The Unhuman: Science, Technology, and Magic in Ethnic American Literature
Asian American Studies r2b:
Reading and Composition
Summer 2013
Instructor:
Margaret Rhee
[email protected]
Teaching Associate:
Emily Encina
Meetings:
MTuW 930-12P, 255 Dwinelle
Th 930-12P, 222 Wheeler
Summer Session:
07/08-08/16/13
Office Hours:
TBD
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In “The Unhuman: Science, Technology, and Magic in Ethnic American Literature,” we will engage with Asian American and Comparative Ethnic Literature through a collective investigation and experiment: Who is human? What boundaries separate animals from machines from humans? What or who is the unhuman? Who gets to decide? What does the designation of Asian American have to do with it? This semester, we ask you to trace the boundaries between human, robot, and animal within American Ethnic Literature. By doing so, we aim to develop our critical thinking, writing, and research skills through close engagement with literary texts. In addition to developing our analytical writing and reading skills, we will have an opportunity to nurture our creative writing interests as well. In our study of literary texts, we will discuss the similarities, differences, or complications (perhaps the most interesting slippage) we may find in-between texts. As an Asian American Studies course, we hope to historicize, contextualize, and politicize concepts such as “Asian American.” In doing so, we hope to take care and responsibility in the construction of categories through our own writing, creating, and questioning.
More than anything, this course is devoted to your analytical writing, so there will be a strong emphasis on learning to identify essay topics that interest you. You will write extensively in order to give power to your voice through the written word. You will spend a great deal of time reading and revising student work with considerable attention to the mechanics of argumentative prose. To this end, you will learn how to analyze, with care and precision, such varied forms of literature such as short stories, poems, and novels.
REQUIRED TEXTS
Our class is organized by three sections with corresponding themes:
Technology – The Automaton
Automaton Biographies by Larissa Lai (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2009)
The Black Automaton by Douglas Kearney (Fence Books, 2009)
Magic – Creatures and Spells
The Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz (Riverhead, 2007)
Diwata by Barbara Jane Reyes (Boa, 2010)
Science – The Animal
The Women Who Fell from the Sky by Joy Harjo (Norton, 1996)
Boy Genius by Youngsoo Park (Akashic Books, 2002)
These themes are simply starting points as we begin to engage with the texts. I welcome and encourage your generative perspectives that can add to, and perhaps, deter us from these stated themes.
All books can be purchased from Eastwind Books, 2066 University Avenue, Tel: 548 – 2350; Readings are also available at the Ethnic Studies library/30 Stephens Hall, Tel: 643 – 1234.
Eastwind Books is an independent Asian American bookstore in Berkeley. I encourage you to buy all your texts at the store to support a vital space for Asian American literature. If you buy at least 2 of the required books from East Wind and provide a 1⁄2 page response on your observations with receipt, you will receive 1 point extra credit.
ADDITIONAL REQUIRED READINGS
There will be required readings on B Space. All participants in the course will be responsible to print out readings and bring to class for discussion, lecture, and group presentations. We will read selections from Line by Line by Claire Kehrwald Cook and will be available on B Space.
Feel free to buy a copy of the book if you may prefer.
Line by Line: How to Edit Your Own Writing by Claire Kehrwald Cook (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1986)
We will be posting selections from Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott (Anchor Books, 1994) to help with our meditation with writing. You are not required to purchase Line by Line or Bird by Bird.
REQUIREMENTS:
Narrative Essay: 5%
Papers:(2 @ 15%) 30%
Final paper: 20%
Creative Portfolio: 5%
Group Presentation: 10%
Participation: 15 % (includes attendance, questions for quest speakers, quizzes, morsels, free writes, blog posts)
Short Responses: (6 @ 2.5%) 15%
(lai, kearny, diaz, reyes, harjo, and park)
CREATIVE PORTFOLIO
In addition to analytical writing, our class will engage with the practice of creative writing and media making—poetry, memoir, fiction, new media, video—to help strengthen our expression and voice. We will have an opportunity to have a short creative writing/media making workshop related to our texts as well. The final portfolio is due at the end of the semester and will be 5% of your grade. The Creative Portfolio should consist of 3 – 5 pages of creative work or 3 – 5 minutes of video. You will turn in a proposal on your creative portfolio and requirements are open. The portfolio will be graded upon effort and engagement.
