English 207B/307B Prof. Ann Hostetler

Newcomer 17 Newcomer 31

Thursdays 7-9:30 Email: anneh@goshen.edu

Spring 2000 Hours: MWF 9-10, 2-3 and by appt

3 cr. Phone: 535-7469

In order to enrich our readings of the literary works in this vital literary tradition we will spend a substantial amount of time acquainting ourselves with African American history and culture, including folk tales, oral tradition, music, art, oratory, and performances. Beginning with the slave narrative, we will explore the conditions, contexts, and changing audiences for African American literary production from the early nineteenth century to such twentieth century phenomena as Harlem Renaissance, the Modern and Contemporary periods, and Black women writers. Special attention will be paid to recurring themes and concerns, topics and tropes, cultural pressures, historical contexts, intellectual currents and literary innovations.

In their course work students will create a "web of connections" for interpreting the African American literary tradition through response papers, group discussions, and several class projects. Weekly response papers (10 in all) will encourage students to interact with the literature in thoughtful written dialogue. The student will select five of these response papers and revise them for the portfolio, which will also include a copy of the research project and the final synthesis essay.

Douglass, Frederick. The Life of Frederick Douglass

Gates, ed. The Norton Anthology of African American Literature

Ellison, Ralph. Invisible Man

Hill, Lauryn. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

Hurston, Zora Neale. Their Eyes Were Watching God

Larsen, Nella. Quicksand and Passing

Jacobs, Harriet. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

Petry, Ann. The Street

A number of books, articles and videos will be placed on reserve to supplement our study of African American literature and culture.

Videos:

The viewing of a number of videos inside and outside of class is required. Outside of class videos will be shown at two different times in AD28. These videos will also be placed on reserve so that you can view them in the library basement if you cannot make either screening.

Malcolm X (Spike Lee)

Ethnic Notions

Amistad

The Price of the Ticket

Go Tell It On the Mountain

Eyes On The Prize (segments)

Daughters of the Dust

Hoop Dreams

This course can be taken at two different levels. All requirements will be the same for both levels; 307B students will do enhanced projects that require more intensive analysis and critique (ie. read and interpret literary theory actively as part of class presentations and research).

Every student in the class will write 10 (1-2 page) response papers, each one to be handed in at the beginning of a class period. In addition, students will participate in a small group discussion. The response papers will not be graded, but must be handed in for you to receive course credit. You will choose five of these papers to revise for your portfolio at the end of the semester. This will give you an opportunity to explore your thoughts in writing and to focus on areas of particular interest to you. Through them you may develop some of the themes that will lead you to a final synthesis paper. If you have done your math, you will realize that you will be able to miss two weeks of response papers, allowing you to concentrate on other projects during those weeks.

207: Individually, or as small discussion groups, you may choose topics concerning slavery, civil rights, black migration, lynching, affirmative action, or other topics that impact the literature. You will write a 5-page research paper, give a class presentation, and create a handout for the class. Topics will be handed out the second week of class.

307: Individually, or as small groups, you will review important criticism of the literary work we read, give a class presentation, create a handout, and write an 8-10 page research paper.

This paper will invite you to explore your personal response to the literature in this class, as well as to develop a thesis concerning a theme, image, or idea that connects a number of works we have read. You may include films, music, speeches, historical elements or popular culture in your inquiry.

207B students will be expected to write 8-10 pages and use a minimum of five outside sources beyond course texts.

307B students will be expected to write 10-15 pages and use a minimum of ten courses, five of them literary theory.

You can't participate in a community of writers and thinkers unless you are here. This is especially true for an evening class that meets only once a week. Attendance, therefore, is required. A medical emergency will excuse an absence and allow you to submit the work due for that day. Absences for extra-curricular involvement will also be excused, but please let me know ahead of time that you will be gone. Three unexcused absences will lower your final grade. If you wish to have an absence excused, please write me a letter explaining why you missed class, and I will decide whether to excuse the absence or not; if I do not receive a letter from you within one week of your absence, I will assume that it is unexcused. This applies to the above athletic and illness-related absences as well.

