20801226Introduction to African Literature
Course Information
Description
Introduction to African Literature focuses mainly on the literature of Africa from before colonization to the present. It introduces students to the rich, complex, and varied literary traditions reflected in the works of African writers. It studies developments and achievements in voice, genre, and style and explores issues of language, cultural identity, historical witness, and social and political experience. Individual sections will focus on a particular theme, genre, or period for emphasis.
Total Credits
3
Course Competencies
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Analyze the major cultural, historical, political, rhetorical, and literary conditions that have shaped post-colonial African LiteratureAssessment StrategiesWritten product (10 – 15 pages of polished prose)Essays that follow the conventions of literary analysisSmall and large group discussionCriteriainterpret African literary textsintegrate new ideas and concepts into written productwrite in literary and analytical modesanalyze the impact of Negritude in francophone African Literaturesubmit finished essays on time and according to the specifications of the instructoridentify conditions that African authors had to overcome in order to begin and continue to publish their worksassess the place of major figures in African textual traditionsexplore the past and present scope of African textual traditions
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Articulate in oral and written form the ideas, images, themes, motifs, and techniques present in African textual traditionsAssessment StrategiesJournalGroup presentationSmall and large group discussionCriteriaactively contribute to class discussionidentify major themes and rhetorical devices used in African literary traditionscritique the assigned texts and your peers’ workapply critical terminology to the interpretation of literary techniquesanalyze major themes and rhetorical devices used in African literary traditions by applying critical terminologyanalyze the meaning of African literary tropes
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Analyze the relationship between representation, subjectivity, and strategies of empowerment for authors from marginalized positionsAssessment StrategiesJournalWritten productOral presentationSmall and large group discussionQuizzesCriteriaexamine the negotiation of difference and ethnicity in African Literature in the U.S.identify the conditions that African authors had to overcome in order to begin and continue to publish their worksanalyze the relationship between dominant and marginalized traditions
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Examine the relationship between the African oral tradition and contemporary African LiteratureAssessment StrategiesWritten ProductOral presentationSmall and large group discussionQuizzesCriteriaanalyze African short storiescompare short stories from various parts of Africacompare short stories from different time periodscontrast short stories from different linguistic backgroundsidentify the difference between orality and literacydescribe the major differences/similarities between assigned short storiesillustrate how African orality complements contemporary African Literature
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Evaluate African Literature within the United StatesAssessment StrategiesWritten productQuizzesOral presentationSmall and large group discussionCriteriaanalyze the representation of ethnic minorities in African Literature in the U.S.evaluate the relationship between African immigrants and African Americansanalyze the representation of African immigrants as an ethnic minority in the United Statesdeconstruct the relationship between race, identity and belonging in the global landscapes of Africans and Americansanalyze race and ethnicity as represented through interactions between African immigrants, their American counterparts, and immigrants from other parts of the worldassess the relationship between various African minority groups who live in the U.S.
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Analyze the representation of colonialism in the African oral tradition and literatureAssessment StrategiesWritten productOral presentationSmall and large group discussionQuizzesCriteriadefine colonialism in the African contextexplain the history of colonialism in Africaanalyze how the colonial enterprise is dramatized in African Literaturedistinguish between external and internal factors that affect African Literature during colonialismanalyze the relationship between internal and external factors
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Appraise the complexity and diversity of African oral and written traditionsAssessment StrategiesWritten productOral presentationSmall and large group discussionQuizzesCriteriaanalyze the concept of diversity in the African contextevaluate how diversity is reflected in African literatureexamine how European languages affect African literary production
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Analyze contemporary African literature within postcolonial theoryAssessment StrategiesWritten productOral presentationSmall and large group discussionsQuizzesCriteriaexplain postcolonial theory as it applies to African Literatureanalyze postcolonial theory within African Literatureapply postcolonial theory to the interpretation of African literature
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Examine the role of gender in African LiteratureAssessment StrategiesWritten productOral presentationSmall and large group discussionsQuizzesCriteriadefine African feminismanalyze literature by African women authorsevaluate the relationship between gender and subjectivity in African Literatureexplain the role of women in the African oral tradition
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Evaluate the representation of religion and African identities in the oral and written traditions of AfricaAssessment StrategiesWritten productOral presentationSmall and large group discussionsCriteriaidentify various religious traditions in African Literaturedescribe the relationship between Christianity, Islam, and African religionsanalyze the role of African religions in the formation of African identitiesanalyze the role of Christianity in the formation of African identitiesanalyze the role of Islam in the formation of African identitiescompare/contrast how various religious traditions contribute to the making of African identities
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Analyze the language question in contemporary African LiteratureAssessment StrategiesWritten productOral presentationSmall and large group discussionsCriteriaassess the relationship between literature in African languages and Europhone African Literatureanalyze francophone African Literature in translationevaluate how the choice of language affects writing and publishing in African Literature