We are blessed to have Media Artist Emily Encina as a Teaching Associate who will help work with our class. Emily is a filmmaker and has taught film production at UC Berkeley and other locations in the bay area. Our class will devote time to workshop our final projects, which will be displayed within an online gallery at the end of the semester.
EAT THIS POEM: A MORSEL OF POETRY and PATRON POETS
Every class will begin with a morsel of poetry. What is a morsel? As a practice of engaging with literature, one student will provide a casual reading (memorized or not memorized) of an Asian American poem. These poems will be assigned. Please open your folder to find your patron poet. Who do you have? Your patron poets are provided to you as they will watch over you this summer session. For your morsel, please prepare to read the poem for the class. In addition, please look up biographical information of the poet and provide a brief analysis of the poem as well. You will also provide a writing prompt based on your poem and post on our class blog and share with the course on your presentation day. These short presentations are meant to be casual, intimate, and pleasurable. Any questions? Please let us know.
DAILY ROBOT, PATRON ROBOT
Every class will begin with a daily robot presentation as well. Please open your folde r for your patron robot. Who do you have? Share with the class. For your robot presentations, you will provide a brief history of your robot. When was it made? Why? You will describe the robot, provide an image (please prepare a simple powerpoint or bring your photo to share), and your thoughts on what is interesting about the robot. What does it tell you about the boundaries of human/machine? What does it tell you about the boundaries of Asian/American? What does it teach us about being human? Create a writing prompt inspired by your daily robot to share with the class. Please post on the blog for full credit.
JOURNAL
Following our morsel of poetry and daily robot, we will engage with journal writing every class session. Please buy a notebook or loose-leaf paper for your journal writing. You will be given a prompt but will be free to write anything you desire.
RE-MIX & FAN FICTION: BATTLE STAR GALACTICA, BLADE RUNNER, ROBOT STORIES
To help our learning we will be watching the films Blade Runner and Robot Stories. We will also be watching episodes of Battlestar Galatica. Upon watching the films, your presenting group will be responsible for group or individual fan fiction and re-mixes of the particular film/video. More information forthcoming.
EXTRA CREDIT EVENTS
Throughout the semester, there are many literary events you can attend for extra credit. After each event, I ask you to write an informal 1 page double spaced response to the event. Each extra credit response will be worth .5 points, with up to 1 point possible (2 events) for the entire semester. All events must be approved so please do check in with Emily or Margaret on interested events. We encourage you all to make plans to attend together. It is our hope we can create a community of active writers engaged with Asian American and Ethnic literary arts and culture.
PAPER CONFERENCES
For the first two papers, we will discuss your first draft in 15 minute conferences and your second draft will be peer-edited. A sign up sheet will be available the week before Conferences. Your final revised essay will receive comments and a grade. Your grade will be based on your most recent revision. You must include all peer-edited copies of your essay as well your peer feedback sheets (the ones about your work, not the ones you complete for others) with your final draft, so please keep track of all your drafts. Peer feedback will be noted in your participation grade.
Paper format: Typewritten, double-spaced, 12- point font, 1-inch margins, MLA format, 4 -5 pages. Your final paper will be 5 – 6 pages.
GROUP PRESENTATION
The class will be divided into six groups with each group presenting on one of the five key texts. Your presentation must present an argument about the text, handout, and should be aprx. 45 minutes and will be graded by the instructor, GSI, and the class. You’re encouraged to explore creative presentation methods. Previous groups have made videos, web pages, performed skits or talk shows. Your handout should state and explain your group’s thesis statement (the argument you are making about the text) with specific examples from the text and should include discussion questions for the class.
*If your group presents, you are exempt from Blog Post assignments.
SHORT RESPONSES
You will turn in a short response for each text beginning in Week 2. The brief interpretation will be one page long consisting of two questions, an overall theme, a small passage or quotation and at least a 10-sentence paragraph following the passage/quotation of close textual analysis, which we will learn to do in class. You will need to incorporate specific examples— quotations—from your passage into your interpretation. The point of the short response is to get you thinking about topics for class discussion and your group presentation, as well as initializing thoughts/interests that might become part of your essay. Most importantly, short response will help you develop the skill of learning how to pull quotations/passages from the book in order to support your claims with close textual analysis. See sample uploaded on B space and in your reader.
PARTICIPATION
Includes daily attendance, questions for quest speakers, poetry morsels, daily robot, free writes, blog posts, group forum, and participation in class.
