The Unhuman
Science, Technology, and Magic in Asian American Literature
Asian American Studies r2a:
Reading and Composition
Fall 2013
Instructor:
Margaret Rhee
[email protected]
OH: Thursdays 3 - 4
GSI:
Kira Donnell
[email protected]
Meetings:
Lecture meets Tuesdays and Thursdays 930-11A, 118 Barrows
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In “The Unhuman: Science, Technology, and Magic in Asian American Literature,” we will engage with Asian American Literature through a collective investigation and experiment: Who is human? What boundaries separate animals from machines from humans? What or who is the unhuman? Who gets to decide? What does the designation of Asian American have to do with it? This semester, we ask you to trace the boundaries between human, robot, and animal within American American Literature. By doing so, we aim to develop our critical thinking, writing, and research skills through close engagement with literary texts. In addition to developing our analytical writing and reading skills, we will have an opportunity to nurture our creative writing interests as well. In our study of literary texts, we will discuss the similarities, differences, or complications (perhaps the most interesting slippage) we may find in-between texts. As an Asian American Studies course, we hope to historicize, contextualize, and politicize concepts such as “Asian American.” In doing so, we hope to take care and responsibility in the construction of categories through our own writing, creating, and questioning.
More than anything, this course is devoted to your analytical writing, so there will be a strong emphasis on learning to identify essay topics that interest you. You will write extensively in order to give power to your voice through the written word. You will spend a great deal of time reading and revising student work with considerable attention to the mechanics of argumentative prose. To this end, you will learn how to analyze, with care and precision, such varied forms of literature such as short stories, poems, and novels.
REQUIRED TEXTS
Our class is organized by sections with corresponding themes:
Introduction:
articles by Chang Rae Lee (B - space)
Essay by Andrew Lam (B - space)
Periodicity by Iris Law (Finishing Line Press, 2013)
Science: Machine/Human/Animal
Automaton Biographies by Larissa Lai (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2010)
Boy Genius by Young Soo Park (Akashic, 2002)
Technology - Digital Mixed Race
Yes, Bay Area by Lyrics Born (Mobile Home Recordings, LLC, 2012) Eastwind ebook
Special Issue of Asian American Literary Review (2013)
How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu (Vintage, 2010)
Magic - Creatures, Myths, and Spells
Diwata by Barbara Jane Reyes (Boa, 2010)
Calcutta Chromosome by Amitav Ghosh (Harper Perennial, 1995)
These themes are simply starting points as we begin to engage with the texts. I welcome and encourage your generative perspectives that can add to, and perhaps, deter us from these stated themes.
All books can be purchased from Eastwind Books, 2066 University Avenue, Tel: 548 – 2350; Readings are also available at the Ethnic Studies library/30 Stephens Hall, Tel: 643 – 1234.
Eastwind Books is an independent Asian American bookstore in Berkeley. I encourage you to buy all your texts at the store to support a vital space for Asian American literature. If you buy at least 2 of the required books from East Wind and provide a 1⁄2 page response on your observations with receipt, you will receive 2 points extra credit.
ADDITIONAL REQUIRED READINGS
There will be required readings on B Space. All participants in the course will be responsible to print out readings and bring to class for discussion, lecture, and group presentations.
We will be posting selections from Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott (Anchor Books, 1994) to help with our meditation with writing. You are not required to purchase Line by Line or Bird by Bird.
REQUIREMENTS:
Narrative Essay: 5%
Papers:(2 @ 15%) 30%
Final paper: 20%
Creative Portfolio: 5%
Group Presentation: 10%
Participation: 15 % (10% for Discussion Section, 5% for lecture attendance, questions for quest speakers, quizzes, morsels, daily robots, free writes, blog posts)
Short Responses: (6 @ 2.5%) 15%
CREATIVE PORTFOLIO
In addition to analytical writing, our class will engage with the practice of creative writing and media making—poetry, memoir, fiction, new media, video—to help strengthen our expression and voice. We will have an opportunity to have a short creative writing/media making workshop related to our texts as well. The final portfolio is due at the end of the semester and will be 5% of your grade. The Creative Portfolio should consist of 3 – 5 pages of creative work or 3 – 5 minutes of video. You will turn in a proposal on your creative portfolio and requirements are open. The portfolio will be graded upon effort and engagement. Our class will devote time to workshop our final projects, which will be displayed within an online gallery at the end of the semester.
