This syllabus is a work in progress, subject to peer review (i.e. your feedback!) and is, thus, extremely tentative. Any changes to the syllabus will be announced in class and on OpenLab. Please be sure to bring the assigned reading with you to class. All assignments are due ON the date listed and should therefore be done before the beginning of class on that day.
1/31 Introduction to Course & Syllabus Review
2/2 Research, Media & Critical Literacy
Read Plato, “The Allegory of the Cave.” Bring an annotated copy of the text with you to class. Be prepared to contribute at least one question and one opinion to the class discussion.
Join OpenLab! Complete OpenLab Assignment # 1 to introduce yourself to the class. Respond to at least two other classmates by Feb. 7th.
2/7 From the Fire Last Time to This Time: Baldwin & Danticat Reader Response # 1 on Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” Due.
Read “My Dungeon Shook: Letter to My Nephew” by James Baldwin and “Message to My Daughters” by Edwidge Danticat.
2/9 New York Stories: Introduction to Sarah Schulman Reader Response # 2 on Danticat & Baldwin Due.
Research: Bring to class one fact about author Sarah Schulman.
2/14 New York Stories: The Cosmopolitans Read: Chapter One of The Cosmopolitans.
2/16 New York Stories: The Cosmopolitans Read: Chapter Two of The Cosmopolitans.
Research: Bring to class one fact about New York City in the year 1958.
Open Lab Assignment # 2: Share two questions you would like to ask author Sarah Schulman by 2/19. Respond to at least one classmate by 2/21.
2/21 New York Stories: Peer Review First Draft of Writing Assignment # 1 Due.
2/23: The Personal is Political: Introduction to Men We Reaped Revised Draft of Writing Assignment # 1 Due.
Read: “Prologue” from Men We Reaped.
2/28 The Personal is Political: The Art of the Memoir Read: “We are in Wolf Town” & “Roger Eric Daniels III” from Men We Reaped.
Reader Response # 3 Due.
3/2 The Personal is Political: The Art of the Memoir Read: “We Are Born 1977-1984” from Men We Reaped.
3/7 Literature Roundtable with Sarah Schulman Meet in Atrium Amphitheater
Bring your questions for Sarah Schulman! After the Roundtable, post your reflections on the event to OpenLab for OpenLab Assignment #3.
3/9 The Personal is Political: The Art of the Memoir Read: “We Are Watching” & “Ronald Wayne Lizana” from Men We Reaped
3/14 The Personal is Political: The Art of the Memoir Read: “We Are Learning” from Men We Reaped.Proposal & Research for Writing Assignnent # 2, Creative Non-Fiction Project Due.
3/16 The Personal is Political: The Art of the Memoir Read “Joshua Adam Dedeaux” and “We are Here” from Men We Reaped Reader Response #4 Due
3/21 The Personal is Political: The Art of the Memoir
First Draft of Writing Assignment # 2, Creative Non-Fiction Project Due
3/23 Introduction to Sweat, Skeleton Crew & 21st Century Drama Bring Skeleton Crew to class with you.
3/28: Sweat, Skeleton Crew & 21st Century Drama Revised Draft of Writing Assignment # 2, Creative Non-Fiction Project Due. Read Skeleton Crew, Act One, Scenes 2 & 3
3/30: Introduction to Sweat — Theater Development Fund Workshop 1
3/31: Sweat on Broadway! 8 pm (please be there at least 20 minutes early!) Studio 54, 254 W.54th street
4/4: Sweat and 21st Century American Drama — Theater Development Fund Workshop 2 Read Skeleton Crew, Act One, Scenes 4, 5 & 6
4/7: Sweat and 21st Century American Drama — Theater Development Fund Workshop 3 — TDF Project Due In-class
4/10-4/18 SPRING RECESS: Read Act Two of Skeleton Crew. Work on Writing Assignment 3: Texts & Contexts: Literary Analysis as Social Commentary; Begin thinking about final research paper.
4/20 CLASSES FOLLOW A MONDAY SCHEDULE
4/25: Discussion of Skeleton Crew Bring thesis and draft-in-progress of Bring draft of Writing Assignment 3: Texts & Contexts: Literary Analysis as Social Commentary
4/27: Peer Review & Introduction to the Final Research Project Bring draft of Writing Assignment 3: Texts & Contexts: Literary Analysis as Social Commentary
4/27 Literary Arts Festival with Rowan Ricardo Phillips!
5/2: Writing the Research Paper Writing Assignment 3: Texts & Contexts: Literary Analysis as Social Commentary Due
5/4: Writing the Research Paper Final Research Project Proposal Due
5/9: Writing the Research Paper– Library Visit
5/16 & 5/18: Writing the Research Paper
5/11: Writing the Research Paper Annotated Bibliography for Final Research Project Proposal Due
5/23: Presentation of Research Projects — Final Research Projects Due in Class
5/25 Final Exam
