Course Syllabus

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LITT 2306: Cultures of Colonialism

Instructor: Dr. Adeline Koh     Tel: 609-626-6845

Email: Adeline.Koh@stockton.edu     Office: K-125

Consultation Hours: By email or appointment

 

 

Course Description:

This class introduces students to works by postcolonial writers around the world. Postcolonial literature is a body of writing that responds to the intellectual and social history of colonialism around the globe. Many writers deal with issues such as the power and perniciousness of stereotypes in terms of race, gender and sexuality, along with many other issues.

 

The two essential goals for this class are for students to:

  • Gain a broader understanding and appreciation of intellectual/cultural activity (music, science, literature, etc.)
  • Develop skill in expressing oneself orally or in writing

 

Course Texts

Videos

  1. Chimamande Adichie, The Danger of a Single Story

 

Books

  1. Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart
  2. Jamaica Kincaid, A Small Place
  3. Chimamande Adichie, Americanah
  4. Marjane Satrapi, The Complete Persepolis

 

 

Course Policies

  • No credit will be given for daily assignments that are late (critical questions homework, discussions, revised critical questions). For the major assignments (Final Paper/Project): late submissions for scaffolding assignments (to edge you towards the final assignment) will not be accepted. For the final assignments themselves, your grade will go down by 1/3rd of a letter grade for every day that it is late (For example, a B paper that is two days late will become a C+ paper.)
  • Please expect a turn around time of one to two business days if you email Professor Koh.
  • Refer to the Stockton policy and procedures on Academic Dishonesty for how plagiarism and related issues will be dealt with in this course here.
  • Students with disabilities should work directly with the Learning Access Program and communicate their needs with me directly.

 

 

Grading Breakdown

Critical Questions Homework: 15%

Critical Questions Discussion: 20%

Revised Critical Questions: 35%

Final Paper/Project: 30%

 

Assignments

Critical Questions Homework: With the exception of the first week of class, you will answer the critical questions as a homework assignment. Questions will be based on assigned readings or films/videos. These questions are intended to help you read critically about Internet space as intellectual/cultural activity (Course Goal #1) and to develop skill in expressing yourself in writing (Course Goal #2). These initial answers are due on the discussion board by Monday at 8.00am, no exceptions. They are assessed based on completion.

Participation in Course Discussion: Because our course is online, participation in course discussion is a centerpiece of your course engagement. After you have submitted your critical homework questions, you will be responsible for participating in discussion with your small group. The primary topic of discussion will be the critical questions you previously submitted for homework. The discussion will give you the opportunity to reflect on your responses to the critical questions and to further develop your perspectives on the texts. You must post two follow up comments to the discussion sections by Wednesday at 8.00am to receive credit. Participation is assessed according to a participation grading rubric which will be provided to you.

Revised Critical Questions. After you have participated in course discussion, you will revise your initial answers to critical questions before submitting them once more. You should make your revisions to your original document using a different color font. Using a different color will allow you and me to see how your interpretations of the text have developed based on the discussion. Revised critical questions answers are due on Friday by 8.00am. These revised questions will be assessed according to a grading rubric which will be provided to you. 

Final Paper/Project: Instructions to come closer to the date.

 

 

Class Schedule/Agenda

 

Week 1 (July 1-3): Introductions

              Due—How does this course work? Quiz.

 

Week 2 (July 6-10): “The Danger of a Single Story” and Things Fall Apart

 

Week 3 (July 13-17) A Small Place

 

Week 4 (July 20-24) Americanah

 

Week 5 (July 27-31) Americanah

 

Week 6 (Aug 3-7) Persepolis I and II

 

Week 7 (Aug 10-11) Final Paper due

Course Summary:

Course Summary
Date Details Due