English 232 – Non-Western World Literature (3 credits)

Class Time and Place: MWF 12:00-12:50 in Houston 216

Your Instructor: Dr. Julie Barak

Office Phone: 248-1072

Office: LHH 446 – A.M. LHH 452 – P.M.

Office Hours: MWF 10:00-11:00; MW 2:00-3:00; TR 9:00-9:50

E-mail: [email protected]

Syllabus subject to change. Please consult on-line syllabus at http://www.mesastate.edu/~jbarak for most current version.

Sign-up Sheet

GENERAL EDUCATION OBJECTIVES ADDRESSED IN THIS COURSE:

The following have been chosen from the list of General Education Objectives shown in its entirety in the Mesa State College Catalog:

OBJECTIVE 1—Students will be able to think critically and creatively.

OBJECTIVE 2—Students will appreciate the contributions of literature to our perception of ourselves and our world.

Assessment measures will be implemented to monitor achievement of objectives.

This course has also been designated a GE-25 Pathways course. This means that it will transfer as a humanities credit to any institution of higher learning in the state of Colorado. In order to be granted this designation, the course must meet minimum reading and writing requirements established by the state, as well as address the following critical thinking skills: a) Identifying and differentiating questions, problems and arguments, b) Evaluating the appropriateness of various methods of reasoning and verification, c) Identifying and assessing stated and unstated assumptions, d) Critically comparing different points of view, e) Formulating questions and problems, f) Constructing and developing cogent arguments, g) Discussing alternative points of view, h) Evaluating the quality of evidence and reasoning.

Course Goals: In an attempt to meet the above general education goals through course-specific content goals, the course will develop or enhance the following skills/abilities/knowledge base of its participants: 1) To become familiar with the development, directions and theories of postcolonialism. 2) To read various postcolonial texts through the lens of postcolonial theory. 3) To learn to summarize accurately and succinctly. 4) To practice applying theory to various texts. 5) To investigate the value of theory to readers. 6) To develop the habit of critical thinking when approaching texts and ideas.

Course Methods: 1) The most important pedagogical method of the course will be large group discussion. We’ll ask questions, connect theory and text, challenge interpretations, build bridges between past and present and self and other, investigate our reasons for our responses, argue, agree, resist, compromise, rebel and conform. We must become a community of learners dedicated to challenging each other to grow in knowledge and compassion. 2) Because reading the material is imperative to good discussions, various types of quizzes/tests, oral and written reports will be required throughout the semester to encourage you to keep current. 3) Some lectures to introduce and explain theoretical concepts.

Required Texts:

Theory:

Young, Robert J. C. – Postcolonialism: A Very Short Introduction

Various essays on reserve in the library

The West:

Conrad – Heart of Darkness

Two Critical Articles – Achebe and Harris – On reserve

The Empire Writes Back:

Ama Ata Aidoo – Our Sister Killjoy

National Allegory:

Lu Xun – Diary of a Madman – On reserve

Jameson – On reserve

wa Thiong’o, Ngugi – Grain of Wheat

Ghosh, Amitov – The Shadow Lines

Politics and Art:

Roy, Arundhati – The God of Small Things

Roy, Arundhati -- The Checkbook and the Cruise Missile: Conversations w/ Arundahti Roy

Mbe, Zakes – The Madonna of Excelsior

Diasporic Effects:

Cliff, Michelle – No Telephone to Heaven

Thu Huong Duong and Nina McPherson – Paradise of the Blind

Globalization:

Abe, Kobo – Woman in the Dunes

Murakami, Haruki – Hardboiled Detective in Wonderland

Regular handouts or postings to the K: drive of theory and poetry.

Assignments:

In-class journals: Written response to question posed in class. Grades are based on depth of reflection, on creativity of response, on perceived earnestness of purpose, on the employment of critical/analytical skills. Please keep the journals in a folder or notebook. Number them clearly. I’ll pick them up and grade them at midterm and at the end of the semester.

Quizzes on each text: 20 question reading quiz on each work. See syllabus for dates.

