English 210-04--Approaches to Literature--Hispanic-American Literature

Missouri Western State College, Division of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Department of English, Foreign Language, and Journalism

English 210-03 Approaches to Literature--Hispanic-American Literature

12:30-1:50 TTh

Fall 2001

Instructor: Dr. Stacia Bensyl

Office: SSC 222-I

Phone: x5936

Office Hours: 11:00-12:00 TTh, 12:00-2:00 MW, and by appointment

E-mail: bensyl

Required Texts:

Cortina, Rodolfo, ed. Hispanic American Literature: An Anthology. Chicago: NTC,

1998.

Assessment methods:

Weekly quizzes worth 25 points each (total 300 points)

Three, three-page papers worth 50 points each

An internet assignment reporting on a significant Hispanic individual or aspect of Hispanic culture worth 50 points (2-3 pages)

A mid-term exam worth 100 points (50 points objective and one essay)

A final exam worth 150 points (100 points objective and one essay)

Classroom expectations:

Students should come to class prepared by reading the assignment for that day.

Quizzes cannot be made up. After I collect the quizzes, latecomers will not be given the opportunity to take the quiz. I will drop the lowest quiz score you receive during the semester.

Students should come to class with an open mind. We will be discussing readings from cultures quite different than ours.

Students should not visit, whisper, or talk during lectures.

Turn off or leave at home all electronic beepers, phones, tape-players, etc.

Students should participate in classroom discussion.

Objectives:

Students will have a better understanding of Hispanic culture and literature, especially in the context of Americans of Hispanic descent

Students will be able to discuss and write about Hispanic-American literature and culture

Students will be able to use the internet to research aspects of Hispanic-American literature and culture

Student Disability:

Any student in this course who has a disability that prevents the fullest expressions of abilities should contact Missouri Western's special needs coordinator, Lois Fox, for possible certification of special needs and expert recommendations for assistance. You should also contact me personally as soon as possible so that we can discuss class requirements.

Academic Honesty Policy:

I abide by all the regulations outlined in the Missouri Western State College Catalog and Student Handbook. I will not tolerate plagiarism or claiming another's work as your own. Please don't cheat! If I find evidence of academic dishonesty, I will pursue the maximum academic penalty for him/her.

Important Due Dates:

Paper #1 due--September 20

Paper #2 due--October 18

Paper #3 due--November 20

Internet assignment due--November 29

You will be given instructions for each of the papers and the internet assignment in class.

Mid-term exam—Thursday, October 11

Final exam—Tuesday, December 4, 11:30-1:20

Tentative Assignment Schedule

NOTE: This schedule is labeled "tentative" because we may have to adjust assignments a bit. If that's the case, I'll notify you in class prior to the adjustment.

The assignments for this class can be broken up into three thematic units which focus on different aspects of Hispanic culture. That said, there will be many times (most of the time) when the topics for the units overlap. These aren't mutually exclusive units, in other words. The benefit of dividing the class into units is that it does give you more focus and direction for your papers.

Unit #1

August 21-September 18

Familia

Aug. 21 Introduction/classroom standards Mi Familia

23 Mi Familia

28 "The Moths"

30 "Familia" "To My Father" "Black & White Photo" "Dear Tia"

Sept. 4 from Bless Me, Ultima

6 "Maria Sabida"

11 "A Thanksgiving Celebration (Amy)"

13 "The Night Before Christmas"

18 handouts

Unit #2

September 20-October 16

Immigrants, Exiles, Strangers, Belonging

20 paper #1 due Sun Images

25 "For the Color of My Mother"

27 from Our House in the Last World

Oct. 2 Los Vendidos

4 Zoot Suit

9 Zoot Suit

11 Mid-term exam

16 "Arise, Chicano" "I Am Joaquin"

18 Paper #2 due (Please turn this paper in to the departmental secretary. Papers not turned in on this day will be counted late. I will be attending a conference in Mexico.)

Unit #3

October 23-November 29

"Who Are We and Where Do We Fit In?"

23 "Filomena"

25 "To Be a Man"

30 United Farmworkers film

Nov. 1 handouts

6 "The Goat Incident"

8 "To Free Cuba"

13 "The Angel Juan Moncho"

15 "Amigo Brothers"

20 Paper #3 due "La Doctora Barr"

22 No class--Thanksgiving break

27 "My Race"

29 Internet assignment due "Barrios of the World" "Latinos"