HispanicsintheUnitedStates
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Professor Alvarez Wilson Email: [email protected] Office: Adm. 313 Office phone: 704 637‐4339 Office Hours: Tues. and Thurs. 2:45‐3:30 and by appt. This course explores Latino culture and literature in the United States. “Latino/a” is an umbrella term used to describe persons of Latin American descent living in the U.S., though individuals may identify themselves with other terms of identity: as Mexican‐American or Chicano; Puerto Rican or Nuyorican; Dominican‐
American; Cuban‐American; and any number of other rubrics and creative regroupings. We will cover a range of genres including novels, short stories, autobiography, and film. We will focus our attention on contemporary works written since 1967 from three of the major Latino groups: Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Dominican. This cultural exploration will be the vehicle through which students will enhance analytical, interpretive, and persuasive skills. *The last day to add a class is Tuesday, January 20th and the last day to drop is Monday, March 30th. Learning outcomes for Interpretive and Non‐Western Perspectives: Expected Learning Outcomes
 Students will read and understand primary works in literature, religion, philosophy, or the fine arts.  Students will analyze how these works reflect, respond to, and shape social, political, religious and/or intellectual contexts. Spanish2051
Assessments  Discussion board  Reading questions  Response Papers  Group Project Page1
 Students will write about these works from rhetorical, aesthetic, analytical, or ethical perspectives.  Students will describe at least one topic beyond western society.  Response Papers  Midterm and Final Exam –essay questions  Discussion Board  Reading questions  Midterm and Final Exam –essay questions  Reading notes  Response paper  Midterm and Final Exam—essay questions  Students will interpret at least one text or artifact from beyond western society. RequiredTexts
Down These Mean Streets, Piri Thomas 0‐679‐78142‐0 Call Me Maria, Judith Ortiz Cofer 0‐439‐38578‐4 Drown, Junot Diaz 978‐1‐57322‐606‐6 In Cuba I Was a German Shepherd, Ana Menendez 0‐8021‐3887‐x Marielitos, Balseros and Other Exiles, Cecilia Rodriguez Milanes 978‐0‐9815040‐2‐5 Assignments
Discussion board/Reading Questions 3 Response papers (500 words, MLA format, 3rd one will be graded) Midterm Final Exam 92‐100 A 88‐89 B+ 78‐79 C+ 90‐91 A‐ 83‐87 B 73‐77 C 80‐82 B‐ 70‐72 C‐ Spanish2051
20% 30% 25% 25% 68‐69 D+ 63‐67 D 60‐62 D‐ Page2
PolicyonLateWork
Work submitted after deadline is not accepted. AcademicIntegrity
Students are expected to follow Catawba College honor code guidelines. Violation of the policy will result in a zero for the assignment and possible failure of the course. Violation includes copying others’ work/ ideas without proper attribution (quotes, citations, etc.) or turning in someone’s work other than your own or work used for other classes. The syllabus may be subject to change, so while you should refer to it for upcoming assignments, remember that changes could be made as we progress through the semester. Guidelines and deadlines for response papers, discussion board, and exam completion will be added. **I would advise those who, due to religious or other belief sensibilities, may be offended by strong content that there is strong material in this course. These are artistic works whose authors seek to authentically represent communities/characters. This may mean the use of strong language and/or sexual content. Week 1 These Mean Streets Week 2 These Mean Streets Discussion Board/Reading Questions Week 3 These Mean Streets Week 4 These Mean Streets Film Spanish2051
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Response Paper #1 Week 5 Call Me Maria Film Discussion Board/Reading Questions Week 6 Call Me Maria Week 7 Midterm Exam Week 8 Drown Week 9 Drown Film Discussion Board/Reading Questions Week 10 Drown Week 11 Drown Response Paper #2 Week 12 In Cuba I Was a German Shepherd Week 13 In Cuba I Was a German Shepherd Spanish2051
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Discussion Board/Reading Questions Week 14 Marielitos, Balseros, and Other Exiles Week 15 Marielitos, Balseros, and Other Exiles Response Paper # 3 Final Exam: Essay Questions Spanish2051
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