Chicano Studies 37: Chicana and Chicano Literature
Section Number 0173; Summer 2008
Los Angeles Mission College-- Professor José A. Maldonado
Office Hours: by appointment
Room INST 1001, cubicle # 16; (818) 833-3412; maldonja@lamission.edu
SYLLABUS
Course Description:
This course will provide an analysis of the literary, social, and historical aspects of essay, novel, drama, short story, and poetry as written by persons of Mexican descent in the United States (Mexican Americans), revealing the progression of culture in America as interpreted by Mexican American writers who seek to define themselves vis a vis other Americans.
Grading will be based on participation, a mid-term examination, and eight 2-4 page written papers (four book reports and four creative writing assignments--see below under Assignments).
Required Texts (available at the bookstore):
Anaya, Rudolfo. Bless Me, Ultima.
Cisneros, Sandra. The House on Mango Street.
Rodriguez, Luis. Always Running.
Gaspar de Alba, Alicia. Desert Blood, The Juarez Murders
Maldonado, Jose A. Chicano Studies 37 Reader
and
Murray, Yxta Maya. The Conquest ***(OPTIONAL-FOR EXTRA CREDIT)
Grading Procedures:
Grading will be as follows:
Participation: 10%
Mid-Term : 10%
Papers: 80%
TOTAL: 100%
Class Schedule:
Week 1-: PART ONE:
Welcome to Chicano Studies 37: Chicana and Chicano Literature
Assignment Due: Personal Introduction
Assigned Readings: All Course Materials
A. Learn how to use MOODLE.
i. Click on the link above and take the tour and tutorial.
B. Review course materials.
PART TWO:
Who Are You? ¿Tu Quien Eres?
Assignment Due: FORUM DISCUSSION # 1
Assigned Readings:
Course Reader: excerpts from Portilla, Pre-Columbian Literatures of Mexico
Rodriguez, “Who Declared War on the Word Chicano?”
Castillo, “Introduction” to Massacre of the Dreamers
Assigned Internet Readings (follow the links)
A. Social, Cultural, Political and Economic Context: Introduction
i. The Roots of Identity and Denial
ii. Historical Overview of U.S. Southwest region from 1821 through the 20th
century.
B. Chicanos and Chicago in the 1960’s-Social and Historical Context for House on Mango Street.
PART THREE:
Introduction
Assignment Due: FIRST PAPER DUE- Creative Writing: Essay on Identity
Assigned Readings:
Course Reader: excerpts from Portilla, Pre-Columbian Literatures of Mexico
Rodriguez, “Who Declared War on the Word Chicano?”
Castillo, “Introduction” to Massacre of the Dreamers
Cisneros, The House on Mango Street
Assigned Internet Readings (follow the links)
A. Social, Cultural, Political and Economic Context
i. Critical Race Theory
ii. Essays: Exploration, Analysis, and Discussion of several Essays.
iii. Chicano Political Manifestos: Los Planes
B. Types of literature
i. Fiction
a. Short Story
b. Novel
ii. Nonfiction
a. Poetry
b. Essay
c. Biography/autobiography.
Week 2- PART ONE:
Assignment Due: SECOND PAPER DUE- Book Report: House on Mango Street
Assigned Readings:
Cisneros, The House on Mango Street
Assigned Internet Readings (follow the links)
A. Overview of literary techniques and devices characteristically employed by novelists, dramatists, essayists, and poets (i.e. character development, plot, conflict, resolution, alliteration, and sequential function of the narrative-dialogue-summary).
B. Discussion of House on Mango Street
Prevailing Themes:
Racism, Religion, Economics, Identity, Urban vs. Rural Lifestyle,
Gender Identity Formation
PART TWO:
Assignment Due: FORUM DISCUSSION # 2
Assigned Readings:
Course Reader: Indio: “Jade Skirt,” and “Chikome Ocelotl”
Montano: “The Bride,” “Your Answer,” and “La Trenza”
Assigned Internet Readings (follow the links)