ATTENDENCE
You are allowed 2 excused and unexcused absences. In both cases, it is your responsibility to make up any work missed. Any more absences will affect your attendance and participation grade. If you have an excused absence (medical, emergency), please notify Margaret and Emily in advance and you will be requested to submit appropriate official documentation. If you miss more than 2 – 3 classes, you may opt to drop the course. Incomplete will only be given if you have attended the majority of class sessions. Attendance will be taken everyday.
CLASS BLOG
Every week by Monday 8 pm, you will provide one short entry in conversation with your peers on the books, readings, and guest speakers etc. It can be a photograph, a letter, or a poem you wrote! A video you saw! The class blog post will be tabulated at the end of the semester and included within your class participation points.
FINAL CELEBRATION READING & PARTY
Our final class will be a reading and potluck party. At this reading/celebration I ask you to share your creative and/or critical works. There will be refreshments provided and we will have the opportunity to invite our guest speakers, ES community, and friends as well. Our last session may be held in the Berkeley Center for New Media Commons Room depending on location/time. The event is intended to be a celebration of all your engagement and hard work through the summer session.
CLASS POLICIES
1) All reading is to be completed by the day of open discussions. Quizzes will be given at random.
2) The late penalty for papers is 1/3 of a grade off (e.g. from B to B-) for every day late. Since this is an intensive course it is strongly recommended that you keep up with the work or ask for support.
3) Student papers may be used, in full or in part, for group editing, whether in the current semester or in later semesters. The writer’s name will be deleted. If you feel that a paper is too personal to be read by anyone other than the grader, indicate “No group editing” on the first page. Remember that learning to edit and revise is an integral part of learning to write.
4) No email essays will be accepted. Hard copies only.
5) Plagiarism will be severely penalized. Plagiarism on one assignment may result in an F for the entire course. University guidelines on dealing with plagiarism will be followed. If you are not sure what constitutes plagiarism, check with the instructor before you turn in the work
GENERAL REMINDER
1) If you miss class, you are responsible for finding out from classmates about the content of lectures and discussion sections as well as upcoming reading and writing assignments (including changes in the syllabus).
2) For extra safety, make copies before turning in papers and don’t throw away any of your written work for the course until you have received the final course grade.
REQUIREMENTS:
Narrative essay 5%
Papers (2 @ 15%) 30%
Final paper 20%
Creative Portfolio 5%
Annotated Bibliography on writing 5%
Group Presentation 5%
Participation 15 % (includes attendance, questions for quest speakers, blog posts)
Short Responses (6 @ 2.5%) 15%
*Students are responsible for giving group members copies of their completed drafts before class peer editing sessions. Students will read and comment on drafts before coming to class. Class time will be used for discussing comments. Students will critique each other’s papers with written comments on the draft and a completed peer editing sheet. All students will complete a Cover sheet for each draft of their work to be edited and include it with their essay when they give them to group members. All students will also complete a peer-editing response worksheet for each peer essay they edit. Master copies of all worksheets can be found on B space. Students are responsible for photocopying, re-typing, or reproducing all necessary peer editing and cover worksheets. All peer editing sheets and marked up drafts must be turned in with your final paper copy. Your editors will not receive credit for peer editing if you do not include their comment sheets and marked drafts.
*Attendance: you are allowed two unexcused absences. Any more absences will affect your attendance and participation grade. If you have an excused absence (medical, emergency), please notify Margaret and Emily in advance.
Late Policy – We will collectively decide upon this in class.
COURSE SCHEDULE (subject to change)
Readings also include selected relevant essays in B space and handouts
07/08-08/16/13
Section One: The Automaton Biographies and The Black Automaton
Week 1: Introductions, The Automaton Biographies, Narrative Essay
M 7/08:
In class: Introductions, syllabus, narrative writing free-write, read Law’s poem, robot making activity, contact worksheet, decide on late policy
Assignment: Zinser reading and short response, read Chang Rae Lee’s “Magical Dinners,” purchase Automaton Biographies and begin reading. Please print narrative essay examples 1 – 2.
