EGL 226

ENGLISH 226 GENERIC COURSE SYLLABUS


I.	Course Prefix	Course No.	Course Name	Credit	Lecture	Lab
	EGL	226	African-American Literature	3	3	0

II.

Prerequisite:

EGL 101 or placement into 101

III.

Course (Catalog) Description:

Course introduces fiction, poetry, and drama by African-American writers from eighteenth through twentieth centuries. Content includes social, cultural, historical, and literary contexts; comparable themes in popular culture; terminology and methods of literary analysis and evaluation.

IV.

Learning Objectives:

The student will be able to:

A.	Demonstrate knowledge of the major texts and periods in African-American literature, such as slave narratives, the Harlem Renaissance, and Black Arts Movement.
B.	Demonstrate an awareness of the complexities of gender, nationality, and class in the African-American literary tradition.
C.	Discuss social, intellectual and historical influences specific to the development of African-American literature.
D.	Trace the development of a distinct African-American literary tradition in America.
E.	Demonstrate critical skills and knowledge of literary conventions used to evaluate works of fiction, poetry and drama.

Academic Integrity:

Students and employees at Oakton Community College are required to demonstrate academic integrity and follow Oakton’s Code of Academic Conduct. This code prohibits:

• cheating,
• plagiarism (turning in work not written by you, or lacking proper citation),
• falsification and fabrication (lying or distorting the truth),
• helping others to cheat,
• unauthorized changes on official documents,
• pretending to be someone else or having someone else pretend to be you,
• making or accepting bribes, special favors, or threats, and
• any other behavior that violates academic integrity.

There are serious consequences to violations of the academic integrity policy. Oakton’s policies and procedures provide students a fair hearing if a complaint is made against you. If you are found to have violated the policy, the minimum penalty is failure on the assignment and, a disciplinary record will be established and kept on file in the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs for a period of 3 years.

Details of the Code of Academic Conduct can be found in the Student Handbook.

VI.

Sequence of Topics:

Readings may be organized thematically or chronologically. In either case, the major works and periods will be covered.

Sample outline by chronology:

Week 1-2: The Colonial Period
Introduction to course and course syllabus; oral traditions
Wheatley, Equiano

Weeks 3-5: Antebellum and Postbellum Literature
Douglass, Jacobs, Dunbar, Chesnutt, Washington,

Weeks 6 -8: Harlem Renaissance
Du Bois, McKay, Cullen, Hughes, Larsen, Hurston, Toomer

Weeks 9-11: Protest Literature
Wright, Baldwin

Weeks 12-13:Black Arts Movement
Baraka, Sanchez, Giovanni

Weeks 13-15: Black Women’s Literary Renaissance
Lorde, Walker, Morrison

Weeks 12-13:Black Arts Movement
Baraka, Sanchez, Giovanni

Weeks 13-15: Black Women’s Literary Renaissance
Lorde, Walker, Morrison

Sample outline by themes:

Week 1
Introduction to course and course objectives; oral traditions

Week 2-5 Slavery and Freedom
Wheatley, Equiano, Jacobs, Douglass, Washington

Weeks 6-11 Double Consciousness and the African-American Experience
DuBois, Johnson, Larsen, Ellison

Week 12-16 Race, Class, Gender and Sexuality
Baldwin, Wright, Walker, Morrison

VII.

Methods of Instruction:

Primarily lecture and discussion of reading assignments and context. Guest speakers, films, and audio-visual materials may be used when appropriate

VIII.

Course Practices Required:

Class will consist of lecture on and discussion of required reading assignments. Written work will include a midterm and final exam and formal essay assignments totaling 10-15 typed pages. Quizzes, group projects and/or oral assignments may also be given.

IX.

Instructional Materials:

Novels, short stories, poetry and/or drama by women writers. Films, audiovisual materials and/or guest lectures may be used when appropriate.

Suggested anthology: The Norton Anthology of African-American Literature

Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:

In addition to exams and written/oral assignments, students will be evaluated on their active and prepared participation in class discussions and other projects.

XI.

Other Course Information:

Attendance policy

f you have a documented learning, psychological, or physical disability you may be entitled to reasonable academic accommodations or services. To request accommodations or services, contact the ASSIST office in Instructional Support Services. All students are expected to fulfill essential course requirements. The College will not waive any essential skill or requirement of a course or degree program.

June 2006