EAT THIS POEM: A MORSEL OF POETRY and PATRON POETS
Every class will begin with a morsel of poetry. What is a morsel? As a practice of engaging with literature, one student will provide a casual reading (memorized or not memorized) of an Asian American poem. These poems will be assigned. Please open your folder to find your patron poet. Who do you have? Your patron poets are provided to you as they will watch over you this summer session. For your morsel, please prepare to read the poem for the class. In addition, please look up biographical information of the poet and provide a brief analysis of the poem as well. You will also provide a writing prompt based on your poem and post on our class blog and share with the course on your presentation day. These short presentations are meant to be casual, intimate, and pleasurable. Any questions? Please let us know.
DAILY ROBOT, PATRON ROBOT
Every class will begin with a daily robot presentation as well. Please open your folder for your patron robot. Who do you have? Share with the class. For your robot presentations, you will provide a brief history of your robot. When was it made? Why? You will describe the robot, provide an image (please prepare a simple powerpoint or bring your photo to share), and your thoughts on what is interesting about the robot. What does it tell you about the boundaries of human/machine? What does it tell you about the boundaries of Asian/American? What does it teach us about being human? Create a writing prompt inspired by your daily robot to share with the class. Please post on the blog for full credit.
JOURNAL
Following our morsel of poetry and daily robot, we will engage with journal writing every class session. Please buy a notebook or loose-leaf paper for your journal writing. You will be given a prompt but will be free to write anything you desire.
Asian American Literary Review Digital Mixed Race Project and Films
To help our learning we will be watching excerpts from the films Blade Runner and Robot Stories. We will also be watching episodes of Battlestar Galatica and other Asian American films. Upon watching the films, your presenting group will be responsible for group or individual fan fiction and re-mixes of the particular film/video. More information forthcoming.
Our class will be participating in a special pedagogy project with the Asian American Literary Review. As writers, I will ask you to participate in this special project during the second unit of our course. More information forthcoming.
EXTRA CREDIT EVENTS
Throughout the semester, there are many literary events you can attend for extra credit. After each event, I ask you to write an informal 1 page double spaced response to the event. Each extra credit response will be worth .5 points, with up to 1 point possible (2 events) for the entire semester. All events must be approved so please do check in with Kira or Margaret on interested events. We encourage you all to make plans to attend together. It is our hope we can create a community of active writers engaged with Asian American and Ethnic literary arts and culture.
PAPER CONFERENCES
For the first two papers, we will discuss your first draft in 15 minute conferences and your second draft will be peer-edited. A sign up sheet will be available the week before Conferences. Your final revised essay will receive comments and a grade. Your grade will be based on your most recent revision. You must include all peer-edited copies of your essay as well your peer feedback sheets (the ones about your work, not the ones you complete for others) with your final draft, so please keep track of all your drafts. Peer feedback will be noted in your participation grade.
Paper format: Typewritten, double-spaced, 12- point font, 1-inch margins, MLA format, 4 -5 pages. Your final paper will be 5 – 6 pages.
PEER EDITING
Students are responsible for giving group members copies of their completed drafts before class peer editing sessions. Students will read and comment on drafts before coming to class. Class time will be used for discussing comments. Students will critique each other’s papers with written comments on the draft and a completed peer editing sheet. All students will complete a Cover sheet for each draft of their work to be edited and include it with their essay when they give them to group members. All students will also complete a peer-editing response worksheet for each peer essay they edit. Master copies of all worksheets can be found on B space. Students are responsible for photocopying, re-typing, or reproducing all necessary peer editing and cover worksheets. All peer editing sheets and marked up drafts must be turned in with your final paper copy. Your editors will not receive credit for peer editing if you do not include their comment sheets and marked drafts.
GROUP PRESENTATION
The class will be divided into six groups with each group presenting on one of the five key texts. Your presentation must present an argument about the text, handout, and should be aprx. 45 minutes and will be graded by the instructor, GSI, and the class. You’re encouraged to explore creative presentation methods. Previous groups have made videos, web pages, performed skits or talk shows. Your handout should state and explain your group’s thesis statement (the argument you are making about the text) with specific examples from the text and should include discussion questions for the class.