Due: Contact worksheet (in-class)
T 7/09:
In class: Review Zinser reading and short response, discuss “Magical Dinners,” Discussion, Narrative essay examples, read Automaton Biographies in class
Assignment: Read Automaton Biographies (1/2)
Due: Zinser short response, Magical Dinners, and copy of Automaton Biographies
W 7/10:
In class: Watch Blade Runner, lecture on Automaton Biographies, begin discussion of Automaton Biographies, How to read this poem activity
Assignment: Finish Automaton Biographies, draft of Narrative Essay
Due: Automaton Biographies
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Th 7/11:
In class: Open discussion on Automaton Biographies, Guest Speakers: Emily Encina and Bill Hogan; Watch On Strike
Assignment: Start The Black Automaton, your narrative essay is due 7/15
Due: Short Response * The Automaton Biographies*
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Week 2: The Black Automaton
M 7/15:
In class: Black Automaton lecture, Short response in class
Assignment: Start and finish ½ of The Black Automaton, begin reading Clarie Cook introduction, Print out 1 and 2 examples of critical essays
Due: Narrative Essay
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
T 7/16:
In class: Open discussion of Black Automaton; discussion of critical essays
Assignment:
Due:
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
W 7/17:
In class: Presentation on The Black Automaton
Assignment: Prepare working thesis
Due: Short Response The Black Automaton
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Th 7/18:
In class: Meet with presentation groups at 9:30 – 11; Early start on The Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
Assignment: Cook worksheet due Monday, Start The Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (Read 3 – 5 chapters by Monday)
Due: Presentation group working document on brainstorm themes of Black Automaton and Automaton Biographies. Turn in as a google document and email Margaret the link by 12 pm. 7/18
Working thesis for your essay – upload onto B space
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Section Two: Magic, Creatures, and Spells
Week 3: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
*Paper Draft Due in Conferences
M 7/22:
In class: Open discussion on essay themes;
Assignment: Finish first half of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, draft copy of essay outline, draft thesis, sample essays
Due: 1 – 5 chapters of Brief Wondrous Life, Draft essay
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
T 7/23:
In class: Discussion on The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Junot Diaz video, draft copy of essay outline, draft thesis, sample essays
Assignment: Second half of novel
Due: draft copy of essay outline, draft thesis, sample essays
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
W 7/24:
In class: Open discussion
Assignment: Work on essay
Due: Short Response The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Th 7/25:
In class: Peer editing, Lecture on The Brief Wondrous
Assignment: Work on Essay (Due Monday)
Due: First conference
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Week 4: Diwata
M 7/29:
In class: Finish up Junot Diaz, Guest speaker Paul Ocampo
Assignment: Start Diwata
Due: *Paper One due*
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
T 7/30:
In class: Lecture and Open Discussion on Diwata
Assignment: Read all of Diwata
Due:
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
W 7/31:
In class: Presentation on Diwata;
Assignment: Prepare for guest speaker
Due: Short Response Due Diwata
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Th 8/1:
In class: Guest Speaker Barbara Jane Reyes author of Diwata
Assignment: Brainstorm essay topics
Due:
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Section Three: Science
Conferences
Week 5: The Women Who Fell From the Sky
M 8/8:
In class: Open discussion, Lecture, On Cook and The Women Who Fell From the Sky,
Assignment: Print example essays, Draft thesis, bring draft essay outine
Due: Short Response The Women Who Fell From the Sky, Finish The Women Who Fell From the Sky
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
T 8/9:
In class: model papers, draft thesis workshop, and creative writing workshop
Assignment:
Due: Draft essay outlines and draft thesis
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
W 8/10:
In class: Peer editing, Presentation The Women Who Fell From the Sky
Assignment:
Due: Draft Paper
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Th 8/11:
In class: Thesis workshop and essay writing time
Assignment: Read Boy Genius
Due:
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Friday July 9
Second Paper Due 11 am at Margaret's Box in Ethnic Studies Office, Barrows 506
Week 6: Boy Genius
M 8/12
In class: Boy Genius open discussion and lecture
Assignment: Bring draft essay outline
Due: Boy Genius short response due
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
T 8/13: Boy Genius Presentation and peer editing hack-a-thon
In class: Hack a thon and Presentation
Assignment: Essay draft and thesis
Due:
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
W 8/14:
In class:
Celebration
Assignment:
Due: Creative Portfolio
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
TR 8/15:
In class: Final class check-in
Reflection
Final Essays Due on Friday 8/16 at 11 a.m.
