Department of English,
Foreign Language, and Journalism
English 210-08
Approaches to Literature--Hispanic-American Literature
Murphy Hall
109
T/Th
Instructor: Dr. Stacia Bensyl
Office: SSC 222-I
Phone:
x5936
Office
Hours:
E-mail:
bensyl
Required Text:
Assessment methods:
·
Eleven 25-point quizzes
·
One three-page paper worth
50 points due April 13
·
A mid-term exam worth 100
points (75 points objective and one 25 point essay). N.B.:
half the objective questions will come from prior quizzes and half will
be new questions.
·
A final exam worth 150
points (100 points objective and one 50 point essay). N.B.:
half the objective questions will come from prior quizzes and half will
be new questions.
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.
·
Students should not visit,
whisper, or talk during lectures. I will
not compete with student conversations.
I will simply ask you to leave the classroom if you disrupt us.
·
Turn off or leave at home
all electronic beepers, phones, cd 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
recognize Hispanic contributions to dominant American culture
·
Students will be able to
recognize and appreciate the particular implications of immigration for the
Hispanic-American population
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 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, the student will receive an “F” for the course.
Paper Due Date—April 13.
You will be given written
instructions for the paper in class, well before its due date.
Final exam—Tuesday, May 9,
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.
Mexican-American Literature
Jan 17 Introduction/classroom
standards Viva la Causa (film)
19 “Introduction,”
pages 1-8; Gary Soto “Black Hair” page 12
24 Jose
Antonio Villareal from Pocho page 18
26 Rudolfo Anaya from Bless Me, Ultima page 25
31 Ana
Castillo from So Far From God page 35
Feb 2 Helena Maria Viramontes from Under the Feet of Jesus page
73
7 Fighting for Our Lives (film)
9 no class—Bensyl at conference
14 Luis
Valdez Bernabe page 148
16 Luis
Valdez Bernabe page 148
21 Pat Mora
“The Grateful Minority”
page 88; Gloria Anzaldua “To Live in the Borderlands Means You” page 98
Cuban American Literature
23 Luchando (film)
28 Cristina
Garcia from Dreaming in Cuban page 175
Mar 2 Cristina Garcia from Dreaming in Cuban page 175
7 Margarita Engle from Singing to Cuba page 218
9 Gustavo Perez-Firmat “Bilingual Blues” page 253
14
Spring Break
16 Spring Break
21 Mid-term exam
23 Rene Aloma A Little Something to Ease the Pain page 292
28
30
Puerto Rican American Literature
Apr 4
6 Judith Ortiz Cofer from
11
13 paper
due
18
20
25
27