- Your group is also responsible for starting a wikipedia page on your corresponding book and/or author. Your group will lead this effort with class members contributing to the wikipedia as well.
*If your group presents, you are exempt from Blog Post assignments.
SHORT RESPONSES
You will turn in a short response for each text beginning in Week 2. The brief interpretation will be one page long consisting of two questions, an overall theme, a small passage or quotation and at least a 10-sentence paragraph following the passage/quotation of close textual analysis, which we will learn to do in class. You will need to incorporate specific examples— quotations—from your passage into your interpretation. The point of the short response is to get you thinking about topics for class discussion and your group presentation, as well as initializing thoughts/interests that might become part of your essay. Most importantly, short response will help you develop the skill of learning how to pull quotations/passages from the book in order to support your claims with close textual analysis. See sample uploaded on B space and in your reader.
PARTICIPATION
Includes daily attendance, questions for quest speakers, poetry morsels, daily robot, free writes, blog posts, group forum, and participation in class.
ATTENDANCE
You are allowed 2 excused and unexcused absences. In both cases, it is your responsibility to make up any work missed. Any more absences will affect your attendance and participation grade. If you have an excused absence (medical, emergency), please notify Kira and Margaret in advance and you will be requested to submit appropriate official documentation. If you miss more than 3 classes, you may opt to drop the course. Incompletes will only be given if you have attended the majority of class sessions. Attendance will be taken everyday.
CLASS BLOG
Every week by Monday 8 pm, you will provide one short entry in conversation with your peers on the books, readings, and guest speakers etc. It can be a photograph, a letter, or a poem you wrote! A video you saw! The class blog post will be tabulated at the end of the semester and included within your class participation points.
FINAL CELEBRATION READING & PARTY
Our final class will be a reading and potluck party. At this reading/celebration I ask you to share your creative and/or critical works. There will be refreshments provided and we will have the opportunity to invite our guest speakers, ES community, and friends as well. Our last session may be held in the Berkeley Center for New Media Commons Room depending on location/time. The event is intended to be a celebration of all your engagement and hard work through the summer session.
CLASS POLICIES
1) All reading is to be completed by the day of open discussions. Quizzes will be given at random.
2) The late penalty for papers is 1/3 of a grade off (e.g. from B to B-) for every day late. Since this is an intensive course it is strongly recommended that you keep up with the work or ask for support.
3) Student papers may be used, in full or in part, for group editing, whether in the current semester or in later semesters. The writer’s name will be deleted. If you feel that a paper is too personal to be read by anyone other than the grader, indicate “No group editing” on the first page. Remember that learning to edit and revise is an integral part of learning to write.
4) No email essays will be accepted. Hard copies only.
5) Plagiarism will be severely penalized. Plagiarism on one assignment may result in an F for the entire course. University guidelines on dealing with plagiarism will be followed. If you are not sure what constitutes plagiarism, check with the instructor before you turn in the work
Late Policy – We will collectively decide upon this in class.
COURSE SCHEDULE (subject to change)
Readings also include selected relevant essays in B space and handouts
Th 8/29
In class: Syllabus, Introductions, read Joseph Legaspi's poem, patron poets/daily robots, robot making activity
Assignment: Zinser reading, read Chang Rae Lee’s “Magical Dinners,” purchase Periodicity (and all texts) and begin reading
Due: robot (in-class)
Tuesday 9/02
In class: Morsel: Read Iris Law poem, Review Zinser reading; discuss “Magical Dinners;” Practice short response activity; Watch A Single Story, Presentation sign-ups
Assignment: Read 1/2 of Periodicity and essay by Andrew Lam, Print and read model Narrative essay #1 and #2
Due: "Magical Dinners," practice short response (in class)
Thursday 9/5:
In class: Discussion of essay by Andrew Lam, Read Model Narrative essay #1 and #2 discuss; Periodicity (How to Read This Poem Activity);
Assignment: Finish Periodicity and prepare 2 questions for Iris Law's skype guest speaking, print and read model narrative essay #2, draft Narrative Essay