506 Barrows Hall #2570
Berkeley, CA 94720-2570
510-643-0796
Optional: Due email copy Monday 19th 11 am
Asian American Studies r2b:
Reading and Composition
Summer 2013
Instructor:
Margaret Rhee
[email protected]
Teaching Associate:
Emily Encina
Meetings:
MTuW 930-12P, 255 Dwinelle
Th 930-12P, 222 Wheeler
Summer Session:
07/08-08/16/13
Office Hours:
TBD
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In “The Unhuman: Science, Technology, and Magic in Ethnic American Literature,” we will engage with Asian American and Comparative Ethnic Literature through a collective investigation and experiment: Who is human? What boundaries separate animals from machines from humans? What or who is the unhuman? Who gets to decide? What does the designation of Asian American have to do with it? This semester, we ask you to trace the boundaries between human, robot, and animal within American Ethnic Literature. By doing so, we aim to develop our critical thinking, writing, and research skills through close engagement with literary texts. In addition to developing our analytical writing and reading skills, we will have an opportunity to nurture our creative writing interests as well. In our study of literary texts, we will discuss the similarities, differences, or complications (perhaps the most interesting slippage) we may find in-between texts. As an Asian American Studies course, we hope to historicize, contextualize, and politicize concepts such as “Asian American.” In doing so, we hope to take care and responsibility in the construction of categories through our own writing, creating, and questioning.
More than anything, this course is devoted to your analytical writing, so there will be a strong emphasis on learning to identify essay topics that interest you. You will write extensively in order to give power to your voice through the written word. You will spend a great deal of time reading and revising student work with considerable attention to the mechanics of argumentative prose. To this end, you will learn how to analyze, with care and precision, such varied forms of literature such as short stories, poems, and novels.
REQUIRED TEXTS
Our class is organized by three sections with corresponding themes:
Technology – The Automaton
Automaton Biographies by Larissa Lai (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2009)
The Black Automaton by Douglas Kearney (Fence Books, 2009)
Magic – Creatures and Spells
The Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz (Riverhead, 2007)
Diwata by Barbara Jane Reyes (Boa, 2010)
Science – The Animal
The Women Who Fell from the Sky by Joy Harjo (Norton, 1996)
Boy Genius by Youngsoo Park (Akashic Books, 2002)
These themes are simply starting points as we begin to engage with the texts. I welcome and encourage your generative perspectives that can add to, and perhaps, deter us from these stated themes.
All books can be purchased from Eastwind Books, 2066 University Avenue, Tel: 548 – 2350; Readings are also available at the Ethnic Studies library/30 Stephens Hall, Tel: 643 – 1234.
Eastwind Books is an independent Asian American bookstore in Berkeley. I encourage you to buy all your texts at the store to support a vital space for Asian American literature. If you buy at least 2 of the required books from East Wind and provide a 1⁄2 page response on your observations with receipt, you will receive 1 point extra credit.
ADDITIONAL REQUIRED READINGS
There will be required readings on B Space. All participants in the course will be responsible to print out readings and bring to class for discussion, lecture, and group presentations. We will read selections from Line by Line by Claire Kehrwald Cook and will be available on B Space.
Feel free to buy a copy of the book if you may prefer.
Line by Line: How to Edit Your Own Writing by Claire Kehrwald Cook (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1986)
We will be posting selections from Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott (Anchor Books, 1994) to help with our meditation with writing. You are not required to purchase Line by Line or Bird by Bird.
REQUIREMENTS:
Narrative Essay: 5%
Papers:(2 @ 15%) 30%
Final paper: 20%
Creative Portfolio: 5%
Group Presentation: 10%
Participation: 15 % (includes attendance, questions for quest speakers, quizzes, morsels, free writes, blog posts)
Short Responses: (6 @ 2.5%) 15%
(lai, kearny, diaz, reyes, harjo, and park)
CREATIVE PORTFOLIO
In addition to analytical writing, our class will engage with the practice of creative writing and media making—poetry, memoir, fiction, new media, video—to help strengthen our expression and voice. We will have an opportunity to have a short creative writing/media making workshop related to our texts as well. The final portfolio is due at the end of the semester and will be 5% of your grade. The Creative Portfolio should consist of 3 – 5 pages of creative work or 3 – 5 minutes of video. You will turn in a proposal on your creative portfolio and requirements are open. The portfolio will be graded upon effort and engagement.
