Grading (as outlined by the College of Liberal Arts):Introduction to “Third World” LiteraturesENGL 1401W – Section 002 Akerman 225 – Tuesday and Thursday 8:00 – 9:55Kevin [email protected]: 306A Lind Hall / Mailbox: 1 Lind HallOffice Hours: Monday 11-12; Thursday 10-11In this course we will be engaging with texts from Anglophone Africa, SouthAsia, and the Caribbean. We will examine how these literary traditions emerged (and diverge) from European Colonialism. We will consider how literature and, more specifically, storytelling are linked to representation and to power. Inevitably we will be drawn to question history, politics, and the social sciences, but our primary focus will be on how language operates in the so-called ‘third world.’I will lecture when it is appropriate, but the majority of class time will be spent in discussion. Accordingly, I expect you to arrive in class ready and eager to discuss, having considered the discussion questions (as well as having prepared your own). Some of the course materials will be challenging and we must foster an environment in which we can express our concerns and differences in a thoughtful and respectful manner.Required Texts:Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness (Norton Critical Edition)Tsitsi Dangarembga, Nervous Conditions (Seal Press)Jamaica Kincaid, A Small Place (Penguin)J.M. Coetzee, Foe (Penguin)Course Packet – Available at Paradigm in the Dinkydome (University/15th)Optional Texts:Salman Rushdie, Midnight’s Children (Random House)Joe Sacco, Palestine (Fantagraphics)Films:La Petite Vendeuse de Soleil dir. Djibril Diop MambetyBattle of Algiers dir. Gillo PontecorvoPerfumed Nightmare dir. Kidlat TahimikLife and Debt dir. Stephanie BlackOnline Resources1http://blog.lib.umn.edu/riord012/1401/ – I will post copies of schedules and assignments on the class blog, and we will occasionally use the message board.http://eres.lib.umn.edu/eres/coursepage.aspx?cid=802 – Several course readings can be downloaded here; the password is: [see hardcopy]http://webct.umn.edu/login/ – I will post music files on this password-protected site.Assignments and Assessment:One-Page Response Papers (outside of class), Reading Quizzes (in-class), and Participation: 35%Media Project: 15%Essay 1 – Close Reading (3-5 pages): 20%Essay 2 – Literary Analysis (5-7 pages): 30%Detailed instructions for assignments and grading procedures will be distributed later, so the assignments will best correspond with our developing discussions and interests.All assignments must be: typed in black ink, in Times New Roman 12 point font, double-spaced, stapled, and submitted in class in hard-copy.Late Policy: I will not accept reaction papers late, and reading quizzes cannot be made up. The major assignments will be accepted after they are due, but will be penalized a letter grade for each day late.Grading (as outlined by the College of Liberal Arts):A – achievement that is outstanding relative to the level necessary to meet course requirementsC – achievement that meets the course requirements in every respectB – achievement that is significantly above the level necessary to meet course requirementsD – achievement that is worthy of credit even though it fails to meet course requirementsPlagiarism, in any form, is unacceptable. If you have any questions concerning plagiarism, consult CLA’s policy or contact me. A student who plagiarizes will receive a zero on the assignment and may fail the course depending on the infraction. All writing for the course must be new and original – if you would like to adapt/expand a previous paper, meet with me first. We will discuss appropriate citation in conjunction with our assignments.Attendance:Two or more absences may lead to lowering your participation grade; six or more absences may lead to your failing the course. Consult CLA guidelines 2for excusable absences, but plan on being in class daily. Arriving more thanten minutes late will count as an absence; arriving less than ten minutes late on three occasions will also constitute an absence.Selected Resources:Disability Services: It is University policy to provide reasonable accommodations to students with documented disability conditions that mayaffect their ability to participate in the course. Students are encouraged to contact Disability Services and speak with their instructors to discuss individual needs for accommodation. See http://ds.umn.edu/ for more information.Center for Writing: Student Writing Support is an outstanding resource for improving your writing (for all of your classes). They offer one-on-one consultations to help you with developing your skills. See http://writing.umn.edu/sws for more information.This schedule details what you need to have prepared for each class. I will provide more detailed schedules as we proceed.Week 1 – Defining our Terms (Literature? Third World?)September 4 (in class) – Introduce the terms of the course; read Charles Mungoshi’s “The Accident” alongside an excerpt from Midnight’s Children; review syllabus.September 6 – Stavrianos on the ‘third-world’ and Eagleton on ‘literature’ (in course packet); read Barthes in class; informal, in-class writing exercise.Week 2 – A Contemporary Story, and Establishing ColonialismSeptember 11 – Lahiri’s “Interpreter of Maladies,” Heart of Darkness 3-31.September 13 – Heart of Darkness 31-54. Heart of Darkness response paper due.Week 3 – Speaking in/of/for One’s Time: Conrad and the ColonialSeptember 18 – Finish Heart of Darkness and read Achebe’s “An Image of Africa” (in Norton).September 20 – Excerpt from Things From Apart, Harlow’s Preface (handout), and a critical essay of your choice. Précis of critical essay due. View selections from Apocalypse Now.3Week 4 – Flashforward (Film and the Urban) / Flashback (Authors as Anthropologists)September 25 – Begin Equiano (course packet); screen and discuss La Petite Vendeuse de Soleil (The Little Girl Who Sold the Sun) in class. September 27 – Finish Equiano; introduce Media Project.Week 5 – ‘Native’ Language and EducationOctober 2 – Thiong’o (course packet), listen to Nigerian and Zimbabwean music on webct.October 4 – Begin Nervous Conditions (page TBD). Week 6 (Oct 9, 11)Nervous ConditionsMedia Project dueWeek 7 (Oct 16, 18)Battle of Algiers, FanonWeek 8 (Oct 23, 25)Macaulay, OrwellMidnight’s ChildrenWeek 9 (Oct 30, Nov