SYLLABUS FOR GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES: HISTORY AND LITERATURE OF AFRICA AND ASIA
Term: Fall, 2006 (20061)
Course Number: ENG 234X
Instructor: Dr. Valerie Pennanen
E-mail: finnfriends@att.net
Home Phone: (219) 937-0341
Office Hours: By appointment
Instructor Background: B.A., Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology and Ancient Greek (Bryn Mawr College); M.A. and Ph.D., Classical Art and Archaeology (The University of Michigan); teaching experience in classics, art history, art appreciation, liberal studies, and world literature.
Course Time: Monday, 7 – 10 P.M.
Course Description: This course traces the development and interconnections of major civilizations of Africa and Asia. It explores ancient and medieval empires, the influence of Islam, the effects of European colonization and the evolution of nations through modern times. This course utilizes primary texts and literary readings which reflect the cultural and historical activities of their times.
Learning Outcomes/ Competencies:
Students in this course will:
· Write a clear, well-organized academic essay that is reflective, analytic, evaluative
· Listen attentively to the opinions and ideas of teachers, authors, and leaders with an open but critical mind
· Analyze these ideas with careful and coherent observations, judgments, and communications
· Make careful analyses of academic ideas, papers, themes, positions, art forms, and the elements that contribute to their eminence
· Synthesize materials, ideas and themes
· Organize materials and ideas in a logical manner
Textbooks and Materials:
1) The Epic of Gilgamesh: The Babylonian Epic Poem and Other Texts in Akkadian and Sumerian, translated by Andrew George.
2) The Song of God: Bhagavad-Gita, translated by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood.
3) Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali, by Mamadou Kouyate, recorded by D.T. Niane and translated by G.D. Pickett.
4) Things Fall Apart: A Novel, by Chinua Achebe.
5) Course pack (to be handed out on the first night of class).
6) Your own notes (VERY important!).
7) Internet resources (NOTE: Links to these will be provided on the CCSJ Global Perspectives web page. Please note that when a literary reading is assigned on the Internet, it is your responsibility both to read it AND to bring a printout to class, just as you would bring a textbook.)
7) Additional textbooks available in Room 305 (multiple copies). These books may sometimes be used during a class session and may also be “checked out,” when necessary and with the instructor’s permission, for one week at a time.
Learning Strategies: Lectures, class discussions, individual research and writing projects.
Assessment:
Tests (3) 30% of grade
Homework Essays (4) 40% of grade
Term Paper 20% of grade
Class Participation 10% of grade
Class Policy for Assignments: If a student misses a test, he/she must contact the instructor within 48 hours to arrange for a makeup. The 48-hour rule also applies to a missed homework deadline. Make-ups and extensions will be granted ONLY in case of illness or family emergency. PLEASE NOTE THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO ACCEPT ANY LATE TERM PAPERS.
Grading Scale:
A: 93-100 A-: 90-92 B+: 87-89 B: 82-86 B-: 80-82 C+: 77-79
C: 72-76 C-: 70-72 D+: 67-69 D: 62-66 D-: 60-62 F: 59 & below
Class Policy on Attendance: Regular attendance is crucial to your success in this class. If you miss more than nine (9) hours of class, you will automatically receive a failing grade.
Class Policy on Electronic Devices: If you feel that you absolutely must carry a cell phone, beeper or paging device, please speak with the instructor before class.
Class Participation: As noted above, class participation counts for 10% of your class grade. To receive an “A” in class participation, you need to:
§ Attend class regularly
§ Arrive promptly and stay the full length of each session (NOTE: There is a 15-minute break halfway through the evening; please make sure to be back in the classroom as soon as the 15 minutes are up)
§ Show genuine interest in the material
§ Ask thoughtful questions
§ Contribute intelligently to class discussions, especially on the closing night of class, when each student will be invited to share highlights of his / her term paper research
Classroom Decorum: Please be considerate and respectful towards your fellow students and towards the instructor. Any student who deliberately disrupts a class will be asked to leave and will be marked absent for the entire session.
