Fall 2006

E 314L • Approaches to Ethnic and Minority American Literatures

Course Description

The main goal of this course is to prepare future English majors to study the broad range of minority American literatures. We will approach the work of African American, Chicana/o, Indian American, and Native American authors from cultural, formal, and historical perspectives. In particular, we will look at ways that readings generated from within the authors' respective communities produce different interpretations than readings generated from outside that community. We will also spend time discussing issues such as writing about literature, classroom discussions about literature, and library research for literature classes.

Grading Policy

10 one-page reading responses
2 three-page essays
1 five-page final essay (a revised version of one of the three page essays)

Texts

Sherman Alexie, Reservation Blues
Jhumpa Lahiri, Interpreter of Maladies
Toni Morrison, The Bluest Eye
Helena Maria Viramontes, The Moths and Other Stories

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