MCCCD Program Description

Introduction to US Ethnic Literature

Course: ENH190

First Term: 2011 Spring

Lecture 3 Credit(s) 3 Period(s) 3 Load
Subject Type: Academic
Load Formula: S

Description: Introduction to the US ethnic literatures of African Americans, Arab Americans, Asian Americans, Latinas/os, Native Americans, Mixed Race, and other emerging ethnic groups through various expressions. Examines the interconnections of the various experiences of racialized groups living in the US. Provides ethnic US literature a global context through study of the interconnections with the literatures of Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania. Focus on literary production of at least four specific US ethnic groups and relevant international literatures.

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Identify and define critical terms, literary techniques and critical approaches used in analyzing ethnic literatures. (I, II) 2. Identify and differentiate literary descriptions of ethnic cultures within postcolonial, decolonial, and colonial eras. (II, IV, V) 3. Compare and contrast the historical and cultural background of the major periods of the postcolonial, decolonial, and colonial eras. (II, IV, V) 4. Explain and illustrate the roles of literature as both a formulator and reflection of ethnic cultures. (III, IV) 5. Report in written and oral formats current trends in ethnic cultures as reflected in literature, and speculate about the possible future trends in ethnic cultures. (V, VI) 6. Analyze and critically assess ethnic literary works by selected writers in written and oral formats. (V)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Literary Terminology A. Critical terms used in analyzing ethnic literatures B. Literary techniques and criticism II. Literary Descriptions of US Ethnic Culture: Historical and Cultural Background A. Colonial Era B. Decolonial Era C. Postcolonial Era III. Literature and US Ethnic Culture A. Formulator of US ethnic societies B. Reflection of US ethnic societies IV. Roots of US Ethnic Culture A. Euro-American Interventions 1. Colonization 2. Slave Trade 3. Manifest Destiny 4. The Frontier and the West 5. Imperialism abroad 6. Eugenics and Scientific Racism B. Ethnic Responses 1. Political Resistance 2. Cultural Resistance 3. Syncretism V. The Literatures A. Survey of four US ethnic groups? literatures 1. Fiction 2. Poetry 3. Drama 4. Other relevant texts: oral texts, film, music B. Contextual literatures of the world 1. Fiction 2. Poetry 3. Drama 4. Other relevant texts: oral texts, film, music VI. US Ethnic Literature and Culture in the Future

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: 11/24/2009

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.