Course Description:
Through a survey and analysis of African American literature of the 19th and 20th centuries this course will prepare you for academic writing in your other college courses. In this course we will put an emphasis on the relationship between reading, writing, and critical thinking while concentrating on how the issues of race, gender, and power are at play in American society. We will rely on previously written texts to learn to collect, interpret, and disseminate information through newly produced texts.

Texts (required, available at Marwils Bookstore):
Chapman, Abraham ed. Black Voices
-----. New Black Voices
Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (1845)
Lorde, Audre. Zami: A New Spelling of My Name
Raimes, Ann. Keys for Writers
Thurman, Wallace. The Blacker the Berry
Course pack- On reserve at Adamany Undergraduate Library
In Addition:
* 3 Blue Books
* Journal-- the style of your journal is largely up to you, but must be able to hold looseleaf pages. You will bring this to each class session.
* Portfolio-- a folder with pockets to keep your written work in.
* Two Computer Disks-- one to serve as a back-up for your work, the other to be submitted to me with your typed assignments.

Course Requirements and Grading Policy:
Final Course Grades will be determined on the basis of (8) in-class writing exams and One Page Response to Readings (400 pts.), (1) 4-5 page essay (100 pts.), Classparticipation and forum discussion (which include freewrites, collaborative responses, etc.) (200 pts.), class participation and quizzes (as needed) (100 pts.), and an 8-10 page final research paper (200 pts.). All assignments are to be typed according to MLA guidelines.
Grading Scale:
1000-950 pts. A
949-900 pts. A-
899-866 pts. B+
865-833 pts. B
832-800 pts. B-
799-766 pts. C+
765-733 pts. C
732-700 pts. C-
699-666 pts. D+
665-633 pts. D
632-600 pts. D-
599-below E

Course Policies

Week Two: In the Beginning Frederick Created Himself
Tues., 5/18- Douglass, Narrative Chapters 1-6, Van Leer and Franchot essays/ Grammar and Mechanics Review
Thurs., 5/20- Douglass, Narrative Chapters 7-11 & Appendix One Page Response to Reading Due
Fri., 5/21- Last Day to Add Courses

Week Three: Frederick Douglass, Then and Now
Tues., 5/25- Frederick Douglass, The Heroic Slave & Yarborough essay
Thurs., 5/27- Film Screening Birth of a Nation/ Martin Essay/ MLA
format review/handout/ In-Class Writing Exam

Week Four: Reconstructing the Race
Tues., 6/01- MOO Session/ Discussion of Final Project Topics (bring topics to class)
Thurs., 6/03- 3 (three) Wintz essays on the background of the Harlem Renaissance
Langston Hughes Writers: Black and White BV pg. 618/ Paper #1 Draft/ Peer Editing/ One Page Response to Film Due

Week Five: The Harlem Renaissance:When Black Was Beautiful, But Not Too Black
Tues., 6/08- Thurman, The Blacker the Berry Parts 1&2 Paper #1 Due
Thurs., 6/10- Thurman, The Blacker the Berry Parts 3&4/ One Page Response to Reading Due/ MOO Session

Week Six: ...Research, Research, Research
Tues., 6/15- Independent Research for Final Projects
Thurs., 6/17- More Research and Writing

Week Seven: Fighting for Their Country????
Tues., 6/22- Research Project Peer Editing
Thurs., 6/24- Research Project Peer Editing

Week Eight: Hows It Going??
Tues., 6/29- Thurman, The Blacker the Berry Part 5
Thurs., 7/01- Audre Lorde poetry NBV pgs. 288-292, Mari Evans, Vive Noir NBV pg.
245, Nayo (Barbara Malcolm) NBV pgs. 382-386/ One Page Response to
Reading Due

Week Nine: Issues of Power; or, Whats In A Name?
Tues., 7/06- Lorde & Keating essays
Thurs., 7/08-Lorde, Zami Chapters 1-11 One Page Response to Reading Due

Week Ten: A Rose By Any Other Name
Tues., 7/13- Lorde, Zami Chapters 12-22/ Research Papers Due
Thurs., 7/15- Lorde, Zami Chapters 23-Epilogue & Boykin essay One Page Response
to Reading Due

Week Eleven: Lights, Camera, Action !!!
Tues., 7/20- Odds and Ends
Thurs., 7/22- Final Paper Presentations/ In-Class Writing Exam

Week Twelve: Thats All Folk!!!
Tues.,. 7/27- Final Paper Presentations
Thurs., 7/29- Evaluations for you and me :-)
Fri., 7/30- Last Day to Drop Courses; Study Day