Due: Periodicity, print and read Model Narrative essay #1, Law or Lam practice short response
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Tuesday 9/10:
In class: Iris Law Skype date (15 minutes), Watch Blade Runner, begin discussion of Automaton Biographies, Magic-Technology-Science definitions activity, Free-write Narrative Essay
Assignment: start and complete 1/2 Automaton Biographies
Due:
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Thursday 9/12:
In class: Automaton Biographies Lecture and quiz (short response activity)
Assignment: Prepare questions for Larissa Lai, Draft Narrative Essay
Due: 1/2 Automaton Biographies
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Tuesday 9/17:
In class: unconference Automaton Biographies
Assignment: Start Boy Genius
Due: Complete Automaton Biographies
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Thursday 9/19:
In class: Automaton Biographies Discussion + Boy Genius Introduction
Assignment: Boy Genius short response
Due: Automaton Biographies short response
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Tuesday 9/24:
In class: Boy Genius Lecture
Assignment: Complete all of Boy Genius
Due: Boy Genius short response due, Complete Boy Genius, Narrative Essay due
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Th 9/26:
In class: Boy Genius open discussion activity (themes + characters + artifacts) * sign up for next week conferences*
Assignment: Print and read model critical essay #1 #2 and #3, Print and bring rubrics (located at B Space)
Bring draft thesis statement to class on 10/1, purchase AALR and Yes, Bay Area by 10/2
Due:
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Section Two
Paper Draft Due in Conferences
Tuesday 10/1
In class: Boy Genius Presentation, Review model essays #1, #2, #3
Assignment: Chose 3 articles from AALR, start Twitter poetry project and wikipedia entry
Due: Draft thesis due in class, Draft essay due in conference,
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Thursday 10/3
In class: Open Discussion on Yes, Bay Area and AALR and draft thesis workshop + possible guest lecturer Alex Luu
Assignment: Read AALR Assignment; Paper One due Thursday 10/10
Due: Short Response AALR and Yes, Bay Area
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Tuesday 10/8:
In class: Peer-editing *bring rubrics and draft essays to class*
Assignment: Essay due Thursday 10/9: Read AALR articles 4 ,5.
Due:
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Thursday 10/10:
In class: AALR Project Lecture + Guest Speaker Alex Luu
Assignment: Start How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe
Due: ***Paper One due***
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Tuesday 10/15:
In class: AALR Project Presentation
Assignment: Finish HTLSSF
Due: Short Response How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Thursday 10/17:
In class: How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe Open Discussion
Assignment:
Due:
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Conferences
Tuesday 10/22:
In class: How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe Lecture + Open Discussion
Assignment: Print model essay
Due:
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Lecture/Discussion
Th 10/24:
In class: How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe Presentation
Assignment: Essay two due 11/7; start Diwata
Due: Print out model essay by Tuesday 10/29 class (Will be uploaded by Sunday)
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
*Conferences Begin Nov 1st*
Tuesday 10/29
In class: Essay 1 Review + Alex Luu's Three Lives/HTLSFU Review (Get back essays)
Assignment: Essay two due 11/7; continue reading Diwata; draft thesis + outline
Due: wikipedia reference
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
T 10/31:
In class: thesis workshop + Saving Face
Assignment: Prepare for peer editing; continue reading Diwata, short response due 11/5
Due: draft thesis + outline due
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
* Conferences *
Tuesday 11/5:
In class: Peer editing
Assignment:
Due: Diwata Short response
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Thursday 11/7:
In class: DIWATA Lecture
Assignment: Prepare for Barbara Jane Reyes visit
Due: ***Essay 2****
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Tuesday 11/12
In class: Diwata Presentation
Assignment:
Due:
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Thursday 11/14
In class: Guest visit Barbara Jane Reyes
Assignment:
Due:
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Tuesday 11/19
In class: Calcutta Chromosome open discussion and lecture
Assignment:
Due:
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Thursday 11/21
In class: Please meet with your groups and create a collective google document. Send to margaret and kira by 11 am.
