See California Cultural Analysis
Research
Paper Guidelines! (Your Semester Project)
Instructor: Marilyn I. Cannon email: cannon@sonoma.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Students practice the skills of reading and thinking critically, of expository writing, and of oral expression as they reflect together on the role of California's literary history in the shaping of contemporary California culture, environmental attitudes, and other issues that affect and change our daily lives. As they read and discuss the semester's topic areas, students will also learn the principles and skills of creative and critical thinking and effective speaking and writing. Satisfies GE Category A1 (Written and Oral Analysis).
Prerequisites: completion of GE Categories A2 and A3.
TOPICS AND SKILLS EMPHASIS:
Students are introduced to the demands of living in a multicultural society such as California, as well as to the communication skills needed to develop cross-ethnic and cross-cultural perspectives, addressing problems of cultural and ethnic differences, conflict, consensus and compromise. Students are also introduced to skills that foster public debate and thus public culture. Major issues treated will be class: ethnicity, environment, regional and cultural identity, assimilation, separation, minority status, marginalization, racism, tolerance and intercultural communication.
Lectures, small group and plenary discussions, and debate will all be a part of this course. Students are expected to develop written analyses and make oral presentations.
Lecture topics and discussions will center around the assigned readings.
Required Books: (available at NorthLight Books in Cotati)
Merchant, Carolyn (Ed.) 1998. Green vs Gold: Sources in California's Environmental History. Island Press, Washington, D.C., 489 pp.
Gilbar, Steven (Ed.) . 1998.
Natural State: A Literary Anthology of California Nature
Writing.
U.C. Press, Berkeley, 377 pp.
Davis, Mike. The Ecology of Fear., Vintage Books, New York, 484 pp.
Yogi, Stan (Ed.) 1996.
Highway 99: A Literary Journey through California's Great
Central Valley.
Heydey Books, Berkeley, 428 pp.
Recommended:
Bulosan, Carlos. 1943, 1986. America is in the Heart. Univ. Washington Press, Seattle, 327 pp.
Mas Masumoto, David. 1998. Harvest Son. W.W. Norton & Co., New York, 302 pp.
Assignments:
Response papers (weekly 1-2
pages) 20% Take-home Midterm
#1 20% Take-home Midterm
#2 20% Term paper or project /
Final exam 25% Attendance and
Participation 15%
Grading Scale:
90 - 100 % A 80 - 89 % B 70 - 79 % C 60 - 69 % D
Students who wish to be graded in
a non-traditional mode (CR/NC, credit/ no credit) must file a "
change of program" form indicating that grading choice at the Office
of Admissions and Records.
CR will be assigned for an earned grade of C- or better.
Attendance: It is expected that you attend every class period.
No late examinations will be given without a written medical excuse or prior arrangements with the instructor.
Responses (not summaries) to topics, themes and issues raised in readings, lectures, discussion, films, etc. All response papers will be graded as Satisfactory+, Satisfactory, Satisfactory- or UnSatisfactory. An "UnS" means that no credit is given and you must rewrite to receive any credit for that assignment. A minimum of 10 response papers must be submitted and receive a passing grade in order for you to pass the course, either as CR/NC or for a letter grade.
1. Read assigned readings before you come to class.
2. Attend every class period
3. Take charge of your own learning.
4. Be alert and take good notes. Go over your notes after class and make extra notes from your reading.
5. Consider getting together with other students outside of class to discuss the material and study for exams.
Writing tutors are also available in the Writing Center in the Village.
Above all, determine to do your very best this semester!
Go to our Eng. 200 Course Schedule
Marilyn Cannon, April 10, 2002