Introduction to
Native American Studies
REL 3900 - Special Projects in Religion
ENGL 4690 - Special Topics in Underrepresented Literature
Course InformationENGL 4690 CRN: / 14125
REL 3900 CRN: / 14259
Class Meets: / MW 2:00 pm - 3:15 pm
Location: / Martin 224
Instructor Information
Name: / Dr. Rose Gubele
Office: / Martin 336D
Office Phone: / 660-543-4648
Email: /
Office Hours: / MW 12-1:30, TR 1-3, and by appointment
Course Description:
This course serves as an introduction to Native American Studies, designed for students who wish to pursue a minor in the field. It is cross-listed as ENGL 4690 and REL 3900. The class focuses on key issues in the field, including: land and tribal identity; history, colonial and pre-colonial; tribal sovereignty; Native American languages, and the emphasis on language preservation and revitalization; tribal literatures and the establishment of a Native American canon; tribal art, and the preservation and teaching of artistic techniques.
Texts and Materials:Kidwell, Clara Sue and Alan Velie, eds. Native American Studies. Lincoln:U of Nebraska P, 2005. Print.ISBN#-13: 978-0-8032-2776-7
Additional Readings are available on Blackboard.
Attendance Policy:Regular attendance at class meetings is a requirement of this course. Students who miss class often tend to receive lower grades than students who attend regularly. In addition, I will only allow students to make up missed work if they have provided me with documentation (an electronic message from Student Experience and Engagementwill suffice.) Students must take the initiative to ask about missed work on the day they return to class and ask a classmate for a copy of his or her notes.
In sum: if you miss a class, you may only make up the work if you provide a written excuse of some kind and ask me about it on the day that you return to class.
Assignments and Grades:There are 1000 points possible in the course. The grade breakdown is as follows:
Assignments / PointsTerminology Test / 100 / Grade Breakdown
Group Presentation / 150 / 900-1000 / A
Trading Moon Event Response / 50 / 800-890 / B
Prospectus / 75 / 700-790 / C
Annotated Bibliography / 175 / 600-690 / D
Research Paper / 200
Midterm / 100
Final Exam / 150
Total / 1000
All assignments will be explained in greater detail on separate assignment sheets, but below is a brief overview:
- Terminology Test: Native American Studies has a unique terminology, as do all fields. In order to discuss issues relevant to the field, students will first need to understand the lingo.
- Group Presentation:Students will present and lead discussion of contemporary issues in Native American Studies. A signup sheet will be circulated during week 2, and students may choose their topics from the provided list. Additional topics may be proposed. This assignment asks students to research, present material to the class, and lead class discussion. Each student is expected to prepare a presentation that is ten minutes in length for undergraduates and fifteen minutes in length for graduate students (includes class discussion).
- Trading Moon Event Response: We will be holding the First Annual Trading Moon Pow Wow on Saturday, November 14, 2015, noon-10 pm. That week, there will also be crafts lessons and other events (more information to come). Students are required to attend the Pow Wow or one of the events and write a two-page response in which they discuss their experiences.
- Prospectus: Each student must write a one to two-page prospectus in which they propose a topic for their research paper. The prospectus receives a separate grade. However, students who fail to pass the prospectus assignment may not receive a grade for their research paper. This assignment can be resubmitted an unlimited number of times.
- Annotated Bibliography: Each student must compile an Annotated Bibliography of 15 sources (20 for graduate students) relevant to their Research Paper topic. Not all of these sources must be used on the Research Paper.
- Research Paper:Students are expected to complete a research paper on any topic related to Native American Studies. Students must receive a passing grade on their Prospectus assignment before they can submit this paper. The paper must be 15 pages for undergrads and 25 for grads.
- Midterm:Students will be asked to answer one timed essay question during class. The essay must be a minimum of 500 words. This is a closed-book exam, but students will be permitted to bring one page of notes.
- Final Exam:The final exam will follow the same format as the midterm. It will be cumulative.
Library:
Get help @ your library! You may access your library account, the online catalog, and electronic databases from James C. Kirkpatrick Library’s website at For research assistance you may contact the Reference Desk:
- Phone: (660) 543-4154
- Email:
- AIM: JCKLReference
- RefChat: http//library.ucmo.edu/chat
University Policies and Notices:
Academic HonestyI will enforce UCM’s Academic Honesty Policy as described in the Student Calendar/Handbook. Acts of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, all of the actions listed below:
- Plagiarism (downloading essays from the internet, copying essays from journals, or copying a friend’s essays, and submitting them for credit).
- Patch Writing (blending un-cited quotes with original prose).
- Cheating (copying a classmate’s answers to a test question, etc.)
Each student should read UCM’s academic integrity policy, available on Blackboard in the Course Materials tab.
