English Department Banner English Home Course DescriptionsCourse SyllabiStudent ResourcesOakton Home Page
ENGLISH 227 GENERIC COURSE SYLLABUS
             
I.
Course Prefix
Course No.
Course Name
Credit
Lecture
Lab
 
EGL
227
Introduction to Native American Literature
3
3
0
             
II. Prerequisite:
   
  EGL 101 or placement into 101
   
III. Course (Catalog) Description:
   
 

Course introduces fiction, poetry, and drama by Native American writers from eighteenth through twentieth centuries. Content includes social, cultural, historical, and literary contexts, as well as terminology and methods of literary analysis and evaluation.
   
IV. Learning Objectives:
   
  The student will be able to:
 
  1. Demonstrate knowledge of selected major texts and writers of the Native American literary tradition.
  2. Analyze narrative, dramatic, and poetic elements, such as character, action, theme, structure, conflict, point of view, irony, symbolism, mood, tone, setting, style, speaker, figures of speech, diction, meter, and rhyme.
  3. Trace the development of a distinct Native American literary tradition in the U.S.
  4. Discuss social, intellectual, and historical influences specific to the development of Native American literature.
  5. Demonstrate critical skills and standards to evaluate individual works.
V. 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:
 

Some of the key events in the Native American history and cultures of the 19th and 20th centuries are contextualized in the following works of fiction and drama, as ordered below:

  • Fools Crow – Welch
  • Tracks – Edrich
  • House Made of Dawn – Momaday

Or

  • Ceremony – Silko
  • The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven – Alexie
  • Harold of Orange: A Screenplay – Vizenor

Much of the selected poetry will reflect cultural information and attitudes. Students will read works by poets, such as the following:

  • Paula Gunn Allen
  • Wendy Rose
  • Linda Hogan
  • Louise Erdrich
  • Joy Harjo
  • Sherman Alexie
  • Simon Ortiz
  • James Welch
  • Peter Blue Cloud.

Poems may be selected to accompany the longer works – especially when the poetry, fiction, and drama intersect in theme.
   
VII. Methods of Instruction:
  Primarily lecture and discussion of reading assignments. 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 Native American writers. Films, audiovisual materials and/or guest lectures may be used when appropriate.

Suggested anthologies:

Nothing But the Truth, Purdy and Ruppert, Prentice - Hall, 2001.
Native American Literature, Gerald Vizenor, Harper, 1995.
   
X. 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

For whatever information/procedures the instructor holds the student accountable.

If 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