English 2180-02: Studies in African American Literature
Dr. Joshua Masters, TLC 2240
Phone: 678-839-4862
Email: jmasters@westga.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 3:00-4:30; Wednesday, 9:30-12:30 & 1-5
Color is not a human or a personal reality; it is a political reality. It exists only in the darkness of our minds.
--James Baldwin, Notes of a Native son (1955)
Course Description
This survey of African American literature focuses on the formation and development of the novelistic tradition in African American letters. We will begin by examining the role of the slave and their pivotal role in establishing an African American literary tradition. As we examine issues of voice, memory, and education, we will confront the two central aims of the slave narrative: to present objective, authentic records of America’s “peculiar institution” of chattel slavery; and to present that system in such a way as to render it ethically, politically, and economically intolerable. We will then examine the novel as a vehicle through which to explore, and ultimately destabilize, the very notion of “race,” a category that consistently undermines the human potential to achieve freedom. If the twentieth century was the era of the color line, according to W.E.B. Du Bois, then what will be the persistent moral theme of the twenty-first? Our readings, and our discussions, will give us insight into this most urgent of questions.
Required Texts (in order of appearance)
Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
James Weldon Johnson, The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man
Nella Larsen, Passing
Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man
Toni Morrison, Song of Solomon
Coulson Whitehead, The Intuitionist
Octavia Butler, Parable of the Sower
Requirements
Students are expected to complete the day’s reading assignment in advance and come to class prepared to participate in discussion. Students must maintain a reading-quiz average of 65% or higher, miss no more than five classes, turn in several short writing assignments, two short essays, and a five to seven page essay. In addition, students are expected to complete the day’s reading assignment in advance and come to class prepared to participate in discussion. If you cannot keep up with the reading, you will fail the class.
Explanation of Course Requirements
Final Grade: To pass the course, students must turn in all written work, have no more than five absences, and earn a passing quiz grade. If you average less than 65% on quizzes, you will not pass the course. Your final grade is comprised of the following: Final Paper (30%); Short Essays (30%); Quizzes (20%); Short Writing Assignments and Participation (20%). Note: I am always happy to discuss your progress in the class with you and explain my evaluation of your work. You can expect to receive the grade you earn in this class; please refrain from telling me what grade you “need” in the class (for Hope, for athletics, to fulfill a dying relative’s final request, etc.), or what grade you “really want” (presumably an A).
Essays: Your basic task for each paper is to produce a well-written, coherent essay whose central argument is both interesting and significant. Your essays will be thesis-driven, argumentative papers, and your grade will be determined by the complexity of your central argument, the structure of your paragraphs, the logic of your organization, and the strength of your prose (i.e. your writing). Your research paper will also be evaluated in terms of its use of secondary sources and the originality of your scholarship.
Late Papers: I will accept late papers, but always with a penalty. For each weekday that a paper is late, 1/3 of a letter grade will be deducted from the final grade. For instance, if the paper is due on Tuesday and you turn it in on Wednesday, you will lose 1/3 of a grade (i.e. a C+ becomes a C). If you turn it in on Thursday, 2/3 of a grade is deducted (a C+ becomes a C-). Emailed papers will not be accepted. All papers must be handed to me and entered into the record book as received.
Discussion and Attendance: Students are expected to attend every class and arrive on time, prepared, and eager to discuss the day’s reading. Your participation grade is based upon your performance in the class in terms of group work, discussion, and attendance habits. You are expected to demonstrate genuine engagement with the material, actively contribute to discussion topics, show adequate preparation for each class, and respect the ideas of your classmates. You must bring the text under discussion to every class.
Cellphones and Sleeping: Don’t ever, ever fall asleep in this class, and I never want to see a cellphone. As soon as you see me, get the thing out of sight. If you fall asleep or use your cellphone in class (such as text-messaging and/or message checking), you will be asked to leave class and considered absent for that day.
Email: All email correspondence must take place through UWG accounts. I cannot read or respond to emails from students coming from other sources. Your emails should me (“Dear Dr. Masters,” rather than “yo”), and they must be signed. Please proofread them and write in full sentences.
Quizzes: At the beginning of each Tuesday class, you will take a comprehensive, fact-based quiz on the week’s reading assignment. Once the quiz is distributed, the door to the class will close, and you will have about five minutes to complete the quiz. If you arrive late, you will not be allowed to take the quiz, and you must wait outside until the quiz is completed. If you are absent for whatever reason, you will not be allowed to retake a quiz. Under no circumstances will I give make-up quizzes. If at anytime during the semester it becomes mathematically impossible for a student to earn a passing quiz score (at least a 65%), he or she will be told to stop coming to class. This policy is absolutely and utterly inflexible. Each quiz is worth 10 points, and at the end of the semester, assuming that you've earned the required 65%, I will then drop your lowest quiz score when determining your quiz average and quiz grade. All quizzes are open note (but not open book), and you are encouraged to bring notes based on the reading to class.
Tardiness: Each tardy will count as ½ of an absence. On Tuesdays, after quizzes are collected, the doors will be opened and late arrivals will be allowed to find a seat. If you are more than three minutes late, you will be marked as tardy.
Absences: I understand that illnesses and emergencies are a part of life, and therefore you are allowed to miss one Tuesday class and one Thursday class without penalty. However, if you miss more than five classes, you will automatically fail the class, no exceptions. I do not distinguish between excused and unexcused absences unless the absence is due to participation in an official University activity.
