CHST 404
MWF 9:00 AM
STR 239
Dr. Annemarie Pérez
http:/citedatthecrossroads.net/chst404
email: annemarie (dot) perez (at) me (dot) com
Twitter: @anneperez
4418 University Hall
Office hours: MW 10 – 12 or by appointment
Reading List
Required:
Maylei Blackwell, ¡Chicana Power!
Alma Garcia, Chicana Feminist Thought
Cherríe Moraga, A Xicana Codex of Changing Consciousness
Optional:
Vicki L. Ruiz, Unequal Sisters: An Inclusive Reader in US Women’s History
Gloria Anzaldúa, Borderlands / La Frontera
Gloria Anzaldúa & AnaLouise Keating, this bridge we call home: radical visions for transformation
Reading Schedule: Additional readings (articles and book chapters) will be provided throughout the semester in the readings section of the course website.
This course focuses on current writings by Chicana feminists in the context of movements by US feminists of color, exploring how Chicana feminism grew out of a resistance to the masculine nationalism as symbolized by late 1960s Aztlán mythology. We will question how this feminism ultimately queered the Aztlán space, reconfiguring nationalism as transnationalism while at the same time communicating with and responding to African American, Asian American and Native American feminisms. Throughout the quarter we will reflect on Latina traditions of feminism inviting inquiry into the different strands of Chicana / Latina feminism and how these manifest themselves both in community political activism and print cultures / textual communities.
The requirements for this class include the creation of a public blog as a course project, adding to the discussion of Chicana / Latina feminism as part of the recent project AztlanReads.com.
Technology in the Classroom:
While this course embraces technology and will explore its potential as a source of community activism, technology also brings with it pitfalls and temptations. You are welcome to bring your laptop to class and use it appropriately for taking notes and checking course-related information. However, I strongly urge you to turn off your email, Facebook, instant messaging programs, etcetera during class time. It is easy for your laptop to become a distraction to you and to those around you — please don’t let that happen. Inappropriate uses will be noted and will affect your participation grade. By the same token, please leave your mobile phone off and keep it put away during class. If you have an emergency and must leave your phone on to take a call or text, please let me know before that class begins.
Using Twitter in CHST 404: All students should set up a Twitter account by the second class meeting and make use of the class hashtag #CHST404 to connect with me and each other outside of class. I want you to use tweets as a way of annotating our readings, writing tweets either as you read or immediately after — so at least one for each day’s reading. You can make informal, community building sorts of tweets, but should also make substantive tweets giving information about the readings and your thoughts at least once every few days.
When you communicate with others in the course, be it online or in person, be respectful of their opinion and of them, even if you disagree with their ideas. Misunderstandings happen even more easily online than they do in person.
Evaluation:
Active and informed participation (10%) Come to class prepared to contribute to class discussion on the assigned readings Since it is impossible to be an “active and informed” participant without having done the reading, you must read assigned materials in advance of each class meeting. Reading and replying to your classmates on the course blog is part of your participation grade. You also need to create a Twitter account and follow me and each other. I will look at Twitter comments and expect to see remarks by you at least once per reading using the hashtag #CHST404.
Reading questions (20%) To insure active class discussion and your ability to listen and contribute, prepare a weekly reading response approximately 200 words to a question posted about the assigned texts. Questions will be posted on the course blog. Write your responses in the comment section of that post before each class meeting. Your response should conclude with a focused question (or questions), opening up discussion of a specific passage. Your goal with this response is to demonstrate a personal interest in and engagement with the week’s reading.
These writings should be informal, a way of processing the texts you’ve read to generate class discussion. The other writing you do for this class may grow out of these writings.
Essay* (20%) The research paper (10-12 pages) for this course will investigate an aspect of Chicana feminism using the works we have studied in the course. The papers must demonstrate thorough research (at least six sources outside of assigned readings), organization and focus, and correct MLA citation style and bibliography. If you are not certain of this requirement, see me the first week of the course.
Presentation (10%) present an oral version of either your paper or a blog entry in a 5 minute presentation to the class.
Blog Entries (20%) Write at least five (5) separate blog posts for the class blog, each well researched and between 400 – 600 words. The entry should each focus on a different one of the texts and / or an aspect of Chicana feminism, using no fewer than 3 outside (on or off-line) sources or references for each. Blog entries must demonstrate intertextuality in relation to sources on the class blog and other online work and should be able to stand on their own for reading by someone who isn’t in our course. The first post is your introduction and must appear by the start of class Friday, January 13, 2012. You may post as frequently as you wish, however only one blog post per week will count toward your mandatory five posts. The class will select at least one post from each of you to share on AztlánReads.com.
Final exam (20%) Short identification and essay.
*Essay Alternative: Rather than do a conventional essay, you may choose to write at least 10 (rather than 5) blog posts for the course blog. Some of these may be in the form of visual and / or audio blog presentations. If you’re choosing this option please let me know via email by Friday, January 27.
Absences:
This class moves quickly and operates as a discussion so your attendance is vital. If you must miss class due to illness or emergency, I expect you to email me so we can arrange to meet and discuss the material you missed.
Honor Code:
Loyola Marymount University is a community dedicated to academic excellence, student-centered education, and the Jesuit and Marymount traditions. As such, the University expects all members of its community to act with honesty and integrity at all times, especially in their academic work. Academic honesty respects the intellectual and creative work of others, flows from dedication to and pride in performing one’s own best work, and is essential if true learning is to take place.
Examples of academic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, the following: all acts of cheating on assignments or examinations, or facilitating other students’ cheating; plagiarism; fabrication of data, including the use of false citations; improper use of nonprint media; unauthorized access to computer accounts or files or other privileged information; and improper use of internet sites and resources.
Further definitions of academic dishonesty can be found here.
Disability Accommodation:
Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss your specific needs. Please contact the The Disability Support Services (DSS) Office at (310) 338-4216 in Daum Hall, second floor to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities.
How to contact me:
The most effective way to contact me outside of class and office hours is through email. When you do, put CHST404 in the subject line so I know the email is about the course. Use a friendly yet formal email style, starting your mail with “Dear” or “Hi,” and including enough information about your question or needs that I can answer you effectively. You should get a reply to me within 24 hours. If you don’t, assume I didn’t get your email and send it again.
(Image:¡Ya Basta! – Ya No Tienes Que Sufrir Mas by Tina Hernandez)