Academic Misconduct

Academic misconduct is a serious offense which is recognized not only by Goshen College and other academic institutions but also by state and federal law (and, of course, all future employers). Academic Misconduct may be defined as receipt or transmission of unauthorized aid on assignments or examinations, plagiarism, unauthorized use of examination materials, or other forms of dishonesty in academic matters. Plagiarism is using anyone else's ideas or words without giving them credit. In this class, plagiarism is the unpardonable sin. Not only does is it dishonest, it cheats you of a learning experience. The only way to grow as a writer and thinker is to struggle with your own words as you craft your own ideas.

Plagiarism will result in a zero for the assignment or failure of the course

Major papers, projects, and portfolios that are late will be lowered half a letter grade. Major papers, projects, and portfolios more than one week late will not be accepted and will be counted as zeros.

As stated above, late papers will be penalized. Only illness, medical emergency, or other serious extenuating circumstances will excuse you from this policy. Therefore, if you cannot turn in a paper on time for one of these reasons, please contact me and we will make other arrangements. (If you are involved in some extra-curricular activity--e.g. choir, athletics, ministry team--and there is some conflict with a due date, please see me before the due date.)

The following calendar gives you the due date for every paper in this class: please plan accordingly.

Papers should always be handed in to me. Do not give them to another student. Always keep a copy of the paper for yourself and keep two backup computer disks of all your work.

January

6. Course Intro. "The Vernacular Tradition"

For next week, please listen to the CD enclosed with your anthology

13. The Slave Narrative #1: The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

17 M MLK, JR DAY

20. The Slave Narrative #2: Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

27. "Literature of the Reconstruction to the New Negro Renaissance, 1865-1919" (Norton 461)

Charles Chesnutt, Bio and "The Passing of Grandison" (Norton 532)

Booker T. Washington, Bio and excerpts from Up From Slavery (Norton 488)

3. "Harlem Renaissance" (Norton, 929)

Jean Toomer, Bio and Cane (Norton 1087)

Langston Hughes, Bio and Poetry (Norton 1251-1267)

Sterling Brown, Bio and Poetry (Norton 1210)

8 T –"A Conversation in Poetry": Afternoon Sabbatical Reading by Todd David and Ann Hostetler, 1 pm

10. Harlem Renaissance, cont’d

Larsen, Quicksand and Passing

Georgia Douglas Johnson, Bio and poetry (Norton 970)

Marcus Garvey (972-980); Alain Locke, Bio and The New Negro (Norton 960)

17 Midterm Test: Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God

18. F (Midterm recess begins at 5 pm)

MIDTERM RECESS

28 M (Classes resume, 8 am)

March

2. "Realism, Naturalism, Modernism" (Norton 1319)

Ann Petry, The Street

Richard Wright, essays in the Norton

9. Ellison, Invisible Man

16. James Baldwin, Bio and "Sonny’s Blues," "Everybody’s Protest Novel," Notes of a Native Son"

17 F– St. Patrick’s Day; S.A. YODER LECTURE by David Dabydeen, 10 am, College Church Chapel

23– Fiddler on the Roof through Sunday

Civil Rights Movement; Black Arts Movement

"4 Little Girls"

Alice Walker, "In Search of Our Mother’s Gardens"

Meridian?

30 Toni Morrison, Sula

June Jordan

Nikki Giovanni

31 F – Spring Arts Day

April

4 T – Poetry Reading at Electric Brew

6– Spring one-acts festival today, tomorrow and Sunday

Lauryn Hill

LAST CLASS MEETING

13, 14 – READING AND ADVISING DAYS

16 Su – Palm Sunday

17-19 -- FINALS

18. R – EASTER BREAK BEGINS

27 R -- MAY TERM BEGINS