| AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE | ICS 012.01 | ||
| Professor Nettye G. Goddard | Download syllabus PDF | ||
| DeAnza College | SPRING 2009 | ||
| Days | Time | Room | |
| Tuesdays & Thursdays | 1:30pm – 3:10PM | MCC–17 | |
| SPACER | |||
| CONTENT: | This class provides a comprehensive and an intensive examination of selected literature by African American authors. We will read, discuss, and analyze this literature toward the end of defining African American culture in the United States. | ||
| SPACER | |||
| OBJECTIVE: | The main objective of this class is to discover what and how African American writers tell us about being black in America. | ||
| A second objective requires students to learn the elements of fiction and poetry as well as the criteria for critical thinking. | |||
| A third objective requires us to identify an African American cultural idiom that permeates American society and the rest of the world. | |||
| A fourth objective requires us to identify cohering themes of African American literature. | |||
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| REQUIREMENTS: | Students will: | ||
| Read all assignments | |||
| Write short essays and group assignments on selected books | |||
| TAKE A MIDTERM ESSAY EXAM | |||
| Prepare oral reports | |||
| Prepare a major written report of a group assignment | |||
| TAKE A FINAL ESSAY EXAM | |||
| All essays and group presentations due on Thursday | |||
| SPACER | |||
| GRADES: | Short Essays | 20% | |
| ONE MIDTERM | 15% | ||
| Oral/written Report | 20% | ||
| FINAL EXAM | 25% | ||
| Class Participation | 20% | ||
| SPACER | |||
| BOOKLIST: | TITLE: | AUTHOR: | |
| Bling | Erica Kennedy | ||
| Invisible Man | Ralph Ellison | ||
| Beloved | Toni Morrison | ||
| Their Eyes Were Watching God | Zora Neale Hurston | ||
| Fences (a play) | August Wilson | ||
| A Day Late and a Dollar Short | Terry McMillan | ||
| Top Dog, Under Dog (a play) | Suzan–Lori Parks |
OFFICE HOURS: Tuesdays, 1:00PM - 1:30PM in the Writing Center
ABSENCES AND TARDINESS:
Three successive absences mean an automatic drop.
Three absences in any order mean a drop.
Be on time. Class starts promptly at 1:30 PM.
NO LATE PAPERS. DO NOT PLAGIARIZE – I know it when I see it.
IMPORTANT DATES:
| First day of Spring Quarter | April 6 |
| Last day to add quarter–length classes | April 18 |
| Last day to drop a class with no record of grade | April 25 |
| Last day to request P/NP grade | May 1 |
| Last day to drop with a "W" | May 29 |
| Memorial Day Weekend (college closed) | May 23 – 25 |
| Final Exams | To be announced |
| Last day to file for a spring degree or certificate | June 26 |
| Graduation | June 27 |
| Last day of Spring Quarter | June 26 |
| First day of Summer Session | June 29 |
Introductions
Overview of the Course
Your expectations/My expectations
Class design
Examination of kinds and characteristics of African American writers, influences of early literature and writers upon contemporary African American writers.
| Review of: | Kinds of literature |
| Characteristics of fiction poetry, drama | |
| Black idiom/Black language | |
| Blues and Jazz |
Assignment for WEEK TWO:
In Hand Out, read pp 1– 30
In African American Literature read pp xxi – 115
Lecture and class discussion on assigned readings
Assignment for WEEK THREE:
Writing assignment, p. 116 in African American Literature
Writing Assignment
| Discussion: | Examining early African American literature; comparing and contrasting early writers with contemporary writers, discussing elements of fiction, analyzing literature, effective writing. |
Assignment for WEEK FOUR:
In Bling read the entire book
In Hand Out – Reread all material
| Lecture and discussion: | Black language, blues, jazz, Ellison's use of the black idiom, symbolism, naming; precursors to Hip Hop and Rap. |
Group assignments due
Meaning of Ellison's names
Assignment for WEEK FIVE:
In Their Eyes Were Watching God; read the entire book
Review characteristics of Black dialect/language
| Discussion: | Their Eyes Were Watching God; new ideas in Hurston's literature; symbolism; voodoo; women's portrayal in African American literature. |
Group presentations: Role play scene from Hurston
Assignment for WEEK SIX:
Begin reading Beloved
| Tuesday: | Review everything from Week One to present |
MIDTERM
Assignment for WEEK SEVEN:
Finish reading Beloved
| Discussion: | Black literary criticism, Beloved; slavery |
Essay due
Assignment for WEEK EIGHT:
August Wilson's Fences
In African American Literature read pp 145 – 215
Discussion and reading from Wilson's play.
Group presentations: Scenes from Wilson's Fences
Assignment for WEEK NINE:
McMillan's A Day Late and a Dollar Short; read the entire book
| Discuss McMillan's writing; compare and contrast with other writers; early writers – male writers |
| Discuss critical theory |
Essay due
Assignment for WEEK TEN:
Lori Park's Top Dog/Under Dog; read the entire play
Review
Read aloud the playTop Dog/Under Dog
Discuss Black language/idiom
Read Langston Hughes' poetry; Rap lyrics
Assignment for WEEK ELEVEN:
Review Top Dog/Under Dog
Review The Hip Hop Generation
Review African American literary traditions; representative writers; characters
Review – Discussion
Essay due