DEPARTMENT OF AFRICANA AND PUERTO RICAN/LATINO STUDIES

AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE

AFPRL 236
FALL 2011
HUNTER WEST 603
TU, F: 2: 10 P.M. 3:25 P.M.

Professor Gregg
1704A HW
Office hours: Tu, F: 12: 35 p.m. 2: 00 p.m.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The course has three broad aims: First, the readings will focus on the African American
vernacular tradition in order to examine how some creative artists and writers explore the two-
sided question of freedom and slavery. They ask: What is freedom? What is slavery? Paying
particular attention to the use of irony, we will explore also the problematic question of
audience, and analyze the verbal (or rhetorical) strategies that are used simultaneously to
reveal and conceal meanings. We will then examine how African American writers borrow or
revise elements of the oral tradition. Second, this writing-intensive class will focus on the
following areas of effective writing: E-mail communication; paragraph development; reading to
write; understanding assignments; comparing/contrasting; and creating a bibliography. Third,
students will be required to learn and practice effective research skills. Since some parts of this
course will be delivered online, students must have access to a computer or use the computing
services available at Hunter.

LEARNING GOALS
By the end of the semester, students should have acquired the ability to do the following:
Define and explore the rhetorical strategies that are encoded in the African American
vernacular tradition and in the written texts.
Analyze the oral tradition as the means by which African American creativity resisted,
and resists, the killing definitions imposed by the discourse of slavery.
Explore the different genres of writing and representation in terms of themes, structure,
and meanings.
Demonstrate, in writing, an understanding of the connections between the oral and
scribal traditions in the works studied.
Demonstrate a full understanding of the key terms of the class. Show how these
concepts are used.
Demonstrate the analytical skills for interpreting literature through close reading.
Synthesize, in your own writing, the various elements of the oral traditions and the
writings that have been explored throughout the term.
Demonstrate effective uses of evidence and of secondary sources.

2

REQUIRED TEXTS

Norton Anthology of African American Literature. (Page numbers omitted below. Students may
use the first or second edition as well as an e-reader. Pay careful attention to the study guides
as they are posted on Blackboard).
See also the Course Materials area of Blackboard

PREREQUISITES
English 120

PROJECTED SCHEDULE

Weeks 1-2:
PLEASE CHECK BLACKBOARD FOR FURTHER DETAILS
RefWorks Tutorial
Turnitin Tutorial
Getting Started on Blackboard
Understanding assignments
E-mail communication

Week 2
Preface
We Wear the Mask

Weeks 3 - 6:
The Vernacular Tradition
Spirituals/Gospel
Secular Rhymes
Folktales

Weeks 7 8:
Frederick Douglass, Fourth of July

Weeks 8 9:
Henry Highland Garnet, Address to the Slaves

Weeks 11- 13:
Booker T. Washington, From Up from Slavery

Week 14:
Claude McKay

Week 15:
Review
3

GRADING SYSTEM AND ASSIGNMENT DUE DATES
RESEARCH JOURNAL= 10%. Due date: September 6
th
, 2011
FIRST PAPER = 30%. Due date: September 30, 2011
SECOND PAPER = 30%. Due date: October 21, 2011
FINAL PAPER = 30%. See Examination Schedule
You must submit your assignments ELECTRONICALLY, as instructed. Work submitted via E-mail
will not be accepted. I do not accept late work.

CLASS POLICIES AND REQUIREMENTS

Attendance and punctuality are mandatory. Failure to comply with the attendance
policy may result in a WU.
You must read each work by the date it will be discussed in class; and the required text
will be used during each class session.
You will be required to write at the start of class for a period of at least 15 minutes; you
will also be required to write online. These writing exercises will be based on the
required readings and on the questions that are assigned. They will form the basis of
class discussions. This is an essential part of the work of the class, for which you will not
receive a grade. Failure to complete these assignments adequately, however, will result
in a total of 25% being subtracted from your overall grade for the class. For each
missing or inaccurate assignment, 5% will be subtracted.
Please visit Bb at least twice a week (M, Th.) for postings. I will also send group e-mail
messages from time to time. I do not respond to students e-mail messages on an
individual basis.
It is highly recommended that students obtain a New York Public Library Card. (If link is
broken, go to nypl.org.)

HUNTER COLLEGE ACADEMIC INTEGRITY PROCEDURES

Hunter College regards acts of academic dishonesty (e.g. plagiarism, cheating on examination,
obtaining unfair advantage, and falsification of records and official documents) as serious
offenses against the values of intellectual honesty. The College is committed to enforcing the
CUNY policy on Academic Integrity and will pursue cases of academic dishonesty according to
the Hunter College Academic Integrity Procedures.

AMERICAN DISABILITY ACT OF 1990

In compliance with the American Disability Act of 1990 (ADA) and with Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Hunter College is committed to ensuring educational parity and
accommodations for all students with documented disabilities and/or medical conditions. It is
recommended that all students with documented disabilities (Emotional, Medical, Physical and/
or Learning) consult the Office of AccessABILITY located in Room E1124 to secure necessary
academic accommodations. For further information and assistance please call (212- 772-
4857)/TTY (212- 650- 3230).