Student ConductEach student who enrolls at Central Missouri assumes an obligation to abide by the rules and regulations of the University as well as the local, state, and federal laws. A description of student rights and responsibilities is available in the Student Handbook, and online: http:
ADA Students with documented disabilities who are seeking academic accommodations should contact the Office of Accessibility Services, Union 222, (Voice and TTY) 660-543-4421.
Green DotI support actions of bystander intervention to establish a community of nonviolence. I believe each student deserves a safe environment to pursue an education and I understand the devastating impact forms of power-based personal violence (i.e. sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, and stalking) may have. If you or someone you know has experience some form of power-based personal violence you can find confidential resources with the following:
•24 Hour Victim Advocate: The Mentoring, Advocacy and Peer Support office offers as a confidential resource for those who have experienced sexual violence, harassment, intimate partner violence and stalking through a 24 hour hotline. Contact the hotline by calling 660- 441-4855 or visit them at Dockery 212.
•Counseling Center: The Counseling Center offers free confidential personal and social support through their licensed counselors. Contact them at 660-543-4060 or visit Humphreys 131 to schedule a meeting. Hours: M-F, 8:00am-12:00pm, 1:00pm-5:00pm.
•University Health Center: The Health Centers offers non-emergency medical care for injuries and follow-up appointments. Contact them at 660-543-4770 or visit them at 600
- South College Avenue. Hours: M-F, 8:00am-12:00pm, 1:00pm-5:00pm.
Course Objectives:
MoSTEP Competencies—Undergraduate English Classes:
3.5how to locate and use a variety of print and non-print reference sources.
3.7how to help students think critically about what they read.
3.8methods for promoting personalized reactions to reading and the value of sharing those responses.
4.3use of evidence and documentation.
4.8technology used to enhance learning and reflection on learning
4.9how to help students develop the capacity to listen so they comprehend, analyze, consider, respond to, and discuss spoken material, non-fiction, fiction, dramatic works, and poetry.
English Program Goals:
- Literature Goal, Level 2 – Students should be able to analyze literature on their own and/or with the help of scholarly sources for its historical, cultural and/or social influences
- Literature Goal, Level 3 – Students should be able to use an appropriate critical method or methods in synthesizing personal insight into a literary work with an awareness of the work’s context in literary history.
- Research Goal, Level 3 – Students should be able to integrate research/documentation principles, analysis of scholarly sources, and personal beliefs into valid arguments.
Wk / Date / Class Activities / Reading Assignments Due
1 / M / 8/17 / Course Introduction
W / 8/19 / Natives and Academia / Powell, “Blood and Scholarship”
2 / M / 8/24 / Terminology
W / 8/26 / Native American Studies / Ch 1: Introduction
3 / M / 8/31 / Land and Spirituality / Ch 2: Land and Identity
W / 9/2 / Terminology Test
4 / M / 9/7 / Labor Day Holiday
W / 9/9 / Native American History
Prospectus Due
5 / M / 9/14 / Cultural Conflicts / Ch 3: Historical Contact and Conflict
W / 9/16 / Sovereignty / Ch 4: Tribal Sovereignty
6 / M / 9/21 / Discuss Lyons / Lyons, “Rhetorical Sovereignty”
W / 9/23 / Blood Quantum
Indian Identity
Review for Midterm / Bizzaro, “Shooting Our Last Arrow” and “Cherokee Women Scholars’ and Activists’ Statement on Andrea Smith”
7 / M / 9/28 / Discuss Justice / Justice, “A Lingering Miseducation”
W / 9/30 / Midterm
8 / M / 10/5 / Wannabees—Presentations
W / 10/7 / NAGPRA—Presentations
9 / M / 10/12 / Casinos—Presentations
W / 10/14 / Mascots—Presentations
10 / M / 10/19 / Language Revitalization
Annotated Bib. Due / Ch 5: Language
W / 10/21 / Language, World View, and Miscommunication / Kilpatrick, “A Note on Cherokee Theological Concepts”
11 / M / 10/26 / The Cherokee Phoenix / Boudinot, “Savage Hostilities”
W / 10/28 / Native American Literature / Ch 6: Literature
12 / M / 11/2 / Discuss Womack, Harjo, and Silko / Womack, from Red on Red, Silko, “Story from Bear Country” and Harjo, Poetry Excerpts
W / 11/4 / Discuss Driskill and Harjo / Driskill, “Beginning Cherokee” and Harjo, Joy. “Eagle Poem”
13 / M / 11/9 / Native American Music / Lee, “Heartspeak”
W / 11/11 / Native American Art / Ch 7: Art
* * * * * * * Pow Wow November 14th * * * * * * *
14 / M / 11/16 / Discuss Haas
Trading Moon Resp. Due / Haas, “Wampum as Hypertext”
W / 11/18 / Beading Workshop
Research Paper Due
11/23-11/25Fall Break
15 / M / 11/30 / Discuss Chapter 8 / Ch 8: The Current State of Native American Studies
W / 12/2 / Review for Final Exam
M / 12/7 / Final Exam, 3:30-5:30 p.m.