AMERINDIAN THEMES
Mon/Thurs 10am, SC 206
Prof. Lorenz



Office Hours:
Dickson 359
Office Hours: Mon 11:30-12:30, 5:15-6:15pm, and by appt.
Phone: x7318
E-mail: lorenzj@montclair.edu


Description of Course

The aim of this course is to study a literature of the Americas that springs from, or in some way addresses, the contemporary realities of indigenous communities. Our study will take into account pre-Columbian indigenous culture and cultural production, contact after 1492, the resulting genocide and ethnicide, and - most importantly - the courageous survival of which the literature of this class gives testimony.

Required Texts

Genesis, Eduardo Galeano

Harper's Anthology of 20th Century Naive American Poetry, ed. Niatum

Chief Red Fox Is Dead, James J. Rawls

Ceremony, Leslie Silko

The Way to Rainy Mountain, N. Scott Momaday

Grades

There will be one short paper or test for each book we read.
Each grade will count for 1/5 of your final grade.

Coming to Class

Your participation is vital to the success of classroom discussion! Please come to class prepared to talk about the readings.


4 unexcused absences are grounds for a grade reduction. 6 will result in failure.
Arriving consistently late to class will also lower your grade.
(An excused absence requires a note from a doctor or some other kind of documentation showing me that you could not come to class for reasons of an emergency nature.)

Integrity of Work

Any paper that has been plagiarized will result in failure for the semester. Any work you turn in must be your own. An idea that is your own arises from your own original intellectual work. When you borrow ideas or words, you must give that person credit - or do not use that information. You may receive help from other students, from the Writing Center, or from myself, but the writing must be your own writing, and your insights must spring from your own inquiries, your own questions, your own patient study of the texts.

Papers

Your papers should be typed and carefully proofread. Do not turn in a paper full of spelling errors and grammatical mistakes. Use a spellcheck; ask for help with your grammar; visit the Writing Center.

I encourage you to visit me during office hours. A one-on-one conversation can be very helpful to your work and to your success in the class!


This is just to say...

I am your teacher, I am the one who will evaluate your work. But please keep this in mind: I AM HERE TO HELP YOU. Please talk to me when you have questions or concerns, if you need help, or if you simply want to chat about our readings!