Assignment:
Due: Calcutta Chromosome Short Response
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Tuesday 11/26
In class: Calcutta Chromosome Presentation
Assignment:
Due:
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Tuesday 12/3
In class: Class celebration
Assignment:
Due: Creative Portfolio
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Thursday 12/5
In class: Reflection and final class
Assignment:
Due:
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
RRR Week
Monday, December 09 2013 -
Friday, December 13 2013
*Final Essay due Tuesday, December 17*
Science, Technology, and Magic in Asian American Literature
Asian American Studies r2a:
Reading and Composition
Fall 2013
Instructor:
Margaret Rhee
[email protected]
OH: Thursdays 3 - 4
GSI:
Kira Donnell
[email protected]
Meetings:
Lecture meets Tuesdays and Thursdays 930-11A, 118 Barrows
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In “The Unhuman: Science, Technology, and Magic in Asian American Literature,” we will engage with Asian American Literature through a collective investigation and experiment: Who is human? What boundaries separate animals from machines from humans? What or who is the unhuman? Who gets to decide? What does the designation of Asian American have to do with it? This semester, we ask you to trace the boundaries between human, robot, and animal within American American Literature. By doing so, we aim to develop our critical thinking, writing, and research skills through close engagement with literary texts. In addition to developing our analytical writing and reading skills, we will have an opportunity to nurture our creative writing interests as well. In our study of literary texts, we will discuss the similarities, differences, or complications (perhaps the most interesting slippage) we may find in-between texts. As an Asian American Studies course, we hope to historicize, contextualize, and politicize concepts such as “Asian American.” In doing so, we hope to take care and responsibility in the construction of categories through our own writing, creating, and questioning.
More than anything, this course is devoted to your analytical writing, so there will be a strong emphasis on learning to identify essay topics that interest you. You will write extensively in order to give power to your voice through the written word. You will spend a great deal of time reading and revising student work with considerable attention to the mechanics of argumentative prose. To this end, you will learn how to analyze, with care and precision, such varied forms of literature such as short stories, poems, and novels.
REQUIRED TEXTS
Our class is organized by sections with corresponding themes:
Introduction:
articles by Chang Rae Lee (B - space)
Essay by Andrew Lam (B - space)
Periodicity by Iris Law (Finishing Line Press, 2013)
Science: Machine/Human/Animal
Automaton Biographies by Larissa Lai (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2010)
Boy Genius by Young Soo Park (Akashic, 2002)
Technology - Digital Mixed Race
Yes, Bay Area by Lyrics Born (Mobile Home Recordings, LLC, 2012) Eastwind ebook
Special Issue of Asian American Literary Review (2013)
How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu (Vintage, 2010)
Magic - Creatures, Myths, and Spells
Diwata by Barbara Jane Reyes (Boa, 2010)
Calcutta Chromosome by Amitav Ghosh (Harper Perennial, 1995)
These themes are simply starting points as we begin to engage with the texts. I welcome and encourage your generative perspectives that can add to, and perhaps, deter us from these stated themes.
All books can be purchased from Eastwind Books, 2066 University Avenue, Tel: 548 – 2350; Readings are also available at the Ethnic Studies library/30 Stephens Hall, Tel: 643 – 1234.
Eastwind Books is an independent Asian American bookstore in Berkeley. I encourage you to buy all your texts at the store to support a vital space for Asian American literature. If you buy at least 2 of the required books from East Wind and provide a 1⁄2 page response on your observations with receipt, you will receive 2 points extra credit.
ADDITIONAL REQUIRED READINGS
There will be required readings on B Space. All participants in the course will be responsible to print out readings and bring to class for discussion, lecture, and group presentations.
We will be posting selections from Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott (Anchor Books, 1994) to help with our meditation with writing. You are not required to purchase Line by Line or Bird by Bird.
REQUIREMENTS:
Narrative Essay: 5%
Papers:(2 @ 15%) 30%
Final paper: 20%
Creative Portfolio: 5%
Group Presentation: 10%
Participation: 15 % (10% for Discussion Section, 5% for lecture attendance, questions for quest speakers, quizzes, morsels, daily robots, free writes, blog posts)
Short Responses: (6 @ 2.5%) 15%
CREATIVE PORTFOLIO
In addition to analytical writing, our class will engage with the practice of creative writing and media making—poetry, memoir, fiction, new media, video—to help strengthen our expression and voice. We will have an opportunity to have a short creative writing/media making workshop related to our texts as well. The final portfolio is due at the end of the semester and will be 5% of your grade. The Creative Portfolio should consist of 3 – 5 pages of creative work or 3 – 5 minutes of video. You will turn in a proposal on your creative portfolio and requirements are open. The portfolio will be graded upon effort and engagement. Our class will devote time to workshop our final projects, which will be displayed within an online gallery at the end of the semester.
