be given an “F”. Excused absences need to have a written notice from the doctor, jury duty, employer, etc., or need to be justified before class (i.e. common flu, fever). Students will not be allowed to arrive 15 minutes after the class has started, unless previous arrangements have been made with the professor. The door will be closed and there will be a sign of “No entrance”. Please turn off your cellular phones and your beepers during the class period.
Grading:
Two exams:one mid-term25%90-100% = A
one final25%80-89% = B
Autobiographical paper10%70-79% = C
Family oral history (written)15%60-69% = D
Oral history presentation10% 59%-below = F
Attendance 8%
Participation 7%
Total 100%
*** No late mid-term or final exams will be accepted. Late written assignments will be penalized with 5% off ***
Required text: Reader on La Chicana prepared by Dr. Tabuenca
It is available for purchase at the Library copy center
Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty is prohibited and is considered a violation of the UTEP Handbook of Operating Procedures (HOP). It includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, and collusion. Cheating may involve copying from or providing information to another student, possessing unauthorized materials during a test, or falsifying research data on laboratory reports. Plagiarism occurs when someone intentionally or knowingly represents the words or ideas of another person's as ones' own. And, collusion involves collaborating with another person to commit any academically dishonest act. Any act of academic dishonesty attempted by a UTEP student is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Violations will be taken seriously and will be referred to the Dean of Students Office for possible disciplinary action. Students may be suspended or expelled from UTEP for such actions.Please consult the Handbook of Operating Procedures at policy on academic dishonesty. You may alsoconsult withtheAssistant Dean of Students at theStudent UnionBuilding West, Room 102,or by calling 747-5648.
Students with Disabilities
If you have or believe you have a disability, you may wish to self-identify. You can do so by providing documentation to the Office of Disabled Student Services located inthe Student UnionBuilding East, Room 203, by phone 747-4148 or e-mail you have a conditionthat may affect your ability to exit safely from the premises in an emergency orthat may cause an emergency during class, you are encouraged to discuss this in confidence with the instructor and/or the director of Disabled Student Services.
ATTENTION GRADUATE STUDENTS: In order to obtain graduate credit for this course, you must satisfactorily complete a term paper or conduct researchon a topic,with parameters and editorial style approved beforehand by the course instructor.
January
10Introduction to the course
17No classes. Martin Luther King
24Norma Alarcón: “Chicana Feminisms”; Ana Castillo Massacre of the Dreamers, chpt.1; and Sonia López “The Role of the Chicana…”
30Film: Zoot-Suit and discussion
February
7June Nash: “The Aztecs and the Ideology of Male Dominance”; Castillo, Ana. Chapter 5 pp. 105-119; Jeannette Rodríguez: “Our Lady of Guadalupe: Faith and Empowerment…”
14Autobiographical papers due. Gloria Anzaldúa “Entering the Serpent”; Ana Castillo, Chapter 3, pp. 63-84, and Antonia Castañeda, “Sexual violence in the Politics and Policies of Conquest”.
21Emma Perez: “Speaking from the Margin: Uninvited Discourse on Sexuality and Power” and Deena J. González: “Lupe’s Song: On the Origins of Mexican Woman-Hating in the U.S”.
28Mid-term examination take home; Rosalinda González: "Chicanas and Mexican Immigrant Families"; Patricia Zavella:"Reflections on Diversity Among Chicanas"; Mary Romero: "Life as the Maid's Daughter"; and Antonia Castañeda: “Que se pudieran defender”.
March
7Mid-term due. Díaz-Isasi and Y. Tarango "Hispanic Women: Prophetic Voice in the Church"; Díaz-Isasi "Mujerista theology: A theology for the twenty first century"; Norma Cantú: "Women Then and Now..."; and Cynthia Orozco: "Sexism in Chicano Studies"
14Film Salt of the Earth and discussion
18 Last day to drop with an automatic “W”
21-26Spring Break
28Carla Trujillo: “Chicana Lesbians: Fear and Loathing in the Chicano Community”; Aída Hurtado: “The Politics of Sexuality in the Gender Subordination of Chicanas”.
April
4Oral histories due in writing. Oral histories’ presentations
11Oral histories’ presentations.
18Gloria Anzaldúa: "Movimientos de rebeldía..." and "La conciencia de la mestiza..."
25Final remarks. FINAL EXAM TAKE HOME
May
27:00 p.m. FINAL EXAM DUE