Course Overview

This course will provide students with an introduction to novels and poetry from outside of the Anglo-American literary tradition. This class will allow students to consider America's place in the world and the complex legacy of colonization that shapes America's relations with other countries. Literature provides insights into how people in other cultures regard themselves and reminds us of the difficulties of translation as a bridge across varying and sometimes incommensurable cultural divides. Many of the stories and poems that we will consider this semester take place in countries where customs and political structures shape events in ways that are radically unfamiliar to us as primarily American readers.

Objectives

Over the semester, I expect students to achieve the following goals:

• Understand and interpret texts by influential authors from a variety of literary genres and cultural origins.

• Discuss these texts in the context of a classroom discussion or smaller group discussions.

• Write convincing arguments about the meanings of these texts in examinations and the online discussion forum.

• Recall key facts about the works in question including but not limited to the date of publication, the author, the title, and general topics pertaining to the story the author tells.

Expectations

In order to accomplish this goal, students must

• Read the required books carefully.

• Attend class. I expect students to show up on time and prepared to discuss the readings assigned for that day. (Please turn off cellphones before each class meeting begins.)

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of these works in three exams and through participation in an on-line discussion group.

• Respect your fellow students and refrain from behavior that might impair their learning opportunities. Any behavior that substantially and repeatedly interrupts the instructor's ability to teach or the students' ability learn will result in appropriate penalties. Disruptive behavior includes inappropriate use of communications technology in the classroom, such as ringing cell phones, text-messaging, watching videos, playing computer games, doing email, or surfing the Internet on your computer instead of note-taking or other instructor-sanctioned activities. For further clarification of UMD policies in this regard, consult UMD's Student Conduct Code at "http://www.d.umn.edu/assl/conduct/code".

Grade Breakdown:

Your grade will depend primarily on your written work and the understanding of the material that you convey through that work. A command of standard written English and the ability to present an argument will also contribute to the determination of your grade.

If you turn a paper in late, your paper will receive a deduction of 1/3 of a letter grade for each business day that it is late. Students who miss exams may not make them up without a valid excuse for the absence. Valid excuses include health emergencies, and family crises. Students athletes may be excused for official UMD athletic events in which they are competing as long as they notify the instructor in advance. If students anticipate missing an exam or a paper deadline for a valid reason and consult with me in advance, I can consider exceptions on a case-by-case basis.

Academic dishonesty tarnishes the reputation of the University of Minnesota Duluth and discredits the accomplishments of its students. Because the university is committed to providing students every possible opportunity to grow in mind and spirit, it must insist on an environment of trust, honest, and fairness. Consequently, all members of the academic community must regard any act of academic dishonesty as a serious offense. In keeping with this ideal, this course will adhere to UMD's Student Academic Integrity Policy, which is available online at "http://www.d.umn.edu/assl/conduct/integrity/". This policy sanctions students engaging in academic dishonesty with penalties up to and including expulsion from the university for repeat offenders.

Individuals who have any disability, either permanent or temporary, which might influence their capacity to perform in this class, are encouraged to inform me at the start of the semester. I can make special adaptations of teaching methods, assignments, materials, or testing as required to provide for equitable participation in the course. The Access Center is also available to assist students with disabilities. It is located in the Kirby Student Center and on the web at "http://www.d.umn.edu/access".

Required Texts

Abani, Chris. Graceland. New York: Farrar, Strass, Giroux, 2004.

Calvino, Italo. If on a Winter's Night a Traveler. 1979. Trans. William Weaver. New York: Harcourt, 1981.

J1n, Ha. In the P0nd. New York: Random House, 1998.

Milosz, Czeslaw. The Book of Luminous Things. New York: Harcourt, 1998.

Roy, Arundhati. The God of Small Things. New York: Harpers, 1997.

Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis. New York: Pantheon, 2003.