Asian American Cultures

Asian American Cultures

*An Introduction*

LAS 325, Spring 2003, 3 credits

Dr. Eugenio Matibag

TR 9:30-10:50

Office - 300G Pearson

MW 11-12 and by appointment

(515) 294-7867 -

Required texts

Carlos Bulosan. America Is in the Heart. 2002 (1943).

Warren I. Cohen. The Asian American Century. 2002.

Shirley Geok-lin & Cheng Lok Chua, eds. Tilting the Continent: Southeast Asian American Writing. 2000.

Maria Hong, ed. Growing Up Asian American. 1993.

Jean Wakatsuki Houston & James D. Houston. Farewell to Manzanar. 1973.

Jeff Yang, et al., eds. Eastern Standard Time: A Guide to Asian Influence on American Culture: from Astro Boy to Zen Buddhism. 1997.

Course description and goals

An introduction to the major Asian American group experiences, focusing on the forms and developments of cultures in the United States with emphasis on the period from 1850 to the present. Topics will include immigration and settlement issues, social movements, assimilation, community building, media images, stereotypes and discrimination, art, and popular culture.

Assignments will consist of readings in literature, memoirs, politics, and cultural studies. Reading journal entries, active participation in discussion, three exams, and a focused research paper will be required.

With completion of the course, students will have a basic knowledge of identifying characteristics, backgrounds and experiences of major Asian American groups; of literary texts written by and about Asian Americans; and of major accomplishments, contributions and influences by Asian Americans in modern times.

The prerequisite for the course is English 105, which assumes that you have practiced basic writing and composition skills in the English language. Below you’ll find the basic requirements for LAS 325.

II.GRADING. The course grade for the semester will be based on the following percentage-values.

Classwork: attendance, preparation, participation10%

Homework: reading journal and other writing activities30%

Research essay15%

Three exams45%

Exam, composition, homework, and final course grades will be calculated according to the following scale:

A = 94-100%B- = 80-82D+ = 67-69

A- = 90-93C+ = 77-79D = 63-66

B+ = 87-89C = 73-76D- = 60-62

B = 83-86C- = 70-72F = 0-59

III. COURSE OBJECTIVES

1.To improve comprehension and analysis of Asian American issues through reading and discussion

2.To study texts of Asian American cultures in relation to their historical contexts

3.To learn concepts fundamental to understanding Asian American social reality.

4.To develop proficiency in writing journal entries and a scholarly paper

IV.REQUIREMENTS

1.PARTICIPATION: Attendance and participation in class activities are required. Prepare by reading and writing assignments before coming to class. Be ready to participate verbally in class. Absences, non-participation in discussion, and excessive tardiness will lower your participation grade. Students who miss more than six class-meetings will not pass the course.

2.IN CLASS we will discuss readings, work in groups, see videos, give presentations, hear presentations, and write. Bring the assigned reading texts to class and do the written assignments beforehand.

3.ENTRIES in your READING JOURNALare required for each and every reading assignment. Two sets of written responses will be due on the days indicated on the course calendar. Other kinds of writing may be assigned as the instructor deems appropriate. Late submission of any written assignments is not recommended and late assignments will receive lowered grades.

READING JOURNAL WRITING INSTRUCTIONS: Prior to each class meeting, you are to write an entry of a minimum of 200 words (in handwriting or word-processed) in response to the assigned reading(s) for the day. I want these entries to consist of personal, original observations that refer specifically to aspects and details of the assigned text. Each entry should demonstrate your comprehension of the text, help to prepare you for exams and discussion, and provide creative-critical writing practice. Non-original, non-specific entries will receive reduced credit or no credit. An expandable binder is good for keeping these writings together; loose-leaf writing paper or single-sheeted printer paper works out the best for submissions. Hand in your reading journal with up-to-date installments on February 18 and April 8--days of Exams 1 and 2--and on April 29, the Tuesday of Dead Week.

4.A RESEARCH PAPER is due April 17. This essay will present a coherent and reasoned interpretation of a selected aspect of Asian American culture; it should include references to library sources and some fieldwork or interview material. In its presentation, It must be word-processed and written in good grammatical and rhetorical form. Begin this assignment early, with pre-writing assignments due on the indicated dates. You will receive more instructions on this term assignment. In the meantime, be looking for an interesting aspect of Asian American culture you would like to study and interpret in greater depth.

5.THREE EXAMS will be given. The first one takes place on February 18, the second on April 8, and the third on the day indicated during Finals Week. The three exams will each have multiple choice questions on the readings covered during the previous third of the semester and brief writing assignments. A study guide will be provided for each exam.

6. FEEL FREEto contact the instructor by phone, mail, email, or in person during office hours when you have questions or doubts about assignments and requirements.

V.THE "WRITE" WAY

See rules and procedures concerning academic dishonesty in the Iowa State Student Academic Life Handbook, pp. 40-3.

LAS 325: Day/Date/Reading(s)[EST = Eastern Standard Time; GUAA = Growing Up Asian American; TC = Tilting the Continent]