Department of English, Foreign Language and Journalism

English 320-01

Literature of Gender and Ethnicity

6:30-9:20 Monday JGM 105

Dr. Stacia Bensyl SSC 222I

Phone 271-5936 email—bensyl@missouriwestern.edu

Office hours: MWF 10:00-12:00, M 5:30-6:30, and by appointment

Required Texts:

Giovanni’s Room. James Baldwin

Introducing Feminism. Eds. Susan Alice Watkins, Marisa Rueda and Marta Rodriguez

Literature, Race and Ethnicity. Ed. Joseph T. Skerrett, Jr.

The Rain God. Arturo Islas

Zami. Audre Lorde

Handouts distributed in class

Course Objectives:

By the end of this course the student should be able to do the following:

• Identify qualities that distinguish literatures of various gender and ethnic groups in the U.S.
• Discuss those literatures using the theoretical and critical language applicable to the specific gender or ethnic group.
• Write critically about those literatures using the theoretical and critical language applicable to the specific gender or ethnic group.

To do this students will:

• Turn in a weekly commentary on the assignment for that week. This commentary will be reflective of the text, not a personal reflection, and will help the student place the texts we are studying in class in a continuum of literature of a specific gender or ethnicity or both. The commentary must be at least two typed pages. It must be spell checked and proofread. All commentaries together will equal 25 % of the student’s total grade.
• Turn in a 5-6 page paper April 7 which discusses a text in the context of gender theory or gender issues. This text can be one from our textbook or an outside text. The student should have at least three secondary sources for the paper. The student will document the paper according to the MLA style manual. This paper is worth 25% of the student’s total grade.
• Turn in a 5-6 page paper April 21 which discusses a text in the context of a specific ethnic critical theory or ethnic issue. This text can be one from our textbook or an outside text. The student should have at least three secondary sources for this paper. The student will document the paper according to the MLA style manual. This paper is worth 25% of the student’s total grade.
• Take a final exam which will consist of 50% identification of texts or theories and 50% essay over a text I will distribute to you in class on April 21. This exam is worth 25% of the student’s total grade.

Note: Instructions for both papers and the exam will be distributed and discussed in class, well before the due date.

Class participation:

You will note that there is no “grade” for class participation. Class participation, like virtue, is its own reward. Being active in class assures me that you understand the methodology we are discussing. If you don’t understand, please come see me.

Attendance policy:

Because we meet only one night per week, attendance is crucial. Because we’re all human, I know that illnesses or children’s illnesses can come up. That said, I will excuse one absence for illness or immediate family emergency. After that, I will excuse absences at my discretion, and more than one could result in your failing the class.

Student Disability:

Students with disabilities (impaired hearing, vision, reading disorders, etc.) should notify me in writing of the disability before the end of the first week of class. In consultation with the Center for Academic Support, I will work out a course of study for such students.

Grading policy:

The grading scale is as follows:

100-90% = A

80-89% = B

70-79% = C

60-69% = D

50-0% = F

Late paper policy:

Again, I need to be very stringent about late papers, as we only have thirteen class meetings. I will accept a late assignment until 8:00 a.m. Wednesday morning following our class meeting on Monday. If I come in to teach on Wednesday morning and your assignment isn’t in my mailbox, you will receive a zero.

Tentative Class Assignment Schedule:

N.B. Please remember that this is a TENTATIVE schedule. We may need to adjust due dates or assignment dates as the semester progresses.

1-13 introduction

1-20 No class Dr. King’s birthday

1-27 Introducing Feminism

“The English Lesson” L, R & E 298

“English con Salsa” L, R & E 312

2-3 Los Vendidos L, R & E 256

“In Search of Epifano” L, R & E 372

2-10 The Rain God

“Idealogical Discourses in Arturo Islas’s The Rain God” (handout)

2-17 No class President’s day

2-24 queer theory (handouts)

To be announced

3-3 Giovanni’s Room

3-10 No class Spring Break

3-17 Zami

Audre Lorde interview and essay (handout)

3-24 from Like One of the Family L, R & E 268

“Son in the Afternoon” L, R & E 271

3-31 “The Bingo Van” L, R & E 340

“If I Am Too Brown or Too White for You” L, R & E 484

4-7 “Where I Come From Is Like This” L, R & E 278

Foghorn L, R & E 352

4-14 “A Father” L, R & E 447

The Dance and the Railroad L, R & E 211

“The Legend of Miss Sasagawara” L, R & E 238

4-21 To be announced

4-28 Final Exam 6:30-9:20