EAT THIS POEM: A MORSEL OF POETRY and PATRON POETS
Every class will begin with a morsel of poetry. What is a morsel? As a practice of engaging with literature, one student will provide a casual reading (memorized or not memorized) of an Asian American poem. These poems will be assigned. Please open your folder to find your patron poet. Who do you have? Your patron poets are provided to you as they will watch over you this summer session. For your morsel, please prepare to read the poem for the class. In addition, please look up biographical information of the poet and provide a brief analysis of the poem as well. You will also provide a writing prompt based on your poem and post on our class blog and share with the course on your presentation day. These short presentations are meant to be casual, intimate, and pleasurable. Any questions? Please let us know.
DAILY ROBOT, PATRON ROBOT
Every class will begin with a daily robot presentation as well. Please open your folder for your patron robot. Who do you have? Share with the class. For your robot presentations, you will provide a brief history of your robot. When was it made? Why? You will describe the robot, provide an image (please prepare a simple powerpoint or bring your photo to share), and your thoughts on what is interesting about the robot. What does it tell you about the boundaries of human/machine? What does it tell you about the boundaries of Asian/American? What does it teach us about being human? Create a writing prompt inspired by your daily robot to share with the class. Please post on the blog for full credit.
JOURNAL
Following our morsel of poetry and daily robot, we will engage with journal writing every class session. Please buy a notebook or loose-leaf paper for your journal writing. You will be given a prompt but will be free to write anything you desire.
Asian American Literary Review Digital Mixed Race Project and Films
To help our learning we will be watching excerpts from the films Blade Runner and Robot Stories. We will also be watching episodes of Battlestar Galatica and other Asian American films. Upon watching the films, your presenting group will be responsible for group or individual fan fiction and re-mixes of the particular film/video. More information forthcoming.
Our class will be participating in a special pedagogy project with the Asian American Literary Review. As writers, I will ask you to participate in this special project during the second unit of our course. More information forthcoming.
EXTRA CREDIT EVENTS
Throughout the semester, there are many literary events you can attend for extra credit. After each event, I ask you to write an informal 1 page double spaced response to the event. Each extra credit response will be worth .5 points, with up to 1 point possible (2 events) for the entire semester. All events must be approved so please do check in with Kira or Margaret on interested events. We encourage you all to make plans to attend together. It is our hope we can create a community of active writers engaged with Asian American and Ethnic literary arts and culture.
PAPER CONFERENCES
For the first two papers, we will discuss your first draft in 15 minute conferences and your second draft will be peer-edited. A sign up sheet will be available the week before Conferences. Your final revised essay will receive comments and a grade. Your grade will be based on your most recent revision. You must include all peer-edited copies of your essay as well your peer feedback sheets (the ones about your work, not the ones you complete for others) with your final draft, so please keep track of all your drafts. Peer feedback will be noted in your participation grade.
Paper format: Typewritten, double-spaced, 12- point font, 1-inch margins, MLA format, 4 -5 pages. Your final paper will be 5 – 6 pages.
PEER EDITING
Students are responsible for giving group members copies of their completed drafts before class peer editing sessions. Students will read and comment on drafts before coming to class. Class time will be used for discussing comments. Students will critique each other’s papers with written comments on the draft and a completed peer editing sheet. All students will complete a Cover sheet for each draft of their work to be edited and include it with their essay when they give them to group members. All students will also complete a peer-editing response worksheet for each peer essay they edit. Master copies of all worksheets can be found on B space. Students are responsible for photocopying, re-typing, or reproducing all necessary peer editing and cover worksheets. All peer editing sheets and marked up drafts must be turned in with your final paper copy. Your editors will not receive credit for peer editing if you do not include their comment sheets and marked drafts.
GROUP PRESENTATION
The class will be divided into six groups with each group presenting on one of the five key texts. Your presentation must present an argument about the text, handout, and should be aprx. 45 minutes and will be graded by the instructor, GSI, and the class. You’re encouraged to explore creative presentation methods. Previous groups have made videos, web pages, performed skits or talk shows. Your handout should state and explain your group’s thesis statement (the argument you are making about the text) with specific examples from the text and should include discussion questions for the class.
