EN 338, section 001 Dr. Lea Masiello Spring 2000
Office: 216 Eicher Phone 357-2119 Office Hours: MWF 9-10:15, Tuesday, 11-12, 1-2:45 and by appointment.
INTRODUCTION
Please refer to this syllabus daily as we proceed through the term. If you lose it, please ask for another. Take everything on it very seriously--highlight, underline, doodle on it in whatever ways help you to use it most effectively. In this syllabus, you will find information about requirements and expectations, course design and purpose, writing assessment and grading, course grading, and a daily schedule.
Dundes, Alan. Folklore Matters. Knoxville: U. of Tenn. Press, 1989.
Hurston, Zora Neal. I love myself when I am laughing. Then again when I am looking mean and impressive. A Zora Neal Hurston Reader.
Lassiter., Luke. The Power of Kiowa Song, A Collaborative Ethnography. Tucson, U. of AZ Press, 1999.
Momaday, Scott N. The Way to Rainy Mountain.U. NM Press, 1969.
Niane, S. T. Sundiata, An Epic of Old Mali. Longman, 1992.
Silko, Leslie Marmon. Storyteller. NY: Arcade, 1981.
Ortiz, Simon, ed. Speaking for the Generations. Native Writers on Writing. Tucson, U. of AZ Press, 1998.
Stone, Elizabeth. Black Sheep and Kissing Cousins. How our Family Stories Shape Us. NY: Penguin, 1988.
Computer diskettes--several!
Diskette carrying case--essential to your survival! Write your name on all your diskettes and carrying cases. Save your files to multiple disks to avoid tragedy at the end of the semester.
Course Objectives: These are general objectives. We will elaborate on them specifically at the beginning of the course.
1. To develop a basic theoretical approach to analyzing oral literature, using folkloric approaches as a foundation.
2. To understand the various elements for analyzing oral literature.
3. To develop both a global and personal understanding and appreciation of oral literature.
4. To define "oral literature."
5. To develop an understanding of the relationship between oral and written literature.
6. To learn and work individually and collaboratively on various course projects.
About late work, missed classes: I expect that you will not miss class and you will always submit assignments on time, by due dates. If you experience problems with either attendance or due dates, I expect you to contact me and discuss your situation with me. If you submit assignments late without arranging for an extension, I will grade it very rigorously and deduct ten points for each day the work is late. If, however, you communicate with me about the need for an extension, I will be able to consider your work without penalty to you.
COMMUNICATION IS KEY!!! Call me! Send me e-mail! (lmasiell@grove.iup.edu)
Attendance Policy: If you miss more than three classes, we must confer immediately and determine if it possible for you to remain in the course and pass. Because so much of your grade depends upon completing activities in class, missing class will lower your grade automatically--you simply won't be able to earn points for work missed in class.
Requirements.
1. Attend class and participate in class activities.
2. Complete written assignments.
3. Complete presentation assignments.
Assignments
1. Three, three-page "synthesis essays." These are informal essays in which you respond to the material from texts, class discussions, and other ideas that have come your way during the course. Each essay will cover a certain amount of material from the course, according to the due date. I do expect that you will refer specifically to texts and discussions; this writing task is a way of making your reading and class participation meaningful as you rethink ideas and pull ideas together.
Each essay is worth 20 points. They must be typed.
2. Final overview essay, due by exam period. This will be a final synthesis essay, in which you pull together all your learning from the course. 30 Points.
3. One major investigative/research project. In this project, you will research a type of oral literature, analyze it according to the elements we discuss, and give a class presentation on your findings. 50 Points. This project should run about eight pages. Please remember to use accurate MLA citation and documentation conventions. I will be giving you more detailed information about this project during the second week of the course. Meanwhile, think about what kind of oral literature you are interested in.
4. Class discussion. Each student will select material from Hurston or Ortiz for managing class discussion. I will expect you to have discussion questions, an activity, and an overview handout for the class. 30 Points.
Grading
I will be distributing detailed information about how I assess each writing assignment.
