MISSOURI WESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY

School of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Department of English, Foreign Languages, and Journalism

Dr. Elizabeth Latosi-Sawin     

OUTDOOR SEMESTER            Fall 2006

ENGLISH 210: NATIVE AMERICAN LITERATURE

Professor:              Dr. Elizabeth Latosi-Sawin  Office:    Eder Hall 215

Phone:                    271-4274                                 Office hrs: 11:00 – 12:20 TTH and by appointment

Email:                      sawin@missouriwestern.edu

Section 38              Time: TTH 8:00 – 9:20 a.m.            Classroom:  Eder Hall 210

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Upon completion of English 210 a student should be able to:

1. Recognize the major characteristics of literary genres

2. Discuss literature, orally and in writing, with assurance

3. Appreciate literary works encountered

4. Understand the different ways in which literary theme may be treated in literature.

 

Means: To reach these goals, the student is expected to:

1. Read poetry, fiction, and view drama or films

2. Investigate various methods of approaching and understanding literature

3. Write papers, including themes and essay examinations

4. Read a variety of literary works in which a chosen theme is dominant.

 

COURSE QUESTIONS for this section of 210 raised by the texts and poetry to be assigned:

  1. What kinds of lives did Native Americans live prior to contact with white Americans? (Fools Crow)
  2. What did Lewis and Clark know about American Indians before their epic journey west? (Undaunted Courage)
  3. What happens when people conditioned by different social, cultural, linguistic and historical circumstances meet each other? (Fools Crow, Undaunted Courage)
  4. What conflicts exist within and between the value systems of Native and Euro-Americans? (Tracks, Ceremony, Pow WowHighway)
  5. Why and how did Americans displace native peoples? (How the West Was Lost)
  6. How did native peoples resist or accommodate themselves to the loss of their land? (Tracks, Pow Wow Highway)
  7. How do indigenous people maintain a cultural identity and way of life? (Ceremony, Smoke Signals)

 

REQUIRED TEXTS:

    • Fools Crow by James Welch
    • Tracks by Louise Erdrich
    • Ceremony by Leslie Marmom Silko

We will also read Native American poetry online, in the library, and in books owned by the instructor

We will see films such as Smoke Signals, Pow Wow Highway, and relevant videos from the historical series How the West Was Lost

  • Recommended: Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose (Each student will read and report on two chapters of this book for the class. A library copy may be used.)

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY FOR THIS SECTION OF 210:

Because TWO field treks are part of Outdoor Semester, we are on an extremely tight schedule when we are on campus. Regular and punctual attendance is absolutely necessary. All or part of up to 2 classes (but only 2 on-campus classes for the entire semester) can be missed without penalty. With the third, and each subsequent absence (more than 20 minutes of any class session), you will receive a 5% reduction in points from your semester total. 

 

I reserve the right to waive this penalty for highly unusual (and fully documented) extenuating circumstances, although I accept no obligation to do so. For example, if you are subpoenaed to appear in court, or are hospitalized, and inform me in writing of the circumstance, I will accept that as an excused absence. However, even with an excused absence, you need to take responsibility for obtaining assignments, notes, and handouts from a responsible classmate (or in advance from me).  Sleeping through your alarm or skipping class to prepare for a test in another course are not excusable absences.

 

Be sure to sign your full name on the DAILY ROSTER that I will hand out for purposes of keeping complete track of attendance. If you do not sign your own name, you are not officially here. If you come late or leave early, you will be considered absent. The films we will see, the in-class writings we will do, the discussions and quizzes we will have, can’t be “made-up.” Once these activities occur they are lost to you. Likewise, your contributions are lost to us when you are not here. 

 

INSTITUTIONAL ATTENDANCE POLICY GOING INTO EFFECT:

In order to improve student learning as well as to achieve compliance with federal financial aid policies, Western has a mandatory attendance policy for all 100-level classes and 200-level for Fall 2007. Excused absences are those in which the student is serving as a representative of the college. The maximum number of unexcused absences allowed for this TTH class before the midterm report, October 18, is 3. Thus, when you have 4 unexcused absences you will be reported to the Registrar’s Office, who will automatically withdraw you from this class. The Financial Aid Office will reduce financial aid as appropriate.

 

INSITUTIONAL ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY:

Honesty is required in all academic endeavors.  Violations of academic honesty include any instance of plagiarism, cheating, seeking credit for another’s work, falsifying documents or academic records, or any other fraudulent activity. Violations of academic honesty may result in a failing grade on the assignment, failure for the course, or expulsion from the University. When a student’s grade has been affected, violations of academic honesty will be reported to the Provost or designated representative on the Academic Honesty Violation Report Forms. Please see the 2006-2007 Student Handbook and Calendar on page 21 for specifics activities identified as violations of this policy and the student due process procedure.  This handbook is also available online at http://www.missouriwestern.edu/handbook/index.pdf

 

Put simply you are expected to do your own reading and writing in this course.  Any student who submits someone else's work as his or her own will receive no credit (0 points) for that assignment. Faculty are now required to report violations to the Provost.  A second infraction will earn an "F" in this course. Students should be aware that expulsion from the university is possible.

 

DISABLED STUDENT POLICY:

If you have a recognized disability that requires special consideration, please make an appointment to see me during the first week of classes so that we can discuss privately how I might help you to succeed.

 

GRADED ASSIGNMENTS:

Two papers                                                           30%        120 points

Two tests                                                              35%        140 points

Field Journal                                                         20%          80 points

In-class writing, quizzes, and discussion         15%         60 points

                                                                                                400 points   

SCHEDULE:

Aug. 29  Introduction to the course.

 

Aug. 31  Read Fools Crow PART `1: 3-69. Be prepared to write on / discuss the following:

  1. What personal characteristics does White Man’s Dog have?
  2. Contrast him to Rides-at-the-door, Fast Horse, Running Fisher, and Yellow Kidney
  3. What cultural practices and beliefs do the Lone Eaters have?
  4. How does the language of James Welch help to create the world of the Blackfeet?

               

Sept. 5  Fools Crow            PART 1:70-125                    55 pages

Sept. 7  Fools Crow            PART II: 129-202                73 pages

 

Sept. 12  Fools Crow          PART III: 207-284               77 pages

Sept. 14  Fools Crow          PART IV: 289-391               102 pages

 

                Saturday Sept. 16   Outdoor Semester field trek leaves for the northern plains and Montana J

 

Sept. 19

Sept. 21

 

Sept. 26 

 

Sept. 28

 

Oct. 3     

Oct. 5     

               

Oct. 10 

Oct. 12    .

 

Oct. 17

Oct. 19  

 

Oct. 24

Oct. 26

 

                Saturday October 28 Outdoor Semester field trek leaves for southern plains and New Mexico

 

Oct. 31

Nov. 2   

 

Nov. 7   

 

Nov. 9   

 

Nov. 14 

Nov. 16

 

Nov. 21

Thanksgiving Vacation

 

Nov. 28 .

Nov. 30.

 

Dec. 5

Dec. 7

 

Dec. 12 Final Exam 8:30-10:20