We are blessed to have Media Artist Emily Encina as a Teaching Associate who will help work with our class. Emily is a filmmaker and has taught film production at UC Berkeley and other locations in the bay area. Our class will devote time to workshop our final projects, which will be displayed within an online gallery at the end of the semester.
EAT THIS POEM: A MORSEL OF POETRY and PATRON POETS
Every class will begin with a morsel of poetry. What is a morsel? As a practice of engaging with literature, one student will provide a casual reading (memorized or not memorized) of an Asian American poem. These poems will be assigned. Please open your folder to find your patron poet. Who do you have? Your patron poets are provided to you as they will watch over you this summer session. For your morsel, please prepare to read the poem for the class. In addition, please look up biographical information of the poet and provide a brief analysis of the poem as well. You will also provide a writing prompt based on your poem and post on our class blog and share with the course on your presentation day. These short presentations are meant to be casual, intimate, and pleasurable. Any questions? Please let us know.
DAILY ROBOT, PATRON ROBOT
Every class will begin with a daily robot presentation as well. Please open your folde r for your patron robot. Who do you have? Share with the class. For your robot presentations, you will provide a brief history of your robot. When was it made? Why? You will describe the robot, provide an image (please prepare a simple powerpoint or bring your photo to share), and your thoughts on what is interesting about the robot. What does it tell you about the boundaries of human/machine? What does it tell you about the boundaries of Asian/American? What does it teach us about being human? Create a writing prompt inspired by your daily robot to share with the class. Please post on the blog for full credit.
JOURNAL
Following our morsel of poetry and daily robot, we will engage with journal writing every class session. Please buy a notebook or loose-leaf paper for your journal writing. You will be given a prompt but will be free to write anything you desire.
RE-MIX & FAN FICTION: BATTLE STAR GALACTICA, BLADE RUNNER, ROBOT STORIES
To help our learning we will be watching the films Blade Runner and Robot Stories. We will also be watching episodes of Battlestar Galatica. Upon watching the films, your presenting group will be responsible for group or individual fan fiction and re-mixes of the particular film/video. More information forthcoming.
EXTRA CREDIT EVENTS
Throughout the semester, there are many literary events you can attend for extra credit. After each event, I ask you to write an informal 1 page double spaced response to the event. Each extra credit response will be worth .5 points, with up to 1 point possible (2 events) for the entire semester. All events must be approved so please do check in with Emily or Margaret on interested events. We encourage you all to make plans to attend together. It is our hope we can create a community of active writers engaged with Asian American and Ethnic literary arts and culture.
PAPER CONFERENCES
For the first two papers, we will discuss your first draft in 15 minute conferences and your second draft will be peer-edited. A sign up sheet will be available the week before Conferences. Your final revised essay will receive comments and a grade. Your grade will be based on your most recent revision. You must include all peer-edited copies of your essay as well your peer feedback sheets (the ones about your work, not the ones you complete for others) with your final draft, so please keep track of all your drafts. Peer feedback will be noted in your participation grade.
Paper format: Typewritten, double-spaced, 12- point font, 1-inch margins, MLA format, 4 -5 pages. Your final paper will be 5 – 6 pages.
GROUP PRESENTATION
The class will be divided into six groups with each group presenting on one of the five key texts. Your presentation must present an argument about the text, handout, and should be aprx. 45 minutes and will be graded by the instructor, GSI, and the class. You’re encouraged to explore creative presentation methods. Previous groups have made videos, web pages, performed skits or talk shows. Your handout should state and explain your group’s thesis statement (the argument you are making about the text) with specific examples from the text and should include discussion questions for the class.
*If your group presents, you are exempt from Blog Post assignments.
SHORT RESPONSES
You will turn in a short response for each text beginning in Week 2. The brief interpretation will be one page long consisting of two questions, an overall theme, a small passage or quotation and at least a 10-sentence paragraph following the passage/quotation of close textual analysis, which we will learn to do in class. You will need to incorporate specific examples— quotations—from your passage into your interpretation. The point of the short response is to get you thinking about topics for class discussion and your group presentation, as well as initializing thoughts/interests that might become part of your essay. Most importantly, short response will help you develop the skill of learning how to pull quotations/passages from the book in order to support your claims with close textual analysis. See sample uploaded on B space and in your reader.
PARTICIPATION
Includes daily attendance, questions for quest speakers, poetry morsels, daily robot, free writes, blog posts, group forum, and participation in class.
