SYLLABUS

Eng 3377 Tpc-African-American Literature
Instructor: Dr. Sheryl A. Luna
Office: Hellems 103
Office hours: TTR 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
email: sheryl.luna@colorado.edu

Course Description: In this course we will read and discuss a number of works by African-American Writers.

Requirements: You will be expected to write 3 papers. Each paper will be 5-7 pages in length, typed, double-spaced, 12 pt. font in MLA format. You will use 2 secondary sources along with the work or works you are discussing. The papers will need to have a clear thesis, be well organized, grammatically correct and you must support your thesis will details from the work(s) and utilize secondary sources to strengthen your argument. The Works Cited page is not to be included in the 5-7 page length requirement.

Absences: You can miss up to four classes; however after your fourth absence, your grade will be penalized.

Group presentation: Towards the end of the semester you will join a group of your classmates and present an oral presentation to the class. The presentation will be 20minutes in length. You will be graded on an individual basis, so make sure that every member of the group actively participates in the presentation. Please utilize visual and/or aural aids in this presentation.

Class participation: See absences and group presentations. Basically you want to participate in daily classroom activities (small group discussions or larger class discussions and any group work in which the class does).

Final exam: There will be a take home final essay exam in this class. It will be comprehensive and open-book. Please write your repsonse in a blue book double-spaced.

Grade determination: Everything will be weighed equally and averaged in determining your grade. However over four absences will penalize your grade.

Disability statement: If you have a disability that requires accommodations, please notify me of this within the first two weeks of class. If you require accommodations, please visit the office of students with disabilities on campus and provide some documentation of your needs so I can meet your needs.

Textbooks:
Langston, Hughes. The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes. Vintage. 95. ISBN: 067976489
Nora Zeale Hurston. Their Eyes were Watching God. 2006. Harper Perennial Classics. May 2006. ISBN 0061120065
James Baldwin. Go Tell it on the Mountain. Penguin Classics. ISBN 014118590
Gwendolyn Brooks. Selected Poems by Gwendolyn Brooks. Harper Collins. ISBN 0060882964
Bell Hooks. Rock My Soul: Black People and Self-Esteem. Atria Books. ISBN. 07435605X.
Baldwin, James. The Fire Next Time. Vintage 1992. 067974472X.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE: subject to change

Jan 15th-17th- intro, syllabus, handouts of Hughes’ poems
Jan. 22nd, 24th- Continue with Langston Hughes’ poems, handouts
Jan. 29th- Jan. 31st. No class. Begin reading Hurston, we’ll return to Hughes later.
Feb. 5th- Feb. 7th. Finish Hurston
Feb. 12th, 14th Begin Baldwin’s GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN
Feb. 19th, 21st. Finish Baldwin’s GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN
Feb. 26th (PAPER I is DUE!), Feb. 28th begin Belle Hooks ROCK MY SOUL
March 4th, March 6th HOOKS continued
March 11th-13th finish Hooks and begin Gwendolyn Brooks, group work for presentations
March 18, 20th Brooks(PAPER II is DUE MARCH 20th), group work for presentations
March 24th-28th SPRING BREAK, no class!
April 1, 3 Baldwin THE NEXT FIRE, group work for presentations
April 8, 10 continue Baldwin, group work for presentations
April 15, 17 Langston Hughes, poems TBA, group presentations
April 29, 31st Hughes, poems TBA, group presentations (PAPER 3 is DUE April 29th!)
May 1, 3 group presentations, essay questions for final exam