Short Essays (2-3 pages): Throughout the semester you’ll be assigned two dates for writing and presenting a paper exploring the connections between one of the books we’ve read and the theory in Young and in the Lectures. A more complete description of the assignment is attached. See syllabus and sign-up sheet for due dates.

Exams: Two exams testing your understanding of literary/postcolonial terms and your ability to apply the theory to the literature.

Grades:

In-Class Journals: 100 points

Quizzes : 200 points – 10 quizzes at 20 points each

Short Essays : 300 points – 2 papers at 150 points each

Midterm: 200 points

Final: 200 points

900-1000 points = A; 800-899 points = B; 700-799 points = C; 600-699 points = D; Below 600 = F

Raw grade may be raised or lowered by one letter according to the quality of student’s class participation and attendance.

Other Policies and Procedures: Refer to the Student Handbook for college policies on Academic Honesty. Any student who feels she/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact Educational Access Services at 1020 Elm Ave., 248-1856, to coordinate reasonable accommodations.

Schedule for Spring 2008

Week	Date	Assignment	Project Due
1	J – 23 – W	Introductions Lecture – Contact Zones + background on the “age.” See intro PowerPoint and do some work.
	J – 25 – F	Achebe and Harris – On reserve Lecture – summarize their arguments.
2	J – 28 – M	Heart of Darkness	Quiz – 1
	J – 30 – W	Young – Intro and Chapter 1 Lecture – McLeod 1
	F – 1 – F	Young – Chapter 2 Lecture – McLeod 2
3	F – 4 – M	Our Sister Killjoy	Quiz – 2
	F – 6 – W		Theory Papers Due
	F – 8 – F	Lecture – McLeod 5
4	F – 11 – M	Read Jameson and Ahmad – On Reserve
	F – 13 – W	Lu Xun – On reserve	Quiz – 3
	F – 15 – F	Winter Break – No Class
5	F – 18 – M	Lecture – Detention Camps	Theory Papers Due
	F – 20 – W	Grain of Wheat	Quiz – 4
	F – 22 – F		Theory Papers Due
6	F – 25 – M	Lecture – McLeod 3,4 Lecture – Ngugi and Nation
	F – 27 – W	Young – Chapter 3
	F – 29 – F	The Shadow Lines	Quiz – 5
7	M – 3 – M		Theory Papers Due
	M – 5 – W	Review
	M – 7 – F		Exam #1 Journals Due
8	M – 10 – M	Spring Break
	M – 12 – W	Spring Break
	M – 14 – F	Spring Break
9	M – 17 – M	The God of Small Things	Quiz – 6
	M – 19 – W		Theory Papers Due
	M – 21 – F	Lecture – McLeod -- 6, 6 cont.
10	M – 24 – M	The Checkbook and the Cruise Missile
	M – 26 – W		Theory Papers Due
	M – 28 – F	Young – Chapter 5 Lecture – McLeod – Race
11	M – 31 – M	The Madonna of Excelsior	Quiz – 7
	A – 2 – W		Theory Papers Due
	A – 4 – F	No Class
12	A – 7 – M	????????? (Poetry)
	A – 9 – W	No Telephone to Heaven	Quiz – 8
	A – 11 – F		Theory Papers Due
13	A – 14 – M	Lecture – McLeod – Psychoanalysis
	A – 16 – W	Paradise of the Blind	Quiz – 9
	A – 18 – F		Theory Papers Due
14	A – 21 – M	Young – Chapter 6
	A – 23 – W	Young – Chapter 7
	A – 25 – F	Lecture – McLeod – Existentialism
15	A – 28 – M	Woman in the Dunes	Quiz – 10
	A – 30 – W		Theory Papers Due
	M – 2 – F	Lecture – McLeod – Hybridity Young – Chapter 4
16	M – 5 – M	??????? (Poetry)
	M – 7 – W	Hard Boiled Detective	Quiz – 11
	M – 9 – F		Theory Papers Due Journals Due
17	Final – M – 12-15		Exam #2