Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Fall 2015
12:20-1:10 MWF/ Correll Hall 313/ Call#24216
2:30-3:20 MWF/Correll Hall 116/ Call#24218
Soudabeh Rafieisakhaei
8/17/2015
Contact information:
Email: soudabeh@uga.edu
Office: 125 Joe Brown Hall
Office hours: W 3:30- 4
Course description:
As an introductory literature course, Asian American Literature is a study of
representative works by American authors of Asian descent. This course
seeks to familiarize students with cultural traditions and social and historical
backgrounds of Asian ethnic groups within the United States. Students will
examine literary depictions of the immigration experiences and problems of
assimilation encountered by each ethnic group, as well as explore themes of
identity, cultural opposition, gender and violence.
In this course, we will trace the rise and diversification of Asian-American
Literature via both foundational texts and non-canonical voices
representative of writers with cultural ties to China, Korea, India, Afghanistan,
Pakistan and Iran.
Course Objectives:
1. To identify some works of Asian American Literature.
2. To become familiar with major theme in Asian-American literature.
3. To reconsider the racial and cultural categories U.S. society employs
and to recognize the diversity represented by the construct of AsianAmerican
4. To gain perspective(s) regarding the important roles that diverse
ethnicities have in sustaining and developing the human community,
within the United States and beyond.
5. To develop the ability to perform close reading and think critically
about contemporary issues and representations affecting immigrant
communities
6. To reconsider the value of literature as a means through which to
understand the world, the United States and yourself.
Tan, Amy. The Joy Luck Club. Penguin Books. ISBN 0143038095
Hong Kingston, Maxine. The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood
Among Ghosts. Vintage; Reissue edition. ISBN 0679721886
Lahiri, Jhumpa. Interpreter of Maladies. Mariner Books. ISBN
039592720X
Nafisi, Azar. Reading Lolita in Tehran. Random House Trade Paperbacks;
Reissue edition (November 4, 2008). ISBN 0812979303
Abdullah, Sheila. Saffron Dreams. Modern history press. ISBN
1932690735
Class Policies:
Attendance: Because I will be relying on your interest in and engagement
with the reading material, you must attend the class and keep up with the
readings. After three absences, which are usually adequate to accommodate
family emergencies and illnesses, I reserve the right to lower your grade by
taking off 5 points in your final grade. After five absences, I reserve the right
to withdraw you from the course. Please talk to me in advance or send me an
email for your absence and the reason for it. If you miss a class, it is your
responsibility to ask your peers what you missed, so get some contact
information from at least a few of your classmate. Please, please get to class
on time. When you are late the others become distracted. If you arrive after I
take roll, there is a good chance to be considered absent, so check with me
after the class. If you have more than 2 tardies, expect me to talk with you
about why you are unable to get to class on time. You cannot make up
3
missed quizzes.If you miss less than three class meetings you will get 3
points added to your final grade.
Exams: You will have two exams, a midterm and a final. All the readings,
class discussions students presentations and guest speakers lectures are
subject to question. Both exams include multiple choice and free response
questions.
Make sure your eLC profile has a picture in which your face is recognizable.
Also, turn the eLC notifications on to get notified when new materials are
posted.
Electronic devices: If you want to use a laptop to take notes in class please
let me know in advance, then do not use it to check Facebook, email, to
shop or any off-task purpose. There will be a sign up sheet it, also I may
occasionally ask you to submit your notes through email. Silence your cell
phones in class. Dont text unless we are using the phones regarding a class
activity. Texting in class is rude and disrespectful to me and to your
classmates. If you need to use your phone during class, please leave the
classroom, otherwise expect me to ask you to put your phone away. Failure
to comply with electronic device use policies could be a Code of Conduct
violations.
Textbook: Not having your book during class is inexcusable. It is the most
fundamental part of any Literature class. Everyone needs their own textbook
on their own desk. When you do not have the book, the rest of the class
suffers. There is too much distraction on sharing the books in class. After two
times not having the book, I reserve the right to lower your grade by taking
off 3 points in your final grade.
Grading:
Grade distribution:
Daily grade includes quiz scores, all short writing assignments in or out of
class, participation in classroom activities (both discussion and group work)
20%
Class Journal (blog) 10%
Presentations 15%
Midterm exam
20%
Portfolio
5%
Final exam
30%
Grading Scale:
A = 93 100
A- = 90 - 92
B+ = 87 - 89
B = 84 - 86
B- = 80 - 83
C+= 77 - 79
C = 74 76
D= 69
C- = 70 - 73
F <69
Syllabus: The course syllabus is a general plan for the course: deviations
announced to the call by the instructor may be necessary.
8/19
Introduction
Fri
Mon
8/24 The Joy Luck Club (The Joy Luck Club- Scar)
Wed
8/26 The Joy Luck Club ( The Red Candle- The Moon
United States
Lady)
Fri
Voice from the wall)
Mon 8/31 The Joy Luck Club (Half and Half- Two Kids)
Wed 9/2
Fri
Directions)
9/4
Mon 9/7
Wed 9/9
the Trees)
Fri
Tickets)
Quiz
Mon 9/14 Good Enough (eLC)
Quiz
Wed 9/16 The woman warrior (No Name Woman)
Fri
Quiz
Mon 9/28 The woman warrior (At the Western Palace) 136-160
Wed 9/30 The woman warrior (A Song for a Barbarian
Reed Pipe)
Fri
10/2
Midterm Exam
8
Mon 10/12
Quiz
Wed 10/14
Fri
Interpreter of Maladies
myself (eLC)
10/16
Interpreter of Maladies
Fri
10/23
Interpreter of Maladies
Mon
10/26
Interpreter of Maladies
Wed 10/28
Fri
10/30
Fall Break
11/11
Fri
11/13
11/16
Saffron Dreams
Quiz
Mon
Wed 11/18
Saffron Dreams
9
Fri
11/20
Saffron Dreams
Mon 11/23
Thanksgiving
Wed 11/25
Thanksgiving
Fri
Thanksgiving
Mon
11/27
Quiz
Wed
12/2
Presentations
Fri
12/4
Presentations
Mon
12/7
Presentations
12/14
12:00 p.m.
CRN 24216
3:00 p.m.
CRN 24218
12/14
Name
10
Major:
Are you familiar with the required texts? If yes, which one and to
what extend?
11