A. Language: English, Spanish, Calo, Spanglish, Nahuatl, Code-Switching
B. The Short Story: Exploration, Analysis, and Discussion of several Short Stories.
C. Chicanos and New Mexico in the 1940’s: Social and Historical context for Bless Me, Ultima.
PART THREE:
Assignment Due: THIRD PAPER DUE- Creative Writing: Short Story
Assigned Readings:
Course Reader: Indio: “Jade Skirt,” and “Chikome Ocelotl”
Montano: “The Bride,” “Your Answer,” and “La Trenza”
Assigned Internet Readings (follow the links)
A. Chicana/o Musical Expression: Exploration, Examination, Analysis, and Discussion of several works of contemporary Chicana/o Musical and Lyrical Expression:
i. Musical Styles
ii. Lyrics
Week 3- PART ONE:
Assignment Due: FORUM DISCUSSION # 3; MID-TERM EXAM
Assigned Readings:
Course Reader: Olga Garcia, Poems Tzintzuni, Poems
Anaya, Bless me, Ultima
Assigned Internet Readings (follow the links)
A. Chicana/o Oratory
Great Chicana/o Orators. Reies Lopez Tijerina, Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta, Jose Angel Gutierrez, Rocky Rodriguez, Daniel Osuna
B. Poetry: Exploration, Analysis,and Discussion of several works of Poetry by Chicana/o poets.
PART TWO:
Assignment Due: FOURTH PAPER DUE- Book Report: Bless Me, Ultima
Assigned Readings:
Course Reader: Olga Garcia, Poems Tzintzuni, Poems
Anaya, Bless me, Ultima
Assigned Internet Readings (follow the links)
A. Magical Realism
B. Discussion of Bless me, Ultima Prevailing Themes:
Racism, Religion, Economics, Identity, Urban vs. Rural Lifestyle,
Gender Identity Formation
PART THREE:
Assignment Due: FIFTH PAPER DUE- Creative Writing: Poetry
Assigned Readings:
Course Reader: Olga Garcia, Poems Tzintzuni, Poems
Anaya, Bless me, Ultima
Assigned Internet Readings (follow the links)
A. Plays: Exploration, Analysis, and Discussion of several works for the theater by Chicana/o writers.
B. Review of Recurring Themes:
Language
Cultural Infusion
Cultural Pluralism
Characterization
Gender
Week 4- PART ONE:
Assignment Due: FORUM DISCUSSION # 4
Assigned Readings:
Course Reader: “A Woman Named Rocky”
Assigned Internet Readings (follow the links)
A. Exploration, Analysis, and Discussion of several Biographies/Autobiographies of and/or by Chicana/o writers
B. Chicanos and Los Angeles in the 1960’s and 1970’s
PART TWO:
Assignment Due: SIXTH PAPER DUE- Book Report: Always Running
Assigned Readings:
Course Reader: “A Woman Named Rocky”
Assigned Internet Readings (follow the links)
PART THREE:
Assignment Due: SEVENTH PAPER DUE- Creative Writing: Autobiography or
Personal Statement
Assigned Readings:
Course Reader: Gaspar de Alba, Desert Blood
Assigned Internet Readings (follow the links)
Week 5 PART ONE:
Assignment Due: FORUM DISCUSSION # 5
Assigned Readings: Gaspar de Alba, Desert Blood
Assigned Internet Readings (follow the links)
PART TWO:
Assignment Due: EIGHTH PAPER DUE: Book Report: Desert Blood
Assigned Readings: Gaspar de Alba, Desert Blood
Assigned Internet Readings (follow the links)
A. Historical Fiction: Exploration, Analysis, and Discussion.
B. Discussion of the Socio-historical context of Desert Blood.
PART THREE (EXTRA CREDIT):
Assignment Due: FORUM DISCUSSION # 6: For Extra Credit
Assigned Readings:
Yxta Maya Murray, The Conquest- For Extra Credit
Assigned Internet Readings (follow the links)
PART FOUR (EXTRA CREDIT):
Assignment Due: EXTRA CREDIT BOOK REPORT: The Conquest
Assigned Readings:
Yxta Maya Murray, The Conquest- For Extra Credit
Assigned Internet Readings (follow the links)
A. Historical Fiction: Exploration, Analysis, and Discussion.
B. Discussion of the historical context of The Conquest
C. Final Comments
Getting Started
Syllabus
Textbook
Assignments
Grading Procedures
Class Schedule
tests
final
Extra Credit
slo
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