English 102 5604 (35945) Writing Through Literature: The Power of Latinx Voices
Course meets on: Fridays at 5:45-9:05 PM
Room: E Building E-107
Instructor: Rojo Robles
Office Hours: Before or after class and by appointment
Email: rroblesmejias@lagcc.cuny.edu
Course Site URL: http://archive.cunyhumanitiesalliance.org/powerfuerza
Course Description: “Writing Through Literature: The Power of Latinx Voices” will explore the resistance of Latino communities in the United States to the politics of abandonment. Through the study of three literary genres: drama, short story, and poetry, we will see how writers unmask and propose solutions to social struggles. We will also analyze how they establish or contradict notions of identity, gender, and race. Along with them, we will reflect on our writing on the awareness, style and analytical expression of those hold down by mainstream culture. Formally, this course extends and intensifies the skills you have learned in Composition I, including process-based writing, research methods, MLA citation, and online dialogue. You will learn close-reading techniques to develop your critical thinking and writing skills further.
Readings: All texts will be available as PDF documents on Blackboard and our course site.
Attendance: Being present in a broad sense is a must. You are responsible for all material presented in class. If absent, you can follow the course and catch up on the English 102 blog: Power Fuerza. Be aware that more than two absences will affect your grade. If you have trouble accessing the Internet on a regular basis, please let me know as soon as possible, and I will make sure you get access to the materials. I’m available to discuss options if a personal or health situation arises. Communicate your needs.
Additionally, if any factors you cannot control -family safety in the midst of changing immigration policies, etc. – are interfering with your ability to benefit from this class experience, know that there are many resources available.
Free and confidential immigration assistance is available through CUNY Citizenship Now, linked here: http://www1.cuny.edu/sites/citizenship-now/ and CUNY CLEAR, linked here: http://www.cunyclear.org
Evaluation: There will be two major research essays. Each research essay is worth 30 % (20% First Version + 10% Revisions) of the course grade. The remaining 40% will derive from a weekly online dialogue 20% and two short response papers 20% (300 words).
All written assignments, including the online dialogue, must be finished to complete this course.
Be honest about your academic writing:
Writing in college means taking part in a conversation with other scholars, writers, and thinkers. By using academic citation, you demonstrate the relationship between your ideas and those of others. On the other hand, plagiarism is the failure to prove that relationship. I want to hear your voices and read the ways you get involved in the dialogue. Part of your academic experience is to enter these conversations by learning different ways to engage with sources.
The Writing Center
Be aware of the resources available at the Writing Center for help with the content, grammar, and sentence structure. Making good use of this has the potential to improve your writing and modify your experience in class. The Center is in Room B-200, Office hours are Monday –Thursday 9:15am – 3:15pm, 4:30-9:00pm and Friday: 9:15am-2:00pm, 4:30-9:00pm. http://www.lagcc.cuny.edu/Writing-Center/Schedule/
Class Etiquette: Smart Phones, laptops, and tablets are not to be used during class time (unless specified by me during a particular group/individualized exercise). Use of any or all of the above during lecture/discussion time will adversely affect your participation grade. Please arrange with family members/work supervisors your full commitment to this class. Thank you!
Calendar:
3/2 Introduction to the course
Jeff Chang: “The Bronx and the Politics of Abandonment” (Excerpts)
Theater
3/9
Pedro Pietri: The Masses Are Asses (1-27)
3/16
Pedro Pietri: The Masses Are Asses (28-55)
3/23
Pedro Pietri: The Masses Are Asses (56-79)
*First Response Paper is due.
Short Stories
4/13
Junot Díaz: “Aguantando” & “Watching Spider-man in Santo Domingo”
4/20
Junot Díaz: “Fiesta, 1980”
4/27
Junot Díaz: “How to Date a Browngirl, Blackgirl, Whitegirl or Halfie” & “Alma”
Poetry
5/4 *Double Session
Aurora Levins Morales: “Child of the Americas”
María Teresa ‘Mariposa’ Fernández: “Ode to the DispoRican”
Elizabeth Acevedo: “Afro-Latina”
Denise Frohman: “Accents”
Mayda del Valle: “Mami is Making Mambo”
Kristiana Colón: “a remix for remembrance.”
*First research essay is due.
5/11
Melissa Lozada-Oliva (Selection of poems from Peluda)
5/18
Revisions are due (by email)
*No class. Prof. Robles is at an academic event at the Graduate Center
5/25
Julia de Burgos: “Río Grande de Loíza”
Cristina Pérez Díaz (Selection of poems + visit)
*Second Response Paper is due.
6/1
Workshop: Drafting the Second Research Essay
6/8
*Second Research Essay is due (by email).