Course Description
This course will focus on recent novels, short stories, and memoirs from around the world. In an age when the continents are increasingly linked by shared communication, travel, media and commerce, it might seem that we also share a single global culture. The reality is far more complex. The class examines how local and traditional cultural identities are expressed, negotiated and interrogated in texts by Asian, South American, African, Middle Eastern, and Australian authors. Throughout, the clash between diverse cultures in the contemporary world will be a central focus. (3 credits)
Prerequisites
- ENG 101: English Composition 1
- ENG 102: English Composition 2
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
- Read fiction carefully, with understanding, attention to details, tone, audience, and cultural assumptions.
- Respond to prompts in written English that is clear and mechanically sound. Answers will be elaborated with evidence from the readings and supplementary research.
- Draw conclusions from the readings.
- Reflect on and revise previous assumptions about world literature, history and contemporary affairs.
- Show evidence of changes in values and assumptions about literature and a variety of world cultures.
- Understand the different expectations of different audiences of readers: scholarly, popular, literary, local, and global.
- Access and evaluate research sources for literary study.
- Understand cultural and ethnic differences among various communities around the world in contemporary times.
- Compare texts from a variety of cultural contexts to draw conclusions about theme, focus, tone, voice, and other literary qualities.
Course Activities and Grading
| Assignments | Weight |
|---|---|
Weekly Discussions | 25% |
| Written Assignments (Weeks 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6) | 25% |
Essay (Week 7) | 30% |
Final Exam (Week 8) | 20% |
Total | 100% |
Required Textbooks
Available through Charter Oak State College's online bookstore
- Aidoo, Ama Ata. Changes: A Love Story. 1991.
- Lispector, Clarice. The Hour of the Star. 1977.
- Lucashenko, Melissa. Mullumbimby. 2013.
- Mda, Zakes. The Heart of Redness. 2000.
- Murakami, Haruki. After the Quake. 2002.
- Satrapi, Marjane. The Complete Persepolis. 2004.
Course Schedule
Week | SLOs | Readings and Exercises | Assignment(s) |
1 | 1-9 | Topics: Introductions and Contemporary Japanese Literature
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2 | 1-9 | Topics: Contemporary Australian Literature and Aboriginal Culture
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3 | 1-9 | Topics: Contemporary Australian Literature and Aboriginal Culture
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4 | 1-9 | Topics: Graphic Novels as Literature and Contemporary Iranian Culture and Conflict
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5 | 1-9 | Topics: International Feminism and the Culture of Ghana
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6 | 1-9 | Topics: South African Culture and Speaking Back to History
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7 | 1-9 | Topics: South African Culture and Speaking Back to History
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8 | 1-9 | Topics: Brazilian Culture and Postmodernism
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Final Exam SLOs 1-9 | |||
COSC Accessibility Statement
Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.
COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources
Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.