English 3 / Women’s Studies 6 / Afro-American Studies 3
Writing About Literature and Society
Fall 2002, Mon/Wed 3-4:30, Bennett Hall 220
Kathy Lou Schultz (klou@english.upenn.edu), Instructor in English
Office: Bennett Hall D3 (Fourth Floor of Bennett)
Class Listserv Address: ENGL003-308-02C@LISTS.UPENN.EDU

The Women and the Men: Gender and Identity in African-American Literature
What are the meanings of "race" and "gender," in contemporary America? The rich African-American literary tradition can aid us in understanding the construction of such identities in America and where we've arrived, particularly in regard to racial relations, in the 21st century. In addition, these texts reflect the contestation of those identities at work within our society. How do race, class, and sexuality mitigate gendered identities? In this class we will ask how these poems, novels, essays, plays, and autobiographies represent what it means to "be a man" or about the "place of women" in the African-American context, as well as in the larger society. This wide variety of 19th and 20th century literature will be of interest to anyone who wants to learn more about American literature, Afro-American Studies, gender studies, and different genres of writing. With the primary goal of improving your writing, this class will include writing assignments on summary, argument, revision, research, and documentation.

Texts to purchase
Available at the Penn Book Center, (130 S. 34th Street):
Dutchman and The Slave: Two Plays, Leroi Jones (Amiri Baraka)
Women, Race and Class, Angela Y. Davis
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave: Written by Himself,
Frederick Douglass
A Lesson Before Dying, Ernest J. Gaines
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (5th ed.), Joseph Gibaldi
The Women and the Men, Nikki Giovanni
Corregidora, Gayl Jones
Quicksand and Passing, Nella Larsen
Southern Horrors and Other Writings; The Anti-Lynching Campaign of Ida B. Wells,
1892-1900, Ida B. Wells
Texts to purchase from the Instructor:
Trimmings, Harryette Mullen ($7; Check payable to "Kathy Lou Schultz" or cash)

Requirements and Grading
Preparation and Participation (includes attendance): 30%
You should read all of the assigned texts at least once before the corresponding class meeting, and come to class ready to participate in our discussions or workshops. You will be graded on the following: being prepared by having done the reading, participation in discussions, participation in in-class exercises, listserv responses, peer reviews, response papers, and willingness to ask well-informed questions, and attendance.

A note on attendance: This is a discussion/workshop-based class and will only succeed if everyone is a fully involved participant. You may miss one class meeting without penalty, but attendance is required at all other class meetings unless you have obtained my permission in advance or can document a medical or family crisis after the event. Each unexcused absence will lower your participation grade by 1/3, e.g. if you originally were to receive an A, your grade will lower to A-, then B+, etc. Being late to class more than two times will result in a decrease in your grade in the same manner. Students with more than 3 unexcused absences will fail the course.

Written Work: 60%
Essay #1: 10%
Essay #2: 10%
Essay #2, Revision: 10%
Bibliography: 10%
Final Paper: 20%

Occasional Quizzes on the Readings: 10%
Anyone who prepares the reading in a reasonably thoughtful manner should do well on the quizzes: think of them as an easy way to boost your grade by 10%.

Course Schedule
Week 1
Sept. 9: Introduction & In-class writing
Sept. 11: Southern Horrors and Other Writings; The Anti-Lynching Campaign of Ida B. Wells, Intro, pp. 1-45.

Week 2: Southern Horrors and Other Writings; The Anti-Lynching Campaign of Ida B. Wells (cont.)
Sept. 16: "Southern Horrors: The Lynch Law in all Its Phases," pp. 49-72
Sept. 18: "A Red Record,"  pp. 73-157 *Essay #1 Due*

Week 3: Narrative (Douglass)
Sept. 23: pp. 1-80
Sept. 25: pp. 81-159

Week 4: Women, Race, and Class (Davis)
Sept. 30: "The Legacy of Slavery: Standards for a New Womanhood," pp. 3-29
"The Anti-Slavery Movement and the Birth of Women’s Rights," pp. 30-45
Oct. 2: "Racism in the Woman Suffrage Movement," pp. 70-86
"Woman Suffrage at the Turn of the Century: The Rising Influence of Racism," 110-126
"Rape, Racism, and the Myth of the Black Rapist," pp. 172-201

Week 5
Oct. 7: Library Tour
Oct. 9: Passing (Larsen) pp.136-190
Week 6: Passing (Larsen)
Oct. 14: pp. 191-244
Oct. 16: *Essay #2 Due*

Week 7: A Lesson Before Dying (Gaines)
Oct. 21: pp. 1-85
Oct. 23: 86-159

Week 8: A Lesson Before Dying (cont.)
Oct. 28: No Class; Conferences
Oct. 30: pp. 160-256

Week 9:
Nov. 4: <Peer Review>
Nov. 6: Dutchman (Baraka)
*Revision of Essay #2 Due*

Week 10: Trimmings (Mullen)
Nov. 11
Nov. 13

Week 11: The Women and the Men (Giovanni)
Nov. 18: *Bibliographies due*
Nov. 20

Week 12: Corregidora (Jones)
Nov. 25: pp. 1-68
*Thesis Paragraph for Final Paper Due*
Nov. 27 Thanksgiving Holiday

Week 13: Corregidora (Jones)
Dec. 2: pp. 69-132
Dec. 4: pp. 133-185

Dec. 9 Wrap up
*Final papers due*