1. Synthesis essays. Each essay is worth 20 points, for a total of 60 points.
2. Major project. Written project: 40 points. Presentation: 10 points. Total: 50.
3. Class Discussion/management. Handout: 10 points. Activities and discussion: 20 points. Total: 30 points.
4. Final synthesis essay: 30 points.
5. Participation points: 40. Everyone begins with 40 points; you will lose points for any of these behaviors: absences beyond the permitted three; regular lateness to class; failure to play an active role in small-group activities; or exhibiting behavior inappropriate for the college classroom (including sleeping, doing homework for other courses, or excessive talking when inappropriate). This sounds tough: keep in mind that I very rarely have to deduct points from students’ final grades. Your grade is all up to you. Make your choices wisely about attendance and participation.
Total possible points: 200
Grading scale:
A: 180-200
B: 160-179
C: 140-159
D: 120-139
Below 120-- F
STATEMENT ON PLAGIARISM. We will review the statement that is printed in the IUP catalogue and handbook. I will follow the IUP guidelines for responding to plagiarism.
Keep in mind that plagiarism is very serious business and can result in lowered grades, failing the course, or a judicial sanction and letter in your permanent record. If you ever feel the least bit tempted to hand in something that is not your own work, STOP!!!Talk to me immediately; chances are that you are resorting to cheating out of fear, desperation, and worry. We'll need to work this through and make adjustments so that you CAN do the work.
REVISION POLICY
You may revise graded drafts ONCE after they have been returned. You must first confer with me about revision plans for graded drafts. I will not accept a revision without a conference (this kind of conference can occur in class). I will not accept a revision without the original graded draft, and there must be substantial changes to warrant a change in grade. Merely editing out mistakes will not result in a higher grade.
Week One
Weds. Jan. 19—Begin Unit I. Family Stories.
1/21--.Stone, Part I.
Week Two
1/24—Stone, Parts II and III.
1/26—Storyteller, pages 1-129.
1/28—Storyteller, to end.
Week Three
1/31—Rainy Mountain.
2/2—Rainy Mountain, film with Momaday.
2/4—Film. (either Smoke Signals or the Makah)
Week Four
2/7— Film. Synthesis essay due.
2/9— Dundes, 1-39. Bring in a written item that reveals something about your identity as a member of a folk group.
2/11—Dundes, Pecking Chickens. Bring in a traditional toy, if possible. Discuss how toys shape us and reflect our worldviews
Week Five
2/14—Discussion: Songs and identities. Bring in folksongs that are part of your heritage.
2/16— Discuss ballads. Bring in a ballad for class discussion. Dundes, Proverbs, p 92-97, and Skadar, pp151-168.
2/18—Lassiter Part I
Week Six
2/21—Lassiter, Part II.
2/23—Lassiter, Part III.
2/25—Synthesis discussion: songs and ballads and toys.
Week Seven
2/28—Sundiata, to page 40.Second synthesis essay due.
3/1 Film on Sundiata.
3/3—Sundiata, to page 84
Spring Break 3/4-3/12
Week Eight
3/13—Hurston selections
3/15—Hurston selections
3/17—Hurston selections
Week Nine
3/20—Hurston selections
3/22—Ortiz selections
3/24—Ortiz selections
Week Ten
3/27—Ortiz Selections
3/29—Ortiz selections
3/31—Dundes, April fool pp. 98-111. Bring in jokes, pranks, riddles, tricks.
Week Eleven
4/3—Library meeting
4/5—Research day.
4/7—Conferences on major projects.
Week Twelve
4/10—Presentations.
4/12—no class.
4/14—no class.
Week Thirteen
4/17—presentations
4/19—presentations
4/21—presentations
Week Fourteen
4/24--presentations
4/26—presentations
4/28—presentations
Week Fifteen
5/1 Presentations if necessary. Third synthesis essay due.
5/2 Reading day
5/ 3-5/11 Final Exams. Final overview synthesis essay due at exam period.