- Your group is also responsible for starting a wikipedia page on your corresponding book and/or author. Your group will lead this effort with class members contributing to the wikipedia as well.
*If your group presents, you are exempt from Blog Post assignments.
SHORT RESPONSES
You will turn in a short response for each text beginning in Week 2. The brief interpretation will be one page long consisting of two questions, an overall theme, a small passage or quotation and at least a 10-sentence paragraph following the passage/quotation of close textual analysis, which we will learn to do in class. You will need to incorporate specific examples— quotations—from your passage into your interpretation. The point of the short response is to get you thinking about topics for class discussion and your group presentation, as well as initializing thoughts/interests that might become part of your essay. Most importantly, short response will help you develop the skill of learning how to pull quotations/passages from the book in order to support your claims with close textual analysis. See sample uploaded on B space and in your reader.
PARTICIPATION
Includes daily attendance, questions for quest speakers, poetry morsels, daily robot, free writes, blog posts, group forum, and participation in class.
ATTENDANCE
You are allowed 2 excused and unexcused absences. In both cases, it is your responsibility to make up any work missed. Any more absences will affect your attendance and participation grade. If you have an excused absence (medical, emergency), please notify Kira and Margaret in advance and you will be requested to submit appropriate official documentation. If you miss more than 3 classes, you may opt to drop the course. Incompletes will only be given if you have attended the majority of class sessions. Attendance will be taken everyday.
CLASS BLOG
Every week by Monday 8 pm, you will provide one short entry in conversation with your peers on the books, readings, and guest speakers etc. It can be a photograph, a letter, or a poem you wrote! A video you saw! The class blog post will be tabulated at the end of the semester and included within your class participation points.
FINAL CELEBRATION READING & PARTY
Our final class will be a reading and potluck party. At this reading/celebration I ask you to share your creative and/or critical works. There will be refreshments provided and we will have the opportunity to invite our guest speakers, ES community, and friends as well. Our last session may be held in the Berkeley Center for New Media Commons Room depending on location/time. The event is intended to be a celebration of all your engagement and hard work through the summer session.
CLASS POLICIES
1) All reading is to be completed by the day of open discussions. Quizzes will be given at random.
2) The late penalty for papers is 1/3 of a grade off (e.g. from B to B-) for every day late. Since this is an intensive course it is strongly recommended that you keep up with the work or ask for support.
3) Student papers may be used, in full or in part, for group editing, whether in the current semester or in later semesters. The writer’s name will be deleted. If you feel that a paper is too personal to be read by anyone other than the grader, indicate “No group editing” on the first page. Remember that learning to edit and revise is an integral part of learning to write.
4) No email essays will be accepted. Hard copies only.
5) Plagiarism will be severely penalized. Plagiarism on one assignment may result in an F for the entire course. University guidelines on dealing with plagiarism will be followed. If you are not sure what constitutes plagiarism, check with the instructor before you turn in the work
Late Policy – We will collectively decide upon this in class.
COURSE SCHEDULE (subject to change)
Readings also include selected relevant essays in B space and handouts
Th 8/29
In class: Syllabus, Introductions, read Joseph Legaspi's poem, patron poets/daily robots, robot making activity
Assignment: Zinser reading, read Chang Rae Lee’s “Magical Dinners,” purchase Periodicity (and all texts) and begin reading
Due: robot (in-class)
Tuesday 9/02
In class: Morsel: Read Iris Law poem, Review Zinser reading; discuss “Magical Dinners;” Practice short response activity; Watch A Single Story, Presentation sign-ups
Assignment: Read 1/2 of Periodicity and essay by Andrew Lam, Print and read model Narrative essay #1 and #2
Due: "Magical Dinners," practice short response (in class)
Thursday 9/5:
In class: Discussion of essay by Andrew Lam, Read Model Narrative essay #1 and #2 discuss; Periodicity (How to Read This Poem Activity);
Assignment: Finish Periodicity and prepare 2 questions for Iris Law's skype guest speaking, print and read model narrative essay #2, draft Narrative Essay
Due: Periodicity, print and read Model Narrative essay #1, Law or Lam practice short response
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Tuesday 9/10:
In class: Iris Law Skype date (15 minutes), Watch Blade Runner, begin discussion of Automaton Biographies, Magic-Technology-Science definitions activity, Free-write Narrative Essay