Reading Assignments: The reading assignments can be found on the online syllabus in Dr. Masters’ website (http://www.westga.edu/~jmasters/), as well as on the WebCT calendar. All reading will be due on Tuesday, and you can expect to read between 100-150 pages each week. Remember, Tuesday’s quizzes are open note, so write down names and descriptions of important characters, significant plot developments, key images and themes, etc.
Short Writing Assignments: At the beginning of each week, I will post Thursday’s short writing assignment or preparation task on WebCT. If you are asked to bring the writing assignment to class, it must be typed.
My Plagiarism Policy: If a student is caught plagiarizing (and this includes short writing assignments) or cheating on a quiz, he or she will automatically fail the course. No exceptions. Also, I consider Cliffnotes, Sparknotes, and other similar “resources” out of bounds. You must complete the reading on your own and do your own thinking in the class. Quizzes will be designed in such a way that these “sources” will be of no use to you.
Departmental Plagiarism Policy: The Department of English and Philosophy defines plagiarism as taking personal credit for the words and ideas of others as they are presented in electronic, print, and verbal sources. The Department expects that students will accurately credit sources in all assignments. An equally dishonest practice is fabricating sources or facts; it is another form of misrepresenting the truth. Plagiarism is grounds for failing the course.
Reporting procedures for plagiarism:
Each incidence of plagiarism is subject to review and consideration by the
instructor, and is subject to a range of penalties including but not limited to
failing the assignment, failing the course, and referral to the
disciplinary review board (which may
ultimately result in the expulsion, suspension, or disciplinary removal of the
student from the university). In order to facilitate the prevention and
detection of plagiarism the Department of English and the University of West
Georgia will maintain records of plagiarized assignments and those who prepare
and/or submit them.
Students with disabilities should meet with me at the beginning of the semester, and we will make any necessary arrangements.
Course Goals
Students will develop the ability to recognize and contextualize significant achievements in African-American literature.
Students will develop the ability to apply, understand, and appreciate the application of aesthetic criteria to "real-world" circumstances.
Students will develop enhanced cultural awareness and analytical skills.
Students will demonstrate their command of academic English and of the tenets of sound composition by means of thesis-driven analytical prose.
Program Goals
Oral and written communication will be characterized by clarity, critical analysis, logic, coherence, persuasion, precision, and rhetorical awareness (Core Curriculum learning outcomes I)
Cultural and Social Perspectives: Cultural and social perspective will be characterized by cultural awareness and an understanding of the complexity and dynamic nature of social/political/economic systems; human and institutional behavior, values, and belief systems; historical and spatial relationship; and, flexibility, open-mindedness, and tolerance. (Core Curriculum learning outcomes III)
Aesthetic Perspective: Aesthetic perspective will be characterized by critical appreciation of and ability to make informed aesthetic judgments about the arts of various cultures as media for human expression.
This course fulfills the Area C.2 requirement in the core for all students.
Area C (Humanities/Arts) Learning Outcomes:
1. To develop the ability to recognize and
identify achievements in literary, fine and performing arts;
2. To have an appreciation of the nature and achievements of the arts and
humanities; and
3. To develop the ability to apply, understand, and appreciate the application
of aesthetics criteria to "real world circumstances.
This course contributes to the program goal of equipping students with a foundation in literary history and the issues surrounding literary study in contemporary culture.
This course broadens students' desire and ability to take pleasure in their encounter with literature.
Reading Schedule
8/15 Introduction to Class and Course Policies
8/17 Frederick Douglass, Chapters 1-6.
8/22 Finish Frederick Douglass (including Preface and Letter).
8/24 See on-line syllabus for assignment.
8/29 Read all of Passing.
8/31 See on-line syllabus for assignment.
9/5 Read all of Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man. Discuss Writing Assignment #1 (1000 words).
9/7 See on-line syllabus for assignment.
9/12 Begin Invisible Man, Prologue and Chapters 1-2 (1-70).
9/14 Complete Draft of First Essay Due. In-class writing workshop.
9/19 Invisible Man, Chapters 3-9 (71-195).
9/21 Final Draft of Writing Assignment #1 Due.
9/26 Invisible Man, Chapters 10-16 (196-355)
9/28 See on-line syllabus for assignment.
10/3 Invisible Man, Chapters 17-23 (356-512).
10/5 Revision Assignment (see WebCT). Discuss Writing Assignment #2. Friday, October 6th is the last day to withdraw with a W.
10/10 FALL BREAK
10/13 Finish Invisible Man and work on your revision of Assignment #1. Get started on Song of Solomon.
10/17 Song of Solomon, 1-161.
10/19 Revisions of Paper #1 due.
10/24 Song of Solomon, 161-258.
10/26 Mountain of Notes and Outlines Due.
10/31 Finish Song of Solomon.
11/2 Complete Draft of Writing Assignment #2 Due.
11/7 Parable of the Sower, 1-115 (Chapters 1-10). Discuss Final Paper.
11/9 Final Draft of #2 Due.
11/14 Parable, 116-224.
11/16 See on-line syllabus for assignment.
11/21 Finish Parable of the Sower.
11/23 No Class
11/28 Rough Draft of Final Paper (at least 1000 words) Due. Course Evaluations.
11/30 Individual Student Conferences.
12/5 Research Papers are Due in My Mailbox by 5 p.m.
Handouts