OldhamEnglish 202 Syllabus1

ENGLISH 202/202W

Introduction to Literatures of Africa

Spring 2006

Davis OldhamOffice: 5361(FOSS Bldg)

ours: M – F 1:30 – 2:30

206-546-4768and by appointment

Section 02 (0975/0979)

10:30 – 11:20, M – F

Room: 1503

Required texts:Niane, Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali
Achebe, Arrow of God
Dangarembga, Nervous Conditions
Course Packet at the College Bookstore

Prerequisites:Completion of English 101 or equivalent with a 2.0 or better.

Strongly

Recommended:A working email account (one you check regularly). I use email to communicate with you, including receiving and returning assignments, sending out updates and making appointments. If you do not have an email account, you can get one through Shoreline Community College. See me for details.

A good dictionary (not the same as a spell checker).

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course has two complementary goals: To provide a partial introduction to the literatures of Africa, and to introduce the formal study of literature as an academic discipline. Through the careful study of novels, stories and poems from several different countries in Africa we will learn some basic concepts in literary analysis, and through literary analysis we will learn something about the social context and aesthetic goals of specific works of African literature.

The class format consists of lectures and discussion. Without discussion the class cannot go. So you must come prepared to talk, having done the reading, with questions, ideas, gut reactions—something to share. If you’re not able to do that, don’t take the class. For more information see “Participation and Discussion” on the class website.

Outcomes

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Identify some of the defining characteristics that make a piece of writing a work of literature
  2. Describe some key aesthetic concerns of major figures in African literature
  3. Discuss how competing ideas of “reality” act as a structuring principle in one or more works of African literature.
  4. Recognize the cultural diversity reflected in a wide range of literary texts
  5. Describe the relationship between social and historical conditions and the literary texts that emerge within them
  6. Discuss the problematic relationship of African authors to colonial and neocolonial powers
Assignments

There are four major assignments in this class:

  • Two long essays.
  • A final exam.
  • An in-class presentation

There will also be frequent short written homework assignments that will help you prepare for the essays, and quizzes on the content of the readings.

Grades

These are the percentages each assignment is worth:

Assignment / Due Date / Percent of Grade
Essay I final draft / Mon, February 12 / 25%
Essay II / Mon, March 19 / 25%
Final Exam / Thur, March 22, 11 – 1 / 25%
In-class presentation / TBD / 5%
Homework (short writing) / Throughout the quarter / 10%
Quizzes / Throughout the quarter / 10%

You will have the option of rewriting the first essay. The rewrite will be due on the last day of the quarter, and must be accompanied by the copy with my comments in order to receive credit.

Schedule

AoG = Arrow of God (Chinua Achebe)

NC = Nervous Conditions (Tsitsi Dangarembga)

Week / Dates / Authors/Texts
1 / Jan 8 – Jan 12 / Sundiata
2 / Jan 16 – Jan 19 / Sundiata
3 / Jan 22 – Jan 26 / Tutuola; AoG
4 / Jan 29 – Feb 2 / AoG
5 / Feb 5 – Feb 9 / [Review]
6 / Feb 12 – Feb 16 / NC
7 / Feb 19 – Feb 23 / NC
8 / Feb 26 – Mar 2 / Isegawa, Marechera
9 / Mar 5 – Mar 9 / Poetry
10 / Mar 12 – Mar 16 / [Review]

A detailed calendar of homework assignments with due dates is provided in a separate handout.

Late Assignments

All assignments are due in class on the specified date. Homework assignments form the basis of in-class work and therefore cannot be accepted late. I will consider accepting the essays late if they are accompanied by a written explanation. I reserve the right to refuse late essays or deduct points for lateness, at my discretion.

Participation

Participation and collaboration are fundamental to the structure of this course. You will have the opportunity to participate in different ways, including one-on-one peer review, small group work and class discussions, so even if you’re not comfortable speaking in front of the whole class you should be able to meet this expectation. I’ve tried to set it up so you’ll want to talk about what you’re learning, so hopefully this won’t be a problem. If you are unable or unwilling to participate in any of the ways provided, you should take a different course.