Course Outline:
Class Dates: Topics/Assignments:
|
Session # 1 (August 28) |
Welcome and introduction. Overview of ancient Egypt. HOMEWORK: Review ancient Egypt, using class notes/ course pack and supplementary Internet materials; look at Internet resource on Mesopotamia; also, read The Epic of Gilgamesh, Standard Version (pp. 1-99), plus additional Gilgamesh texts on pp. 122-126, 149-161, and 166-175 of the Andrew George Gilgamesh volume. |
|
Session # 2 (September 11) |
Overview of ancient Mesopotamia. Discussion of Gilgamesh texts. HOMEWORK: Study for Test # 1. |
|
Session # 3 (September 18) |
TEST # 1. Introduction to India, including Hinduism and the teachings of the Buddha. HOMEWORK: Review ancient India, using class notes/ course pack and supplementary Internet materials on Buddhism; also, read The Song of God: Bhagavad-Gita. |
|
Session # 4 (September 25) |
India, continued. Discussion of the Bhagavad-Gita and Kalidasa’s Sakuntala and the Ring of Recollection (to be introduced in class). HOMEWORK: Study for Test # 2; also, skim The Book of Job (either online or in a traditional printed Bible, any translation). Please be sure to bring the Job text to our next class meeting. |
|
Session # 5 (October 2) |
TEST # 2. Overview of ancient Hebrew history. Discussion of The Book of Job. HOMEWORK: Prepare Essay # 1; also, please decide on your term paper topic. |
|
Session # 6 (October 9) |
ESSAY # 1 DUE; TERM PAPER TOPIC ALSO DUE. A look at the ancient Persian empires; some notes on Zoroastrianism. Introduction to China, including Confucianism and Daoism. HOMEWORK: Read selected poems of Li Po, as found online. Please make sure to bring a printout of these poems to our next class meeting. |
|
Session # 7 (October 16) |
China, continued. Some highlights of pre-modern Japan. (NOTE: A noh play will be read aloud in class.) HOMEWORK: Prepare Essay # 2; also, read the Koran, chapters 1 (Exordium), 4 (On Women), and 55 (On God’s Mercy), either online or from a book version of the Koran, any translation. Please make sure to bring the Koran texts to our next class meeting. |
|
Session # 8 (October 23) |
ESSAY # 2 DUE. Viewing and discussion of video, “Islam: Empire of Faith.” Discussion of the Koran. HOMEWORK: Read course pack, pp. 46 – 50 (“A Sampling of Traditional African Tales”) AND read Sundiata. |
|
Session # 9 (October 30) |
Early sub-Saharan Africa, the great African kingdoms, and highlights of Golden Age African culture. Discussion of Sundiata. HOMEWORK: Study for Test # 3. |
|
Session # 10 (November 6) |
TEST # 3. Overview of the great Mongol and Turkish empires. (NOTE: Some brief Persian literary texts will be introduced during this session, as will material on Sufism.) HOMEWORK: Read course pack, pp. 65 – 70 (“An Overview of Early Modern Africa” and “Africa in the Age of Western Imperialism”); also, read Things Fall Apart. |
|
Session 11 (November 13) |
Discussion of Things Fall Apart in its historical context. Viewing and discussion of video, “Through African Eyes.” HOMEWORK: Prepare Essay # 3; also, read course pack, pp. 72 – 84 (“Early Modern China,” “Some General Notes on Asian History in the Colonial [Early Modern] Period,” and “Highlights of Modern Asian and African History”). |
|
Session 12 (November 20) |
ESSAY # 3 DUE. Discussion of some key developments and events in 20th-century Africa and Asia. HOMEWORK: Prepare Essay # 4. |
|
Session 13 (November 27) |
ESSAY # 4 DUE. Highlights of modern African and Asian literature (selections to be read and discussed in class). HOMEWORK: Prepare term paper. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT EACH MEMBER OF THE CLASS WILL BE EXPECTED TO TAKE PART IN AN INFORMAL DISCUSSION NEXT WEEK. |
|
Session 14 (December 4) |
TERM PAPER DUE. CLOSING DISCUSSION, WITH REQUIRED PARTICIPATION BY ALL CLASS MEMBERS. |
Center for Academic Excellence:
Tutoring assistance is free to all students of Calumet College of St. Joseph. Call the Center for Academic Excellence (CAE), to make an appointment at 473-4287. The Center has experienced and well-trained tutors in most subject areas to help students who are struggling in a course or who are doing well and would like to do better. Regular weekly tutoring sessions are likely to improve your grade.
Statement of Plagiarism:
If an instructor or other Calumet College of St. Joseph personnel find that a student has plagiarized or been involved in another form of academic dishonesty, the instructor or other personnel may elect to bring the matter up for judicial review. The maximum penalty for any form of academic dishonesty is dismissal from the College. The procedures for judicial review are listed under the section of CCSJ handbook that addresses student grievances. (Academic Planner 2001/2002 p.27)
Citation Guidelines:
Calumet College of St. Joseph adheres to citation guidelines as prescribed by the particular discipline (i.e., MLA, APA, and Chicago Manual of Style or Turabian.). All of these guidelines are available in the Calumet College of St. Joseph library or bookstore. These texts outline how to cite references from a variety of sources, including electronic media.
Withdrawal from Classes Policy:
After the last day for class changes has passed (see College calendar), students may withdraw from a course in which they are registered with permission from the faculty member conducting the course. A written request detailing the reason(s) for the withdrawal must be filed with the Registrar. Written request for withdrawal must be received by the Registrar by the last day of classes prior to the final examination dates specified in the catalogue. Written requests may be mailed to the Registrar or faxed to the College fax number 219-473-4259. Students are to make note of the refund schedule when withdrawing from courses. The request is forwarded to the faculty member, who makes the final determination to accept or deny the request. If the request is honored, the student will receive notification of official withdrawal; if denied, the notification will indicate why the withdrawal is disallowed. Note: Degree Completion Division (DCD) students should consult the DCD Student Handbook for information on DCD withdrawals.
An official withdrawal is recorded as a "W" grade on the student's transcript. Dropping a course without written permission automatically incurs an "F" grade for the course (see Refund Schedule).