ATTENDENCE
You are allowed 2 excused and unexcused absences. In both cases, it is your responsibility to make up any work missed. Any more absences will affect your attendance and participation grade. If you have an excused absence (medical, emergency), please notify Margaret and Emily in advance and you will be requested to submit appropriate official documentation. If you miss more than 2 – 3 classes, you may opt to drop the course. Incomplete will only be given if you have attended the majority of class sessions. Attendance will be taken everyday.
CLASS BLOG
Every week by Monday 8 pm, you will provide one short entry in conversation with your peers on the books, readings, and guest speakers etc. It can be a photograph, a letter, or a poem you wrote! A video you saw! The class blog post will be tabulated at the end of the semester and included within your class participation points.
FINAL CELEBRATION READING & PARTY
Our final class will be a reading and potluck party. At this reading/celebration I ask you to share your creative and/or critical works. There will be refreshments provided and we will have the opportunity to invite our guest speakers, ES community, and friends as well. Our last session may be held in the Berkeley Center for New Media Commons Room depending on location/time. The event is intended to be a celebration of all your engagement and hard work through the summer session.
CLASS POLICIES
1) All reading is to be completed by the day of open discussions. Quizzes will be given at random.
2) The late penalty for papers is 1/3 of a grade off (e.g. from B to B-) for every day late. Since this is an intensive course it is strongly recommended that you keep up with the work or ask for support.
3) Student papers may be used, in full or in part, for group editing, whether in the current semester or in later semesters. The writer’s name will be deleted. If you feel that a paper is too personal to be read by anyone other than the grader, indicate “No group editing” on the first page. Remember that learning to edit and revise is an integral part of learning to write.
4) No email essays will be accepted. Hard copies only.
5) Plagiarism will be severely penalized. Plagiarism on one assignment may result in an F for the entire course. University guidelines on dealing with plagiarism will be followed. If you are not sure what constitutes plagiarism, check with the instructor before you turn in the work
GENERAL REMINDER
1) If you miss class, you are responsible for finding out from classmates about the content of lectures and discussion sections as well as upcoming reading and writing assignments (including changes in the syllabus).
2) For extra safety, make copies before turning in papers and don’t throw away any of your written work for the course until you have received the final course grade.
REQUIREMENTS:
Narrative essay 5%
Papers (2 @ 15%) 30%
Final paper 20%
Creative Portfolio 5%
Annotated Bibliography on writing 5%
Group Presentation 5%
Participation 15 % (includes attendance, questions for quest speakers, blog posts)
Short Responses (6 @ 2.5%) 15%
*Students are responsible for giving group members copies of their completed drafts before class peer editing sessions. Students will read and comment on drafts before coming to class. Class time will be used for discussing comments. Students will critique each other’s papers with written comments on the draft and a completed peer editing sheet. All students will complete a Cover sheet for each draft of their work to be edited and include it with their essay when they give them to group members. All students will also complete a peer-editing response worksheet for each peer essay they edit. Master copies of all worksheets can be found on B space. Students are responsible for photocopying, re-typing, or reproducing all necessary peer editing and cover worksheets. All peer editing sheets and marked up drafts must be turned in with your final paper copy. Your editors will not receive credit for peer editing if you do not include their comment sheets and marked drafts.
*Attendance: you are allowed two unexcused absences. Any more absences will affect your attendance and participation grade. If you have an excused absence (medical, emergency), please notify Margaret and Emily in advance.
Late Policy – We will collectively decide upon this in class.
COURSE SCHEDULE (subject to change)
Readings also include selected relevant essays in B space and handouts
07/08-08/16/13
Section One: The Automaton Biographies and The Black Automaton
Week 1: Introductions, The Automaton Biographies, Narrative Essay
M 7/08:
In class: Introductions, syllabus, narrative writing free-write, read Law’s poem, robot making activity, contact worksheet, decide on late policy
Assignment: Zinser reading and short response, read Chang Rae Lee’s “Magical Dinners,” purchase Automaton Biographies and begin reading. Please print narrative essay examples 1 – 2.