I have worked hard to ensure that class time will be productive for you, even if it is not always exciting. In return I expect you to treat me, your classmates and yourself with respect. This means that you should be here every day, on time and prepared to work—alert, attentive and ready to participate. If you can’t manage to participate, you can still be attentive and respectful towards others. Please do not:read material not related to the class, do homework for another class, chat, talk or send messages on your cell phone, sleep,or in any other way show disrespect toward the rest of the class. If you can’t be mentally present, take a mental health day and come back the next prepared to work. And again, please be on time. Late arrivals disrupt and distract, wasting everyone’s time and money.

Conferences

At least once during the quarter I will cancel class and meet with you one-on-one to discuss your work. These conferences are mandatory. I will pass around a sign-up sheet in advance.

Pass/No Credit Option

You have the option of taking this class P/NC. If you choose this option and your grade is a 2.0 or higher, it will be recorded as a “P” on your transcript. If you choose this option and your grade is below a 2.0, it will be recorded as “NC” on your transcript. This means you will not receive credit for the course but it will not affect your GPA. To choose this option you must submit a pass option card signed by me to the registration desk no later than the end of the day which constitutes the midpoint of the course. For most classes, this will be the end of the fifth week. A maximum of thirty P credits may apply to any Shoreline degree (with the exception of Nursing and Health Care Information Programs).

Disability

If you need course adaptations or special accommodations because of a disability, or if you have medical information that needs to be shared with me in the event that the building needs to be evacuated, please contact me by phone, by email or in person. If you require accommodations due to a diagnosed disability please contact the coordinator of services for students with disabilities in the FOSS Building, Room 5229; 546-5832 (phone) or 546-4520 (TTY).

Diversity

This class is built on the assumption that diverse perspectives are fundamental to learning. It’s only when we’re challenged by knowledge and viewpoints different from our own that we can learn and grow. We’ll be dealing with topics that can sometimes look different depending on where you stand—topics that can become somewhat controversial as well. This is just the sort of situation where we benefit most from experience and perspectives different from our own. The course is structured to make the most of our differences by giving you many opportunities to interact with all of your classmates. But for this to work we must all be willing to listen to each other respectfully. A few basic guidelines can make a big difference here:

  • Treat each other with respect.
  • Question the quality of the argument, not personal beliefs.
  • Speak from experience.
  • Avoid generalizing about groups of people.
  • Share air time.
  • Listen respectfully to different perspectives.
  • Don’t blame or scapegoat.
  • Focus on learning, not on winning arguments.
Plagiarism

Plagiarism is defined in the Student Handbook as “quoting, paraphrasing or summarizing portions of another’s work from a published, unpublished or electronic source without acknowledging that source.” In short, it means representing another’s written work as your own. It can take different forms, including submitting a paper someone else wrote with your name on it; including someone else’s exact words in your paper without giving credit for them; including someone else’s ideas in your paper without giving credit; and letting someone else do so much work on your paper it’s as if they wrote it, or part of it.

In this culture plagiarism is a form of theft. It is the most serious crime you can commit in an academic setting. Plagiarism will result in a zero for the assignment. Extensive plagiarism is grounds for failing the course and can get you kicked out of school.

Most of the time people plagiarize for one reason: panic. They feel unable to do the assignment, don’t ask for help, grab something that looks good and hand it in. Stop this problem before it starts. If you’re having trouble see me. I will do everything I can to help you complete the assignment successfully. But I can’t help if you don’t talk to me.

A Final Note

Reading literature is interesting, fun, exciting. Reading the literature of Africa can open up realms of experience quite new for most of us. My hope is that you will leave this class having found a way to deepen and enrich your life experience. The work we do should help you toward that goal. If you are finding it overwhelming, please talk to me ASAP so I can help you manage it and find a way to make it work for you.