Assignment: start and complete 1/2 Automaton Biographies
Due:
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Thursday 9/12:
In class: Automaton Biographies Lecture and quiz (short response activity)
Assignment: Prepare questions for Larissa Lai, Draft Narrative Essay
Due: 1/2 Automaton Biographies
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Tuesday 9/17:
In class: unconference Automaton Biographies
Assignment: Start Boy Genius
Due: Complete Automaton Biographies
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Thursday 9/19:
In class: Automaton Biographies Discussion + Boy Genius Introduction
Assignment: Boy Genius short response
Due: Automaton Biographies short response
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Tuesday 9/24:
In class: Boy Genius Lecture
Assignment: Complete all of Boy Genius
Due: Boy Genius short response due, Complete Boy Genius, Narrative Essay due
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Th 9/26:
In class: Boy Genius open discussion activity (themes + characters + artifacts) * sign up for next week conferences*
Assignment: Print and read model critical essay #1 #2 and #3, Print and bring rubrics (located at B Space)
Bring draft thesis statement to class on 10/1, purchase AALR and Yes, Bay Area by 10/2
Due:
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Section Two
Paper Draft Due in Conferences
Tuesday 10/1
In class: Boy Genius Presentation, Review model essays #1, #2, #3
Assignment: Chose 3 articles from AALR, start Twitter poetry project and wikipedia entry
Due: Draft thesis due in class, Draft essay due in conference,
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Thursday 10/3
In class: Open Discussion on Yes, Bay Area and AALR and draft thesis workshop + possible guest lecturer Alex Luu
Assignment: Read AALR Assignment; Paper One due Thursday 10/10
Due: Short Response AALR and Yes, Bay Area
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Tuesday 10/8:
In class: Peer-editing *bring rubrics and draft essays to class*
Assignment: Essay due Thursday 10/9: Read AALR articles 4 ,5.
Due:
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Thursday 10/10:
In class: AALR Project Lecture + Guest Speaker Alex Luu
Assignment: Start How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe
Due: ***Paper One due***
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Tuesday 10/15:
In class: AALR Project Presentation
Assignment: Finish HTLSSF
Due: Short Response How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Thursday 10/17:
In class: How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe Open Discussion
Assignment:
Due:
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Conferences
Tuesday 10/22:
In class: How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe Lecture + Open Discussion
Assignment: Print model essay
Due:
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Lecture/Discussion
Th 10/24:
In class: How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe Presentation
Assignment: Essay two due 11/7; start Diwata
Due: Print out model essay by Tuesday 10/29 class (Will be uploaded by Sunday)
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
*Conferences Begin Nov 1st*
Tuesday 10/29
In class: Essay 1 Review + Alex Luu's Three Lives/HTLSFU Review (Get back essays)
Assignment: Essay two due 11/7; continue reading Diwata; draft thesis + outline
Due: wikipedia reference
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
T 10/31:
In class: thesis workshop + Saving Face
Assignment: Prepare for peer editing; continue reading Diwata, short response due 11/5
Due: draft thesis + outline due
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
* Conferences *
Tuesday 11/5:
In class: Peer editing
Assignment:
Due: Diwata Short response
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Thursday 11/7:
In class: DIWATA Lecture
Assignment: Prepare for Barbara Jane Reyes visit
Due: ***Essay 2****
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Tuesday 11/12
In class: Diwata Presentation
Assignment:
Due:
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Thursday 11/14
In class: Guest visit Barbara Jane Reyes
Assignment:
Due:
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Tuesday 11/19
In class: Calcutta Chromosome open discussion and lecture
Assignment:
Due:
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Thursday 11/21
In class: Please meet with your groups and create a collective google document. Send to margaret and kira by 11 am.
Assignment:
Due: Calcutta Chromosome Short Response
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Tuesday 11/26
In class: Calcutta Chromosome Presentation
Assignment:
Due:
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Tuesday 12/3
In class: Class celebration
Assignment:
Due: Creative Portfolio
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
Thursday 12/5
In class: Reflection and final class
Assignment:
Due:
MORSEL: ___________________
DAILY ROBOT: _______________
RRR Week
Monday, December 09 2013 -
Friday, December 13 2013
*Final Essay due Tuesday, December 17*