Due: Contact worksheet (in-class)
T 7/09:
In class: Review Zinser reading and short response, discuss “Magical Dinners,” Discussion, Narrative essay examples, read Automaton Biographies in class
Assignment: Read Automaton Biographies (1/2)
Due: Zinser short response, Magical Dinners, and copy of Automaton Biographies
W 7/10:
In class: Watch Blade Runner, lecture on Automaton Biographies, begin discussion of Automaton Biographies, How to read this poem activity
Assignment: Finish Automaton Biographies, draft of Narrative Essay
Due: Automaton Biographies
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Th 7/11:
In class: Open discussion on Automaton Biographies, Guest Speakers: Emily Encina and Bill Hogan; Watch On Strike
Assignment: Start The Black Automaton, your narrative essay is due 7/15
Due: Short Response * The Automaton Biographies*
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Week 2: The Black Automaton
M 7/15:
In class: Black Automaton lecture, Short response in class
Assignment: Start and finish ½ of The Black Automaton, begin reading Clarie Cook introduction, Print out 1 and 2 examples of critical essays
Due: Narrative Essay
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
T 7/16:
In class: Open discussion of Black Automaton; discussion of critical essays
Assignment:
Due:
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
W 7/17:
In class: Presentation on The Black Automaton
Assignment: Prepare working thesis
Due: Short Response The Black Automaton
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Th 7/18:
In class: Meet with presentation groups at 9:30 – 11; Early start on The Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
Assignment: Cook worksheet due Monday, Start The Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (Read 3 – 5 chapters by Monday)
Due: Presentation group working document on brainstorm themes of Black Automaton and Automaton Biographies. Turn in as a google document and email Margaret the link by 12 pm. 7/18
Working thesis for your essay – upload onto B space
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Section Two: Magic, Creatures, and Spells
Week 3: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
*Paper Draft Due in Conferences
M 7/22:
In class: Open discussion on essay themes;
Assignment: Finish first half of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, draft copy of essay outline, draft thesis, sample essays
Due: 1 – 5 chapters of Brief Wondrous Life, Draft essay
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
T 7/23:
In class: Discussion on The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Junot Diaz video, draft copy of essay outline, draft thesis, sample essays
Assignment: Second half of novel
Due: draft copy of essay outline, draft thesis, sample essays
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
W 7/24:
In class: Open discussion
Assignment: Work on essay
Due: Short Response The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Th 7/25:
In class: Peer editing, Lecture on The Brief Wondrous
Assignment: Work on Essay (Due Monday)
Due: First conference
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Week 4: Diwata
M 7/29:
In class: Finish up Junot Diaz, Guest speaker Paul Ocampo
Assignment: Start Diwata
Due: *Paper One due*
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
T 7/30:
In class: Lecture and Open Discussion on Diwata
Assignment: Read all of Diwata
Due:
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
W 7/31:
In class: Presentation on Diwata;
Assignment: Prepare for guest speaker
Due: Short Response Due Diwata
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Th 8/1:
In class: Guest Speaker Barbara Jane Reyes author of Diwata
Assignment: Brainstorm essay topics
Due:
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Section Three: Science
Conferences
Week 5: The Women Who Fell From the Sky
M 8/8:
In class: Open discussion, Lecture, On Cook and The Women Who Fell From the Sky,
Assignment: Print example essays, Draft thesis, bring draft essay outine
Due: Short Response The Women Who Fell From the Sky, Finish The Women Who Fell From the Sky
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
T 8/9:
In class: model papers, draft thesis workshop, and creative writing workshop
Assignment:
Due: Draft essay outlines and draft thesis
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
W 8/10:
In class: Peer editing, Presentation The Women Who Fell From the Sky
Assignment:
Due: Draft Paper
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Th 8/11:
In class: Thesis workshop and essay writing time
Assignment: Read Boy Genius
Due:
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Friday July 9
Second Paper Due 11 am at Margaret's Box in Ethnic Studies Office, Barrows 506
Week 6: Boy Genius
M 8/12
In class: Boy Genius open discussion and lecture
Assignment: Bring draft essay outline
Due: Boy Genius short response due
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
T 8/13: Boy Genius Presentation and peer editing hack-a-thon
In class: Hack a thon and Presentation
Assignment: Essay draft and thesis
Due:
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
W 8/14:
In class:
Celebration
Assignment:
Due: Creative Portfolio
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
TR 8/15:
In class: Final class check-in
Reflection
Final Essays Due on Friday 8/16 at 11 a.m.
506 Barrows Hall #2570
Berkeley, CA 94720-2570
510-643-0796
Optional: Due email copy Monday 19th 11 am